Sixty years of service to Masonry is a landmark to be honoured, so Old Masonians Middlesex Lodge No 7658 has had a busy year with not one but two of its Brethren achieving this remarkable feat – W. Bro Kenneth Warr (initiated 1962, served as Worshipful Master 1973) and W. Bro. Graham Garrett (initiated 1962, served as Worshipful Master 1975). W. Bro. Garrett received his certificate to mark his service from Deputy Provincial Grandmaster W. Bro. Jim Mitchell on his official visit to the Lodge in November 2022, with W. Bro. Mitchell conducting a Parkinson-style interview with him to tease out the details of his Masonic career, which was well received by the bumper turnout for the meeting.
Unfortunately W. Bro Warr (now 97 years young) was unable to attend the November meeting but the Brethren were determined not to allow his service to pass without the landmark being properly recognised. So it was agreed that a delegation of Lodge members, accompanied by W. Bro. Mitchell, would visit him in Hilperton, Wiltshire to present the Certificate in person.
This visit happened on 15 April, with W. Bro. Mitchell accompanied by Provincial Deputy Director of Ceremonies W. Bro George Fraser and members of Old Masonians Middlesex Lodge – W. Bro. Graham Garrett, W. Bro. John Brown (Almoner), W. Bro. Nailesh Mehta (Treasurer) and W. Bro. Mark Togher (Secretary). They spent a day in the company of W. Bro. Warr and his wife Catherine, reminiscing on his Masonic career, which had its foundation as a pupil at the Royal Masonic School for Boys in Bushey, which was also attended by W. Bros. Garrett and Brown (who will achieve 60 years of Masonic service in 2025). The day was rounded off with a presentation of flowers to Catherine and to W. Bro. Garrett’s wife, Ann.
Members and guests at Old Masonians Middlesex Lodge No 7658
The Lodge, which installed W. Bro. Mike Tighe as its first non-past Master in the last 18 years in May, would like to thank W. Bro. Mitchell and W. Bro. Fraser for the time they donated to visiting the Lodge and W. Bro. Warr’s home – it was truly appreciated and a fitting way to mark their service.
A special thanks is due to W. Bro Ian Mitchell PProvSGD Media Team Member for the edit.
