Following the sad passing of W Bro Richard Waitt, PPrJGW, on 29th July 2024 at the age of 78, after an ongoing illness, his wife, Agnes, reached out to members of his Mother Lodge, Hadley Highstone Lodge No. 4203, seeking assistance in fulfilling Richard’s wish to preserve his extensive collection of Masonic books.
Over the past 56 years, since being initiated into Freemasonry by his father on 28th November 1968, Richard had amassed a significant collection of Masonic literature.
W Bros Ian Bowers, PPrGReg, and Mike Thorneycroft, PPrJGW—Hadley Highstone’s Almoner and Director of Ceremonies—contacted Temple of Athene Lodge No. 9541, which manages the Roger Croome Library at Harrow District Masonic Centre within the Kenton Circle, to seek their assistance in safeguarding Richard’s cherished collection.
Throughout September and October 2024, W Bros Ian, Mike, and the Roger Croome librarian carefully transported hundreds of Masonic books from Richard’s collection to the library, where they were catalogued and added to the existing archive of approximately 3,500 Masonic books.
W Bro Richard had a distinguished and prolific Masonic career, holding memberships in 27 Masonic units across various Orders. His last office was as Secretary of his Mother Lodge, a position he held from 2014 until his passing.
He was appointed to the Middlesex Provincial Active Rank of ProvSGD in 1998 and was subsequently promoted three times, attaining the rank of PPrJGW in 2019.
He was Exalted into the Royal Arch in Earl Stafford Chapter No. 3500, again by his father, and was installed as First Principal in November 2005. At the time of his passing, he served as Scribe E and had been appointed to the rank of PPrGReg in July 2019.
Richard’s Masonic affiliations spanned numerous Orders, including:
- London and Hertfordshire RAM & Mark Master Mason
- London, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Allied Masonic Degree (AMD), PastGStB rank
- Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London, SLGCR rank
- Hertfordshire Knights Templar
- Founder of Middlesex Masters Lodge (Southgate)
- London Rose Croix
- Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SRIA)
- Hertfordshire Royal and Select Masters
- The Operatives, St Albans Abbey Assemblage
- Hertfordshire Royal Order of Scotland
- Essex Red Cross of Constantine
- London Order of the Secret Monitor
- London Scarlet Cord
- Pilgrim Preceptors
- Masonic Order of Athelstan
- CBCS, Grand Prieuré de Belgique
The legacy of W Bro Richard Waitt’s Masonic book collection will be preserved within the Roger Croome Library for years to come, serving as a lasting testament to his commitment to Masonic learning.
His dedication to advancing his daily Masonic knowledge is evident in the books he so dearly cherished and sought to save for future generations of Freemasons to enjoy and learn from.
For an excel copy of the libray’s catalogue click here
If you would like to view or read any of the books housed within the Roger Croome Library, please contact Campbell Caraher via email at campbell.caraher@googlemail.com, and he will make suitable arrangements.
Images of the Roger Croome Library.
