Connaught Freemasons Lodge 3573

14/06/2026

Here is the You Tube video of Bro. Jonny Spencer's ride from John O'Groats to Land's End, including his visit to us. It's about twenty minutes long so I suggest you make yourself a cuppa before sitting down to watch it.
Chris J

Riding a Honda Monkey 125cc motorcycle from John O’Groats to Land’s...

05/06/2026

The Connaught Dining Club enjoying a Limoncello to round off an excellent evening at the Castello Italian Restaurant in Radstock.
Next month the Old Down Inn at Emborough. Look out for the bulletin to follow.

31/05/2026

A picture is more than words can convey

29/05/2026

Bro. Jonny Spencer’s Boulder Roll
Bro. Jonny, a member of the Nelson of the Nile Lodge No 264 in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, on Saturday 23 May, set out from John O’Groats in Scotland on a small 125cc Honda Monkey Bike for Land’s End. In conjunction with the Chapter of Fidelity No 289, he was raising money for the 2028 Provincial Festival for the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

Bro. Jonny was given significant financial support by the MCF for life-changing spinal surgery without which it was probable he would have been confined to a wheelchair. He undertook this challenge to payback the MCF for their kindness and understanding in supporting his surgery.

From Scotland he travelled through a number of English Provinces and met local Brethren to share his story and hopefully receive a small donation towards this extraordinary fundraising effort. And so, at midday on Wednesday 27 May, having travelled from his overnight stop in the Shropshire Hills, Bro. Jonny arrived at the Masonic Hall in Midsomer Norton where he was greeted by WM/Charity Steward W. Bro Chris James, along with many Connaught Brethren, the PGM, RW Bro. Raymond Guthrie and W. Bro. David Madden, our 2031 Festival Chairman.

After Bro. Jonny and Mathew, his support van driver, visited the Temple a buffet lunch was served under our Lodge gazebo and he related his story. With no hesitation it was readily agreed that the Province would make a donation, as would the Lodge. Bro. Jonny and Malcolm both felt this was best reception they had received outside of their own Province and described it as ’awesome and the Temple impressive’.

Suitably refreshed, they departed for Glastonbury escorted by a Connaught biker who is also a member of the Columbanus Biker Lodge, and W. Bro David, who peeled off part way to head for home; and from there onto their final overnight in mid Cornwall, having completed 290 miles during the day.

And so it was at 11.30am on Thursday 28th, Bro. Jonny, accompanied by some Widow’s Sons bikers, rolled across the finishing line at Land’s End, six days after departing from John O’Groats, having covered 1,054 miles, end to end.

So why ‘Boulder Roll’? As Bro. Jonny explained, the event required a catchy name; so in one aspect it is a homage to our Ancient Brethren who, back in their day, toiled away with rudimentary hand tools. What’s harder and time consuming as rolling a boulder? So to Bro. Jonny the challenge of riding the little Monkey Bike felt as if rolling a boulder all the way.

One final comment from Bro. Jonny before heading for home. Meeting us was a ‘particular highlight’ and he will definitely keep in touch with the hope of visiting one of our meetings at some future date.

Additional Images:
John O'Groats, Lake District, Land's End

23/05/2026

Bro. Matthew Burt becomes a Fellow Craft
The evening of 20 May commenced with a Eulogy given by W. Bro Kevin Chard for W. Bro Kevin Moynihan, a Past Master and Honorary Member of the Lodge, who had recently passed to the Grand Lodge Above.

WM Chris James (his first ceremony since his Installation) appointed Bro. James Jefferies as Junior Deacon, and also presented him with his Mentors Badge, being the Personal Mentor to Bro. Matt. W. Bro Craig Harding was then appointed Tyler. The WM gave an extract from the Mentor’s Guide emphasising the importance of Personal Mentors, especially when it comes to the retention of members.

It was a full team effort during the Passing of Bro. Matt. W. Bro Tatomir put the Questions to the Candidate. After Bro. Matt had been obligated by the WM, Acting Senior Warden, W Bro Tony Cooper entrusted him with the Secrets of the Degree. W. Bro Richard Gilson explained the objects of the South-East Corner, after which Bro. James Jefferies expertly presented the Working Tools.

On his return to the Lodge, having been restored to his personal comforts, Bro. Matt was treated to an impeccable explanation of the Tracing Board by the Junior Warden, Bro. Neil Sunderland.

18/05/2026

Columbanus Lodge visit Midsomer Norton
We had the privilege of hosting Columbanus Lodge, No9941, on Saturday 16 June. Columbanus is a peripatetic biker Lodge, not to be confused with the Widows Sons, which is a club in comparison. They visit Lodges throughout Somerset as well as neighbouring Provinces.

Opening at 11.00hrs the intention was to carry out a demonstration of the First Degree Ceremony with an explanatory commentary. However as the member who was to present commentary was absent the demonstration went ahead as normal. WM. Robert Bullen expertly presided over his first ceremony since his Installation. The six Connaught brethren who attended as visitors, including WM. Chris James, found everything somewhat different. For instance, many of the Columbanus brethren wear white short sleeved shirts with their regalia, rather than the formal dark suit, and there were a few subtle differences in the ceremony – intentional or otherwise.

A lively Festive Board with a meal of sausage and mash with a cheesecake desert (typical biker sustenance) followed. As the gathering broke up our robing room was full of half-naked bodies as those who had travelled by bike changed into their leathers. They then formed up for their traditional post meeting ride-out.
An enjoyable time was had by all.

