indaba-the-first-25-years-presentation1

Indaba - The first 25 Years An indaba (pronounced in-da-bah) is an important conference held by the izinDuna (principal men) of the Zulu or Xhosa peoples of South Africa. Indabas may include only the izinDuna of a particular community, or they may be held with representatives of other communities.

"Let it be the determination of all who have been here at Gilwell to spread the Scout spirit wherever they go, that spirit of peace and friendliness which is so sorely needed in the world today.“ The closing words at The First World Scout Indaba July 52

The Indaba seed was planted in 1989

Memories

The Founders of the Lodge at the Consecration

In 1989 Dr Geoff Mansfield PDGReg of Eanred Lodge Billingham wrote proposing a Scouting Lodge in Billingham.

It was felt that given the interest in the proposal that Billingham was a little small to host the new Lodge.

North Yorkshire Province was approached as many of the inception team were from Middlesbrough. However, the team finally settled on Archer Street, Darlington. There was a warm welcome to the idea and the petition for a new Lodge was raised by Commercial Travellers Lodge no. 5089 (Frank Holliday)

Who were those responsible?

The Officers of the Lodge at the Consecration

The brethren who delivered on that initial idea for a Scouting Lodge and did all the hard work to establish it were Stuart Lee, Ian Wilson, Malcolm Dabbs, Peter Sanderson, Ken Shepherd, John Craggs, Peter Stokes and Frank Holliday.

The Lodge owes these worthy brethren a huge debt of gratitude and hopefully, after they consider the progress and exploits of the Lodge over the last 25 years, they and you can judge whether their efforts were worth it.

Indaba - where it comes from and where it is going.

Durham masons with the PGM at the Consecration

Malcolm Dabbs PSGD (PastAPGM of Yorkshire N&E Ridings) was the Founding IPM & sat next to Lord Barnard, the PGM, at the Festive Board in Stockton Masonic Hall. He has been a member of Indaba since being asked to be on the Steering Committee. Malcolm’s abiding memory from his association with Indaba is how much he felt involved in the birth of something new & vibrant. A great experience that has endured for 25 years. Malcolm was a member of Rover Scouts alongside Stuart Lee the founding Master and Paul Tweddle the Lodge’s first initiate. Malcolm approached his pals Paul and Stuart to join the Rover Crew early when his own troop closed. Paul and Malcolm completed their Gold award and became Queen Scouts together. With a bit of a leap of faith it could be said that the essence of Indaba Lodge has its scouting source in the fellowship of this one Rover Crew. This is likely to be challenged by every other member of the Lodge who have all developed similar lifelong scouting friendships and invited their own scouting friends into Masonry and Indaba Lodge. What all the members of the Lodge agree on is that the Indaba Spirit combines and expands the best of scouting and Masonic fellowships and is something we seek to apply inside and outside of both organisations.

1992 Worshipful Master

Stuart Lee

Initiate

Paul Tweddle

KLA Spring

Pioneer 9065

KLA Autumn

Sure and Stedfast 9100

The founding master Stuart Lee was not only a driving force in Freemasonry he was active in scouting from Cubs onwards. He was a Queen Scout and was Group Scout Leader of 15th Middlesbrough St Barnabas for over 25 years. He was honoured by the Scout Association with the Medal of Merit.

Indaba is the natural culmination of his and the founders mutual passion for two fraternal organisations with many shared values.

The lodge was formed with 51 founding members and 14 honorary members and was consecrated at Wellington Street in Stockton. Darlington, our home, wasn’t quite big enough to accommodate everyone who wanted to attend. At the first regular meeting 5 joining members were proposed and the Lodge voted to become members of the Kindred Lodges Association. The second regular meeting saw a further four joining members being balloted and the Lodge initiated its first candidate Bro Paul Leon Tweddle. The harmony of the Lodge was provided by a certain W Bro Derek Richmond.

1993 Worshipful Master

Peter Sanderson

Initiate

Peter Dawson

KLA Spring

Pathfinder 8236

KLA Autumn

Red Scarf 8448

Peter was a scout leader at the Avenue Methodist church in Middlesbrough and rose to become District Commissioner of West Middlesbrough. He was also politically active and was a councillor of Middlesbrough Borough Council.

