Despite the rotten weather we have been having this summer, fortunately, it was kind to us on Saturday 29th July when we ventured up to London for a guided tour of Freemasons Hall the home of the United Grand Lodge of England. Unthwarted by the disruption caused by the rail Unions who were striking that day, we all managed to get there. There needs to be a special mention for W.Bro Larry Hands who also made it on time after a herculean effort to get there, by circumnavigating most of the South London’s bus routes and taking an astonishing 2 ½ hours to complete what should have been a 45min journey.
An Art Deco masterpiece in the heart of London’s West End, Freemasons' Hall welcomes more than 200,000 visitors through its doors every year. We assembled in the entrance to the museum on the 1st floor and were collected by our charming lady tour guide who eloquently took us through the history of the Unification Free Masonry in the UK, the Masonic organisational structure, and some of the differing regalia, customs, and practises of Masons, in 4 countries of the UK and worldwide. It was particularly interesting to see the Lady Masons display.
The tour continued into the Memorial Hall in all its art deco splendour and to see the roll of honour of those Masons lost in World War I. The tour culminated in the Grand Temple. We then proceeded to The Ship Inn of Lincoln's Inn Fields for a particularly good lunch. It was a great day, and we hope to repeat it in the not-too-distant future for those that were unable to join us this time.