06/05/2026

Connaught Dining Club
Eight Brethren attended the highly successful inaugural meeting of the Connaught Dining Club at the Spice Dunes Indian Restaurant at Farrington Gurney during the evening of Wednesday 6 May.
Our next gathering will be on Friday 5 June, 7pm at the Castello Italian Restaurant in Radstock. All are welcome.
Contact Chris J. 07768778169

17/04/2026

Connaught Installation
The Lodge was honoured by the presence of The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Very Worshipful Brother Michael Greedy, accompanied by his DC, W. Bro Andy MacKay, for the 2nd Installation of W. Bro Chris James as Worshipful Master, during the evening of Wednesday 15 April.

More than forty brethren, several of whom were colleagues of CJ from the Provincial Team, attended the ceremony to witness W. Bro Chris Brooke install W. Bro Chris into the ‘Chair’. In the interests of getting them involved in Lodge activities as soon as possible, our two new Entered Apprentices were appointed as Stewards. W. Bro Brian Parry and Bro. Neil Sunderland were appointed SW and JW respectively.

During a short element of Lodge business it was agreed to make donations to the Dorothy House Hospice for their 50th Anniversary Appeal and to SWALLOW, a local charity that supports young people with learning difficulties, to develop their Craft Sales Project.

A lively Festive Board followed, during which WM Chris presented a bouquet of flowers to the chef who had stepped in at short notice after the previous caters cancelled. He also presented the latest edition of the Ritual Book to Lodge DC, W. Bro Richard Gilson to replace his badly worn and rather dated, though much-cherished, edition.

Well lubricated voices gave a hearty rendition of the Master’s Song led by W. Bro Lindsay Edwards. Although unsure at the time how much the very generous raffle had raised, WM Chris announced that the proceeds would be put to the Lodge Charity Account for future donations as suitable recipients became known, as well as the Provincial 2031 Festival. WM Chris was very appreciated of everyone for making it a most memorable evening.

20/03/2026

Connaught Freemasons Meet Arlo Cradock
Arlo Cradock is a young lad (3.5 years old), who from birth has been diagnosed with epilepsy and later diagnosed with STXBP1, which is a rare genetic condition. Due to his mobility needs, he needs a floor bed because if he was to fall out of bed, he would be unable to get himself back in and so a fully guarded bed would support his needs better.

Arlo, along with his mother Emma and six year old sister Isla-Rose, and Nan Carol Heavyside, came to meet us at the Masonic Hall on the evening of Wednesday 18 March where we presented them with a cheque for £220 to cover the cost of the bed. Emma and Carol gave us an interesting explanation of Arlo’s condition and the problems in providing continuous care for him as outlined above. Before leaving Arlo was given one of our TLC Teddies and not to be left out Isla-Rose had a cuddly penguin.

Images: Emma Cradock, Isla-Rose, Carol Heavyside & Arlo flanked by Freemasons Chris Brooke (left) and Chris James (right).

21/02/2026

Connaught Lodge February Meeting
An action packed evening at Connaught Lodge, (Wednesday 18 February) starting with Worshipful Master Chris Brooke initiating Bro. Michael Edwards who was expertly escorted by Junior Deacon W. Bro Peter Kuzemka, ably aided by W. Bro Jerry Hann acting as Senior Deacon. Having been entrusted with the Secrets of the Degree by W. Bro Tony Cooper and Bro. Michael invested with his apron by the Senior Warden W. Bro Chris James, he was placed in the North-East Corner where W. Bro Chris fluently explained the significance of Charity. Then followed a faultless presentation of the Working Tools by Bro. James Jefferies. On Bro. Edwards return to the Lodge he was treated to an eloquent presentation of the ‘Charge after Initiation’ by W. Bro Adrian Moore.

Following a pure ballot the Lodge was pleased to welcome W. Bro David Sherborne as a re-joining member, having been previously proposed in open Lodge by W. Bro. Tony Cooper. The Provincial Grand Mentor, W. Bro Ray Conneely (representing the Provincial Grand Master), then presented a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro. Mitchell Pimm.

Next, W. Bro Ian Rogers, Worshipful Master of the Royal Somerset Lodge No 973, (our Mother Lodge), accompanied by a large posse of brethren, presented the Travelling Trowel to our WM Chris Brooke, who was entrusted in taking the Trowel to the upcoming Provincial Annual Meeting in April.

W. Bro Chris encouraged the brethren to consider the Solomon Academy having been presented with his diploma the previous week by W. Bro Barry Palmer, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, and gave a brief explanation of the course.

A lively Festive Board included the usual Toast to the Initiate given by our Membership Officer W. Bro Jerry Hann that included an overview of Bro. Michael’s career. Now living in Midsomer Norton, he moved to Frome from London 35 years ago having previously trained as a Site Engineer. But later he turned to bricklaying having realised he could earn more money that way. After working for a few companies he set up his own building business. Then one day watching customers wondering around a DIY store scratching their heads, he started a website called ‘DIY Doctor’ that gave free DIY advice, whilst advertising professional builders for those who had bitten off more than they could chew. This grew to over one million users a month, so two years ago he sold it with the intention of retiring and go fishing, But after three months he got bored and started a consultancy company helping homeowners through the maze of Planning Permission, Building Regulations and liaising with builders. As well as this he is a part-time lecturer in constructions skills at Bath College in Radstock. We therefore have yet another 'operative' mason within the Lodge.

Rounding off the evening our Lodge Secretary W. Bro Kevin Chard gave the Toast to the many Visitors which was responded to by Royal Somerset’s Secretary W. Bro Roger Hatherell who, in doing so, complemented W. Bro Chris, Bro James, and W. Bro Adrian for their excellent ritual presentations during the ceremony.