The lodge tucked into Roast Pork at Peter’s Installation and enjoyed their first moments of reflected glory when W Bro Derek Richmond was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham.

The Lodge membership has swelled to 63 members. The lodge despite only being a year old sent £500 to the festival and paid £450 for a Lodge banner. A Past Masters Jewel was loaned to the Provincial Museum to go on permanent display. A small deputation came along to our September meeting and the Provincial Chaplain consecrated our Past Masters Board.

1994 Worshipful Master

Frank Holliday

Initiate

Peter J Bradburn

KLA Spring

Pathfinder 8596

KLA Autumn

The Quest 5969

Frank has a long and distinguished scouting history. He is a King’s Scout and former District Commissioner of West Middlesbrough and was the producer of Middlesbrough Gang Show for many years. He has been honoured by the Scout Association many times and is the holder of the Bar to the Silver Acorn.

Bro Steve Watts, a new joining member, was able to see his father in law installed into the chair of King Solomon.

The initiate and Lewis Peter J Bradburn was obligated by his father Peter Bradburn at the September meeting. The Lodge established a tradition of encouraging its initiates involvement in the ceremonies of the Lodge and Bro Paul Tweddle explained the working tools of a fellowcraft freemason to Peter.

Frank’s favourite memories of Indaba are of being secretary to the Lodge from 2000 to 2004, and being part of the team that established Indaba Chapter. He challenged himself to visit every founders Mother Lodge - a task which he managed to complete during his year.

1995 Worshipful Master

John Craggs

Initiate

Geoff Oliver

KLA Spring

Juventus 8105

KLA Autumn

Venturer 7897

John did a lot of his early scouting with 25th Middlesbrough Ormesby Pathfinders and moved to St Barnabas to establish a mixed Venture Scout Unit and work with the Troop.

John was presented to the Lodge for installation by W Bro Ron Lee, father of the Lodge’s Founding Master Stuart. This year was the beginning of many fraternal visits by other lodges to Indaba, notably our Mother Lodge Commercial Travellers Lodge 5089 and Quest Lodge 7102. These visits have been reciprocated in a tradition that now extends over 22 years.

The lodge Banner was dedicated by the Provincial Grand Chaplain W Bro J.R. Marsden. He also received a cheque from our ladies of ÂŁ100 which went to the festival fund. The ladies tried their hands at embossing cards while waiting for us to finish our March meeting.

1996 Worshipful Master

Frank Rose

Initiate

Allan Neal

KLA Spring

Kibblestone 9504

KLA Autumn

Torch 7236

Frank has been a distinguished scout for many years. He was the District Commissioner for East Cleveland and is now a GSL in Guisborough. He is a long established member of the Middlesbrough Gang Show production team and cast.

Our lodge Summons were issued on purple paper for the first time. Frank refused to sing his own Masters Song and the Lodge was relieved when W Bro Richmond stepped into the breach (he sang better than Frank as well!!). The lodge donated £100 to the KLA, to be given in support of Scouting’s Lifeboat appeal.

The Lodge hosted the KLA Spring Festival in April. The Provincial Grand Master The Lord Barnard joined us for the day.

One hundred and fifteen masons from 36 lodges across the UK sat down in Wellington St Stockton. Lodge Fleur de Lys demonstrated a Scottish second degree ceremony using our own candidate Brother R A Neal as their candidate for passing.

1997 Worshipful Master

Clive Bainbridge

Initiate

Graham Davies

KLA Spring

Indaba 9454

KLA Autumn

Juventus 6473

The Lodge donated £500 to the festival Account at Clive’s Installation. The Lodge happily saluted W Bro Derek Richmond as APGM with five for the first time. Clive, who owned the best Fish and Chip shop in the world, supplied the Lodge with a fish and chip summer at their September meeting, a rare treat indeed.

Indaba Chapter

It was during 1997 that the idea for a chapter gained traction and a small team started work. The hard graft was carried out

by Stuart Lee, Peter Sanderson, John Craggs, Frank Holliday, Peter Stokes, John Cowley, Howard Bainbridge, Eric Heaviside, Alan .Curry and Derek Richmond.

