New Public Relations Company Hired by Grand Lodge

Michael Dewar Associates (MDA), Public Relations have been retained by Grand Lodge to improve the public perception of Freemasonry. While this has been extensively reported in the national Press readers may like to know more of this company which is now monitoring and augmenting the image of Freemasonry.
    MDA was set up in 1996 by its managing director, Colonel Michael Dewar. Previously, from 1994, he had been a director of city-based financial PR company, The Paternoster Partnership. But his career began with the army in 1960 and he served in Cyprus, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Libya, USA, Germany, Northern Ireland and in England. He was an instructor at Sandhurst and a staff officer at the MOD. In the early 1980s he was Chief of Operations for 1st British Corps in Germany and then CO of The Light Division Depot, Winchester. He rose to Colonel of The Royal Green Jackets and then moved to Defence Studies, Army Staff College, Camberley, reporting directly to the Chief of General Staff. He left the army in 1990 and became the Deputy Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1990-1994. He is also in the British Association of the Knights of Malta and has retained professional links with the Centre for Defence Studies, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, and the Royal United Services Institution.
    MDA has a wide range of clients including, Hope and Homes for Children, Action Against Hunger, The Marine Society, Worldwide Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts, British Airways, Readers Digest, Association of University Teachers, The Science Museum, The British Army (Royal Artillery), Allied Dunbar, Smithkline Beecham, Esso, Kellogs. They also edit a number of magazines, including, Officer Magazine, In Flight, and Defence Systems International.

Masonic Website Update

London Freemasonry has developed a new website at www.londonfreemasonry.com. The original page at www.london-lodges.org will, however, redirect you to the new site.
    The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has developed an informative site about the charity at www.rmbi.org.uk.
    The Cornerstone Society, set up in 1999 for all Master Masons in order to promote an understanding of the meaning and purpose of Freemasonry, has redeveloped its popular site at www.workingtools.co.uk .
    The Province of Cumberland and Westmorland have just launched their website at www.cumbwestmasons.co.uk. The Province of Bedfordshire is online at: www.beds-freemasonry.org.uk. The Province of Wiltshire too is online at: www.pglwilts.co.uk .
    The Earl Amherst Lodge No. 3230, at www.amos-99.freeserve.co.uk, is selling a computer program, which generates a family tree for all Lodges under the United Grand Lodge of England. All lodges that were erased before the formation of Grand Lodge in 1717 are included where necessary to ensure completeness. All profits will be donated to the New Masonic Samaritan Fund.
    The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of France and its appendant Orders, which were all regularly constituted by bodies in England and Wales, have their own site at www.glmmmf.org .
    The Keats and Shelley Lodge No. 1 (www.keats-shelley-lodge.it) is an English speaking Lodge that works the Emulation ritual under the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy and is named after the English poets Keats and Shelley.
    The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, which is a Masonic fraternity only open to women, has a new website at www.hfaf.org .
    An order active in the USA, but not the UK, is the male youth order of DeMolay (www.demolay.org ).
    For your Masonic website to be considered for inclusion in our website update, please e-mail fmt@freemasonryonline.co.uk
    Compiled by Roger JG Stevens Old Cliftonian Lodge No. 3340 www.oclodge3340.org.uk

Sir Malcolm and Sir Donald Campbell

The recent raising of Bluebird V from Conniston Water brought back memories of one of the most famous English masons of recent times. Donald Campbell was a member of Grand Master's Lodge No.1, being initiated in that lodge on 16 February 1953. He joined Grand Master's Chapter in 1954. He held no offices but remained a member until his tragic death in 1967.
    Donald Campbell's father, Malcolm, was himself a speed champion. He was a member of Old Uppinghamian Lodge No. 4227 during the 1920s and 30s. He coined the name Bluebird for a racing car he bought in 1910 and, after winning a race at Brooklands a few days later, gave the name to all his winning cars. He was knighted in 1931, a few days after reaching a new land speed record of 246 mph.
    The motor works factory managed by Campbell had a lodge and it is generally believed that he was the initiator of it although never a member. The lodge survives today with the picture of the factory (now part of Ford) on the jewel.

Friends of the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

The newly formed Friends of the Library and Museum are increasing rapidly in numbers with several lodges becoming founding Friends. All Friends receive three newsletters a year and have the chance to attend previews of exhibitions and special events. This year these include a talk by `Antiques Roadshow' expert, Eric Knowles, and a talk on Masonic music with an accompanying performance. Director, Diane Clements, said, "This is a wonderful chance for individuals and lodges to support the preservation and display of Masonic heritage, meet like-minded people, and be kept up to date on what is happening in the Library and Museum".

