RAF Hero With The Grand Master at Air Display in Gloucestershire

Freemason and former rear gunner on Lancaster bombers, Doug Satherley, was honoured to converse with the Grand Master, The Duke of Kent, during the Royal International Air Tattoo held at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, this summer. One of the themes of the show was a "Salute to Bomber Crews" and Doug Satherley, together with three other former bomber crewmen, had been invited to attend.
    Doug Satherley flew with 101 Squadron and the Pathfinders from 1942 – 1945. His job was one of the most dangerous – rear gunner. At a time when the life-expectancy of his role was a mere 8 hours he survived 35 missions totalling 586 hours in the air.
    He described his most frightening moment: during a bombing mission over the Luena oil works in Merseberg, just inside the Russian border, his aircraft was struck by 5 bombs falling from another Lancaster above, flattening the frame, trapping the control wires, knocking out both starboard engines, and bursting a fuel tank. Satherley’s plane fell into a steep dive and Satherley was soaked in fuel. By courage and strength, the pilot and flight engineer managed to regain control at just 1000 feet above the ground and using great skill, flying on one engine, returned to England, crash-landing in Marston, Kent. Within one day the pilot was awarded the DFC.
    Doug Satherley is a Past Master of the Lodge of Unity, No. 7401, Bristol.

Land’s End to John O’Groats

As part of the Freemasonry in the Community week, West Lancashire mason and keen cyclist, Alf Shaw, completed a sponsored bike ride along the length of the British Isles. He began in the furthest south at Land’s End and rode north to John O’Groats, averaging 120 miles each day for the 840 mile journey. Two close friends, both Freemasons, followed him by car, urging him on and carrying spares for the journey. He raised over £4000 which was donated to the Clatterbridge Cancer Research Trust, a major Oncology Centre in Merseyside, that provides specialist facilities to treat patients throughout the entire North West.
    Alf, Master of Stanley Lodge, No.1325, Liverpool, has kept himself very fit. He had a multiple bypass operation 4 years ago yet within 2 months was rock climbing in Spain. He is also a member of the Long Distance Walkers Club and just prior to his bike ride he completed a long distance walk of 100 miles.

Burmese Banners Given to Masonic Museum

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry at Freemason’s Hall, London, was recently presented with a collection of 4 banners from Burma which are the only surviving examples from that country.
    In 1998 Freemason Graham Barnard visited Rangoon in Burma on a pilgrimage organised by the Royal British Legion in order to visit the grave of his father who was killed in action in 1944. During a reception at the British Embassy Graham learned of 4 masonic banners which were being stored in the Embassy. He arranged for them to be sent to London. The banners are from lodges which worked under the District Grand Lodge of Burma: Rangoon University Lodge, No. 4603; Pegu Lodge, No. 3330; a Scottish lodge, Ady, No.1377 (SC).
    Graham Barnard, a Past Master of Southbourne Lodge, No. 4006, Sussex, with the current Master, Tony Kemp, presented the banners to the Library and Museum on behalf of their lodge. Graham Barnard commented, "These banners are both a link to the past with all those in Burma who were Freemasons or who gave their lives there, and also a reminder of my recent visit to the cemetery in Rangoon. I am pleased that we were able to involve the Royal British Legion who work so hard to organise the trips."

A Non-Stop Triathlon

Keep-fit fanatics, Freemason, Tim Summers, and non-masons, Steven McDowell, Nathan Doggett and Frase Cuttle embarked on a gruelling challenge for charity. They cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End; but on the way they scaled the 3 tallest mountains, Ben Nevis, Sca Fell Pike – which they accomplished in 4 hours instead of the 8 allocated - and Mount Snowdon. They also swam 50 miles in the icy Lake District covering 14 lakes at one stage swimming in water of only 2 degrees centigrade. Steve McDowell swam the 2 mile length of Derwent Water in 59 minutes. All averaged 19 miles per hour on the cycling stages. They completed the entire event in 165 hours, a full day ahead of schedule. Money is still coming in but, to date, over £85,000 has been raised.
    This is the first time such a gruelling triathlon has been attempted and the team, through sponsorship, raised the funds for Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation. The event was co-ordinated by a 30-strong team of East Lancashire Freemasons who supplied support along the route. The event was run as part of the national Freemasonry in the Community Week.
    Team leader, Tim Summers, a champion swimmer, said, "Fraser and I had previously swum the Channel for charity and we were looking for a bigger challenge that would raise money across the length of Britain."

Sailing For The Disabled Sponsored by Northampton Lodge

St. Wilfrid’s Lodge, No.4453, meeting at Oundle, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, have sponsored a 45 foot yacht for use in the "Sailability" scheme for the disabled. It will be based at Rutland Water.
    During the Freemasonry in the Community week a formal Press Conference together with an Open Day was held at Freemasons’ Hall, Northampton and the yacht was placed on display outside, creating considerable attention.

Neath and Port Talbot Masons Aid Alzheimer Charity

The Neath and Port Talbot Freemasons, represented by the Provincial Grand Master, Hywel Davies, presented a car to the Neath and Port Talbot Alzheimer’s Disease Society at Tonna Hospital. The Mayor of Neath and Port Talbot was present along with the Member of Parliament for Port Talbot and two Members of the Welsh Assembly.
    As part of the Freemasonry in the Community Week funds were raised to purchase this vehicle and to run it for a further three years. The vehicle will be used for transporting both patients and helpers around the area, providing a much needed service for carers of elderly sufferers, and for others who may be isolated or socially deprived. It will also help the many frail elderly relatives who may need transport to visit hospital patients.
    Dr. Joan Rule, OBE, President of the local Alzheimer’s branch, received the vehicle for the Society. The Chairman of the local NHS Trust observed, "The provision of the vehicle is a major improvement in care and of enormous benefit to carers, and I thank the Freemasons in this area for bringing it about."
    Dr. Brian Gibbons, Member of the Welsh Assembly, said, "One of the ways to challenge a public stereotype view of Freemasonry is by engaging in the community for the benefit of society in a very practical way…such as we have seen today, and I thank the Neath and Port Talbot Freemasons for what they have done."

Gift to Ghurkhas in Hull

Brethren of the Humber Lodge, No. 57, Hull, presented a portable language learning system to the Ghurkha detachment based at the Defence School of Transport. The representatives of the Lodge – one member of which, Past Master Robert Wallace, is an Instructor at the School – met with representatives of the Ghurkha troop at the Normandy Barracks, Leconfield. A military spokesman said that the Ghurkha Troop, and particularly their wives, would derive great benefit from this equipment in helping them overcome the language difficulties many faced. Since 1993 when the Ghurkhas withdrew from Hong Kong, a Troop has been based in Leconfield for driving training.

Collectors Bargains in Birmingham

The annual meeting of the Jewels of the Craft Study and Collectors Circle was held in Birmingham. The morning began with a meeting for exchanging artefacts: members eagerly sorted through memorabilia looking for artefacts which had eluded them for so long. Although it is normal for Brethren to travel from the four corners of the United Kingdom, it is not often that members from other countries manage to make the journey. This year Jim Brown came over from Durban, South Africa, with quite a collection of jewels to dispose of. During the day hundreds of jewels changed hands.
    The Circle is an international organisation and details can be obtained from the Secretary, Martin Haywood, 5 Brackenfield Rise, Ravenshead, Nottingham NG15 9EP.