The Lodge agreed to and purchased robes for the new Chapter which was warranted on 12th November 1997 and duly consecrated on 21st March 1998

1998 Worshipful Master

Trevor Lewis

Initiate

Stewart Caveny

KLA Spring

Arrowhead 8500

KLA Autumn

Pathfinder 8236

Trevor was a leader in West Middlesbrough, latterly in Stainton.

He was the chaplain for the District successfully managing its spiritual affairs. This role may have influenced the decision leading to his ordination in July 2009.

It was a busy year for Rev Trev. We were assisted by scout leaders from 15th Middlesbrough in our fund raising at one of the major Provincial festival events, the Raby Gala. The Lodge congratulated W Bro Doug Rowell on his appointment as District Commissioner of Darlington Scout District. The Scout District Treasurer was Peter Stokes, our own Lodge Treasurer.

A great example of Freemasonry in the Community.

Membership of the Lodge climbed to 68 and we noted through the KLA that Walesby Forest Lodge was consecrated on 28th November. A small contingent visited the KLA Autumn Festival with Pathfinder Lodge in Sheffield.

1999 Worshipful Master John Hogan Initiate

Doug Corbin

KLA Spring

Compass 8765

KLA Autumn

Sure & Stedfast 9326

John came to Indaba with Graham Rutherford, both being members of 1st North Ormesby BP Scout Troop. The group is still going strong. John was also responsible for maintenance of one of the landmarks of the Guiding movement on Teesside, the Guide House at Egton Bridge.

His first challenge as Master came when he was confronted with the first, and we hope only, black Ball outcome of an Indaba ballot. The candidate being voted on was waiting to be initiated outside the door of the Lodge. Thankfully there was an error in the ball distribution spotted by our Senior Warden Paul Tweddle, the ballot was re run with a successful outcome – phew!!

On the 24th March, the Durham Provincial Festival Result was announced. Masons of the Province contributed a massive £2,956,593.33 to the Festival total of £3,872,577.87 for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

2000 Worshipful Master

Paul Tweddle

Initiate

Simon Dixon

KLA Spring

Pathfinder 8596

KLA Autumn

Impeesa 9385

Paul is a Queen’s Scout. Scouting gave him a love of the outdoors which is with him still. He has rock climbed and skied for most of his life and has a long and influential association with the Cleveland Mountaineering Club.

It was another special year for the Lodge. Paul, the Lodge’s first initiate, reaches the chair - another tradition of the Lodge established. As well as insisting our candidates became involved quickly in the workings of the Lodge, we wanted to ensure that candidates could progress to the chair in the shortest practical timescale. Paul achieved the chair just seven years after he was initiated.

Paul’s dedication to Indaba was sorely tested when we visited Wellingborough for a KLA Meeting. The hotel got mixed up with our rooms and Paul ended up sleeping on the floor. Thankfully, American pancakes for breakfast restored his perpetual good humour.

The total membership of the Lodge reaches sixty-nine.

2001 Worshipful Master

Peter J Bradburn

Initiate

Lee Pattinson

KLA Spring

Fleur de Lis 8969

KLA Autumn

Warwickshire Scout 9648

Peter has an exemplary scouting background, beginning even before his attendance as a scout at the World Jamboree in Norway during the late 60’s. He is a long serving member of Synthonia Scout Group having been a leader, a fantastic caterer, a fundraiser and quartermaster to the group.

Peter is the second Indaba initiate to take the chair. During his year the Lodge discussed and agreed to make the first of subsequent regular donations of £250 to Darlington District Scout Council to ensure Queen’s Scouts in Darlington were able to attend the annual Windsor Castle Parade.

Peter is a regular attender at KLA visits and contributes significantly to the fellowship and camaraderie that is always evident. ……….One time a bouncer……………….. Anyway, What happens on KLA tours stays on KLA Tours.

2002 Worshipful Master

Doug Rowell

Initiate

Gary Elgie

KLA Spring

Sure & Stedfast 9365

KLA Autumn

Pinewood 8426

Doug started Scouting as a CSL at 7th Darlington Sea Scouts and ended up as DC for Darlington and District before retiring from active scouting.

Doug had an extremely busy year in the chair as the Lodge celebrated its 10th Anniversary. We marked the occasion with a small gift to the masons who attended our March meeting.