The Specialised Medical Team at Grand Lodge

At every Quarterly Communications meeting of Grand Lodge, sitting in the background, is a highly trained and specialised medical team. This team comprises both staff and non-staff members and includes four paramedics. Mr.Vance Augustin, a member of staff at Grand Lodge, is responsible for maintaining the well equipped first-aid room.

Donation of Ambulance by Mark Degree Members

In February, an ambulance was presented to the Lincolnshire St. John Ambulance Brigade by Rt. W. Bro. Gordon Walkerley Smith on behalf of members of the Mark Degree. It was accepted by Mr. Jeremy Blower, Commander of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Lincolnshire. This donation was part of the national campaign, funded by the Mark Degree, to provide a new ambulance to each of the fifty counties in England and Wales at the total cost of £2,000,000. A service of celebration was held in Lincoln Cathedral with the approval of the Dean and Chapter. 1,200 attended the service. At the service the Provincial Grand Master pointed out that the ambulance presented had been upgraded by St. John to include air-conditioning and other equipment at an additional cost of £5000. He then asked the Commander to accept a further cheque for that amount from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire to defray the cost of those improvements. The Commander concluded by thanking Freemasonry for its generosity and spoke of the work of St. John and its association with the masonic order.

OBITUARY: W.Bro. Capt. Paul Bootherstone, 1938-2001

Captain Paul Jeffery Bootherstone, RN, DSC, was Chief Executive of the New Masonic Samaritan Fund from 1994 when he retired from the Navy. He was born on 7 May 1938 in Blackpool and joined the Royal Navy at Dartmouth at the age of sixteen as a seaman officer. He subsequently trained as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, specialising in fixed wing Fairey Gannet Airborne Early Warning patrol aircraft and became an accomplished flyer. In the 1960's he flew from the carriers Centaur and Hermes, and in 1968 flew with the US Navy on an exchange program. The following year he commanded the minesweeper Brinton in the Gulf and Indian Ocean.
    His second ship was the frigate Arrow in which he won the DSC for his leadership in the Falklands campaign. Arrow was a type 21 frigate, and as part of the Carrier Task Group, sent to the South Atlantic in 1981. It took part in the bombardment of Port Stanley Airfield with her sister ship Alacrity and the destroyer Glamorgon. Arrow was the first British ship to be damaged in that attack, and was also close to the destroyer Sheffield when it was struck by an Argentine Exocet missile on the afternoon of May 4. Arrow immediately positioned herself along Sheffield's port side and sprayed its burning upper deck before rescuing 225 of its crew. After surviving both air and torpedo attack, Arrow also successfully supported 2 Para's attack on Goose Green and remained in the South Atlantic until Port Stanley surrendered, despite developing stress cracks in her hull.
    In 1983, Paul Bootherstone was promoted to the rank of Captain and served on the Staff of the Naval Secretary, subsequently commanding the destroyers Battleaxe and Seahawk (1987 - 9). During his career he saw service in many parts of the world and enjoyed two tours with the US Airforce as a Flying Instructor. A graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College and the Canadian National Defence College he was an experienced staff officer. His last two appointments for the Navy were as Commanding Officer of the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose in Cornwall, and as Naval Attache to the High Commissioner in Ottawa, Canada.
    Bro Bootherstone was initiated into the Prince of Wales Lodge No.1648 on 1 April 1973 and subsequently became a member of five other other craft lodges, achieving the rank of PAGSwdB in April 1998. He was also an active and enthusiastic member of many side orders, including the Royal Arch, Rose Croix, Royal Ark Mariners, Knights Templar, Red Cross of Constantine, Secret Monitor and was on the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees. Paul sadly passed away on 1 March, 2001, while enjoying a family ski holiday in Austria. He leaves his wife, Janet, together with their four children and two grandchildren.

New London First Principals Chapter of Royal Arch Masons

Seventy-three Founders together with their many guests were present at the consecration of the Clerkenwell Chapter of First Principals No 9628 on the 6th June, at Freemasons’ Hall, London. Consecrating officer was the Third Grand Principal, M.E.Comp. the Reverend Peter Hemmingway. E.Comp. David Williamson GSN was consecrating H and E.Comp. the Reverend Dr John Railton PGStB served as J.
    In 1996, at the London Masonic Centre, Clerkenwell, an Installed Masters Lodge was formed to draw together Masters and Past Masters who met in the various Masonic units at the Centre. Such has been the success of the Clerkenwell Lodge of Installed Masters No 9628 that a demand for a Royal Arch equivalent soon emerged. It is this aspiration which has given rise to the new Clerkenwell Chapter of First Principals which has been principally established to encourage the association of Royal Arch First Principals and Past First Principals who meet at the London Masonic Centre.