Doug is a founder member of Indaba Chapter and Indaba Mark and is almost a founder being one of the five joining members at the first regular meeting of Indaba Lodge. He currently holds a record of which he is very proud - he is the only mason to be Master of Indaba Lodge, first Principal of Indaba Chapter and Master of Indaba Mark. A feat which he hopes will be shared by every member of the Indaba family in the future.

2003 Worshipful Master

Ken Shepherd

Initiate

Derek Eason

KLA Spring

Pioneer 9065

KLA Autumn

Venturer 7897

W Bro Ken Shepherd became a leader in the 12th Hartlepool (Stranton) Scout Group in 1965, retiring as GSL in 2013, 47 years of uniformed service!! Ken joined freemasonry in 1974. He was Indaba’s secretary from 2004 until 2007 and his highlight was applying for, and receiving permission, to hold a fifth meeting.

He is our KLA representative and has been since 2004, attending every subsequent KLA committee and Lodge meeting.

KLA History The origins of the Kindred Lodges Association (KLA) date back to 5th February 1952. The first members were The Quest Lodge, no 5969; Juventus Lodge, no 6473; Pro Juventus Lodge, no 6999; Quest Lodge, no 7102 and Torch Lodge, no 7231. At present there are thirty-four Craft Lodges. There are also Chapters and Mark Mason lodges associated with the KLA. It also embraces members of the Boy's Brigade Lodges and we have many associate members of Scout and other Youth Groups who are Masons in other Lodges.

2004 Worshipful Master Allan Neal Initiate

Andy Neal

KLA Spring

Woodsmoke 9317

KLA Autumn

Sure & Stedfast 9130

Allan has worked at every level in Scouting working with groups in Middlesbrough, Hornsea, Selby and Stamford Bridge. He was the first Group Scout Leader of 10th Middlesbrough and concluded his uniformed career as a District Commissioner. He is currently the Group Chairman of Synthonia Scout Group in Billingham.

Allan says, “My year was a hugely enlightening experience. I will always remember two of my greatest friends, the Bradburns, delivering the working tools at my Installation.

Another special memory was my proposer, Stuart Lee, stepping in and conducting my Installation at short notice. I was very pleased to initiate my nephew into Freemasonry. We carried out his raising after dispensation during our first ‘fifth meeting’.”

This planted the seed of a strong debate in the Lodge which led to an additional meeting being introduced into our calendar in 2006.

The lodge contributed £400 through the KLA to the refurbishment of BP’s caravan.

2005 Worshipful Master Graham Davies Initiate

Mark Anderson

KLA Spring

Pathfinder 8236

KLA Autumn

Walesby Forest 9674

Graham was an initiate of the Lodge. His enthusiasm for freemasonry led him to a very distinguished masonic career.

He extended his masonic experiences to two other lodges, Two Chapters, two Mark Lodges, Rose Croix and beyond. His masonic contribution was recognised when he was appointed PPJGW. During Graham’s year, a new Provincial Grand Master Rt W Bro D Richmond was installed into the chair of Provincial Grand Lodge on 5th June 2006. There was a good contingent of Indaba brethren there to bear witness. It was an especially poignant and honourable moment for the brethren and companions of Lodge and Chapter. The new PGM selected the Chapter Principal, and the WM (Graham) of the Lodge to carry the collars of his office during his enthronement ceremonies - a not too subliminal message that Indaba was in his thoughts.

2006 Worshipful Master

Stewart Caveney

Initiate

Mark Thornton

KLA Spring

Rudyard Kipling 9681

KLA Autumn

Juventus 8150

Stuart has volunteered at every level in Scouting. He has volunteered at group, district, and county level. Much to the chagrin of the other sections, St Barnabas and Cub Scouts is where his heart really lies. He has spent voluntary time around Africa digging wells and teaching irrigation in Malawi, opening Scout Groups in Ghana and is currently raising funds and preparing for the Cleveland Scouting Expedition to Gambia, where Scouts are expecting to build a school room for local children.

Stewart’s year was very full. The members of the Lodge visited Arrowhead Lodge in Darwen for the KLA Spring Festival.

Arriving a little early and hungry for some lunch, we wandered through the town centre and found a pie shop. Having bought hot pies, we meandered back to the Masonic Hall eating the same. Imagine Mark Thornton’s surprise to be curtly told off by an older lady saying “Young gentlemen as smart as you are, you shouldn’t be eating on the street. It’s a disgrace! What is the world coming too?” What indeed!

2007 Worshipful Master

John Trenholm

Initiate

Simon Trenholm

KLA Spring

Arrowhead 8500

KLA Autumn

Brownsea Island 9689

John was a super scout and was a leader at 2nd Hartburn. He was also an active member of the Cleveland Scout Mountain Safety Training Team.

2007 was a great year for Indaba. John had the perfect and proudest masonic experience in initiating, passing and raising his own son. Simon’s 2nd was greatly enhanced when Uncle Ken (Bridgewater) effortlessly delivered the second degree tracing board. There was a not inconsiderable swelling of our visitor numbers during John’s year. He was very diligent in his visiting and was the instigator of the Red Wine Club, comprising all of the Darlington Masters whom he visited.

Simon says of his father, “I know how proud he was to be made Master. He made a lot of friends across the Darlington Lodges as he went 'up the ladder' and through the chair of King Solomon. I also hope investing me as a Lewis and his candidate was another proud and happy memory.”

2008 Worshipful Master

Roy Hill

Initiate

Peter Stemmer

KLA Spring

Compass 8765

KLA Autumn

Red Scarf 8448

Roy was a distinguished mason working hard for his Mother Lodge as secretary. He was a pillar of his Middleton St George community and served as a Justice of the Peace.

He took the Chair of the Lodge as preparations were underway to host the 2009 KLA Spring Festival. He arranged the Lodge outing to Red Scarf Lodge in London to collect the Tile. We had such a good time that after leaving to head home it was only after we were moving that Roy remembered the Tile was still in the hotel bedroom, so back we went!

The Festival meeting was memorable not just for the wonderful fellowship of the KLA, not just the demonstration of a Scottish third degree ceremony, but also for the rope securing the Tile to the table so Roy wouldn’t lose it again! The meeting also gave the opportunity for our visitors to see and have a personal guided tour of the Masonic Hall exhibit at Beamish Museum, led by W Bro Tom Coulson, the Provincial Archivist.

2009 Worshipful Master

Ken Bridgewater

Initiate

Dave Neal

KLA Spring

Indaba 9454

KLA Autumn

Woodsmoke 9317

Ken had a fulfilling year in the chair. He allowed W Bro Allan Neal to do the charge after initiation to his son Dave who said “That’s the first time I’ve stood so still for so long when my dad was lecturing me”. Ken found a couple of marvellous speakers for the ladies when two JP’s completely fascinated them by talking about their work in the legal system.

The Lodge’s KLA visit to Duo Fraternitates Lodge in Luton went down very well. Having arrived at our hotel we all decided to travel to the Masonic Hall in one car - a bit of a squeeze but ok.

We would take a taxi back to the hotel after the festivities. We intended to collect the car the following morning before journeying home. The car was safe at the hall as it was locked in the Car Park. Nobody turned up to unlock the car park. So, as a team in the Indaba way and following a unanimous vote (4 for 2 against), we abandoned W Bros Elgie and Bradburn to their fate and car recovery. One car came home without a care in the world after a lovely weekend.

2010 Worshipful Master

Gary Elgie

Initiate

Tony Anderson

KLA Spring

Duo Fraternitates 9146

KLA Autumn

Lancashire Scout 6384

Gary has been an active scouter across Cleveland. His formative scouting career started at Synthonia, progressed to Stockton and he is now Group Scout Leader at St Barnabas.

He was installed at a time when the Lodge was beginning to fulminate on its membership coming from everywhere but Darlington. Being an ‘action man’ he visited the Annual Meeting of Darlington District Scout Council. He convinced W Bro Neal to join him and address the meeting on Freemasonry.

He went on to challenge the scouts to an Archery competition and also discovered a scout group, Middleton St George who needed funds and masonic support.

Not satisfied with challenging the scouts he also challenged the Lodge and the ladies by inviting someone from Ladies Freemasonry to talk downstairs. That challenge backfired a little when his wife Denise was inspired by the talk to join a ladies Lodge and now he often has to cook his own tea.

2011 Worshipful Master

Graham Wharton

Initiate

Mike Forrester

KLA Spring

Sure & Stedfast 8991

KLA Autumn

Torch 2736

Graham’s year started where Gary’s left off with the Scout Archery Challenge. He presented the District Commissioner of Darlington with a leatherwork trophy commemorating the competition. Steven Ward, a Scout Leader, was so taken by the fellowship we enjoyed that he joined the Lodge the following year.

The Lodge went back to London and visited Queen Street with Torch Lodge and the KLA. The motley Indaba crew are pictured above at the “Spooks” entrance to Grand Lodge. This was before they informally presented a KLA scarf to David Williamson, the then Assistant to the Grand Master, who they met for a pint in the Mason’s Arms.

The Lodge was also fortunate to secure the 2012 Prestonian Lecture “Scouting and Freemasonry.” Tony Harvey delivered a delightful lecture and the brethren all ended up poor and penniless through supporting Tony’s considerable fund raising efforts for Scouting and the RMGB.

2012 Worshipful Master

Derek Eason

Initiate

Steve Ward

KLA Spring

Pioneer 9065

KLA Autumn

Pinewood 8426

From being a cub scout at St Barnabas, Derek has given many years of unstinting service as a leader with Cubs and Scouts. He used his canoeing skills to extensively provide training for scouts across the county.

He had a wonderful year in office and was happy to visit every Lodge in Darlington as well as others besides. At our March meeting we invited the Master of Indaba Mark, the principals of Indaba Chapter and their ladies to join us. Collectively, the three Indaba orders presented a cheque for ÂŁ800 to Middleton St George Scout group to allow them to purchase a mess tent.

Indaba Mark ? - moves were afoot by Graham Davies, Ray Snaith, Doug Rowell, Brian Dove and Stuart Ingrams to expand the Indaba brand to include a Mark Lodge. Lodge members were invited to Old Elvet for an excellent lecture and model assembly of Kings Solomon’s Temple. They were then sandbagged with application forms for the Mark Lodge which was subsequently consecrated in November 2012.

2013 Worshipful Master Andy Reed KLA Spring

Scout Lodge 9814

KLA Autumn

Venturer Lodge 7897

Andy was a member of St Barnabas Scout Group as a cub scout and scout and then worked with the scouts as a leader. He finally accepted the challenge with others to form a new scout group, the 10th Middlesbrough Marton Manor, when he was advised “they had no money, nowhere to meet, and no kids” - a perfect start!

Andy’s super year in the chair had a tinge of sadness in that his Dad Tom, a founder member, wasn’t around to see him take the chair of Indaba Lodge. Andy was the first mason to be master of Indaba Lodge and first principal of Indaba Chapter at the same time.

The lodge created a great impression at Wigan with the Lancashire Scout Lodge and the KLA. We travelled down by bus and enjoyed much fellowship. We took gentle issue with the locals about Wigan being the ‘Home of the Pie’ and were rewarded for our humour when they ran in front of the bus and loaded us up with said pies to eat on the way home. Jolly nice they were too.

Andy Neal

2014 Worshipful Master

Andy Neal

Initiate

Mike Neal

KLA Spring

Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom

KLA Autumn

Sure and Steadfast 9236

Andy is a product of the 10th Middlesbrough Marton Manor Scout Group. His adult scouting career began during his university study in Leeds. He and Mike Forrester, another Indaba lodge member, looked after and transformed a failing city centre scout group. Andy is currently an ASL at St Chads in Leeds.

His year was really special. Andy recalls how brilliant his Installation was and is very appreciative of the support he received from the Lodge during his year. There are often unusual events in Freemasonry but there won’t be many masons who have had the opportunity of initiating their own father into the craft witnessed by their uncle and cousin - a magical occasion.

Andy’s masonic interest is such that he wanted to research more about masonry. Under the tutelage of W Bro Tom Coulson he developed a really interesting and thoughtprovoking lecture on ‘Candles and their place in the Lodge’. A very dry topic but delivered really well and even involving an experiment to create two flames from one candle.

2015

2015 Worshipful Master

Mark Anderson

Initiates

Elliott Bradburn Andy Scrimshaw

KLA Spring

Scout Lodge Devon 9783

KLA Autumn

Impeesa 9385

Mark and his family have been involved in scouting since BP was a boy! Mark is the 24/7 Group Scout Leader of Synthonia Scout Group, a group that has a history extending back to 1928.

Mark’s year began with a bang when the Installing Master was a tad over zealous installing him in the Chair of King Solomon.

It continued to be busy when, in another first for the Lodge, we initiated two members of Synthonia scout group. This was managed with a bit of initiative by doing double ceremonies when Elliott Bradburn, one part of our new duo and our double Lewis, was initiated. His proud father and grandfather participated in the ceremony watched over by lots of their good friends.

The WM and a large contingent attended the KLA Autumn Festival hosted by Impeesa Lodge in Bristol. There was an amazing amount of Scouting memorabilia and we heard about the Scouting memorial at the National Arboretum.

2016 Worshipful Master

Mark Thornton

Initiate

Duncan Hill

KLA Spring

Brownsea Island 9689

KLA Autumn

Scout Lodge Norfolk 9850

Mark is another product of St Barnabas Scout Group. His adult career began there as an ASL. He moved on to manage the Phoenix Venture Scout Unit, became a DVSL in West Middlesbrough and handled a county appointment as Mountain Activities Advisor, before joining the 10th Middlesbrough and 40th Middlesbrough. He is currently a Scout Leader at Ingleby Barwick.

Mark is thoroughly enjoying his year having initiated his ASL into the Lodge. Twelve brethren accompanied the WM to Norfolk to collect the KLA tile. The lodge was well prepared with flyer invitations to our spring festival which…… we left in the hotel.

A mad dash back and forth retrieved the situation. The fellowship at the Festive board got the better of Indaba and we bid £50 and won a knitted cub scout. We returned to the hotel and shared an evening with other KLA brethren while Charlie, the knitted Cub scout, sat by the bar and glared at us all.

Indaba Ladies Topics – Saturday Meeting Highlights From its inception, Indaba has invited the members’ partners to join them for the Festive board at our Saturday evening November and March meetings.

Initially, a team of founders ladies organised some entertainment for themselves downstairs whilst the lodge met upstairs. Latterly, this task has fallen to the WM’s partner. The evenings’ topics have been many and varied and perhaps more interesting and popular than the Lodge meetings themselves. Certainly some anonymous masons have on occasion declared that they would rather be downstairs than in the Lodge Room!!

Topics have included: Hand Blown Romanian Glass Aromatherapy Justices of The Peace Japanese Tea Making and Kimonos Women’s Freemasonry Training Dogs to help disabled people Brooch Making Talk on Theatre Costumes Colours Make Up Demo Trivial Pursuit Queens Pastry Chef Belly Dancing

Lace Making Hat Making Camel Trekking Festival Cards Cake Icing and Decorating Games and Mayhem History of Thornton’s Chocolates Fun and Games Evening Beetle Drive Christmas Crafts Sylvia’s surprise Evening Antiques Roadshow Remembrance Poppies

The origins of the Kindred Lodges Association The origins of the Kindred Lodges Association (KLA) date back to a meeting held in the library of The Scout Association H.Q on 5th February 1952. It is known that there were five Lodges whose membership comprised present and past Scout Leaders and supporters of the Movement: The Quest Lodge, no 5969, Province of East Lancashire; Juventus Lodge, no 6473, London Pro; Juventus Lodge, no 6999, Province of Middlesex; Quest Lodge, no 7102, Province of Durham and Torch Lodge, no 7231, London.

In the early days, the KLA meetings were held annually in September to coincide with Gilwell Reunion and called the Autumn Festival. In 1982 it was decided to hold a second festival to be called the Spring Festival to allow brethren from the ‘north’ to attend.

At present there are 34 Craft Lodges and a KLA lodge Unity, Peace and Concord, no 316, London (Installed Masters Lodge of the KLA). There are also Chapters and Mark Mason Lodges associated with the KLA. It now embraces members of the Boy's Brigade Lodges and we have many associate members of Scout and other Youth Groups who are Masons in other Lodges. Links have also been formed with Lodges and like-minded brethren overseas, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the United States of America.

Biott D Jackson R S Reed T R Greenwood J I Forrest G C Weir W Jarvis E Waite P Lee R C Dawson C M Sterrett F

Dixon F W Erskine A S Richmond D Priestman M G Hill R Stokes P N Lee S M Dunn M Jones R Davies G B Trenholm J C