9945 on a unique journey across Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and England in support of Mission Motorsport and the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Getting ready for the Festival soft launch and the London to Paris cycle ride!
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As part of the Buckinghamshire Province’s Community Engagement initiative, Jim Hunt of the Chalfont St. Peter Lodge, No. 9656, welcomed Kate Coleman, a Board Trustee and representative from the King George’s V Playing Fields, Sarratt branch in Rickmansworth to join them at the Beaconsfield Masonic Centre on the evening of a 3rd Degree ceremony they had. Prior to the visit, Mike Sparks kindly proposed a donation of £250 to the Charity, which was duly approved.
For those who may not know, a King George V Playing Field is a public open space, named in honour of King George V (1865-1936), who was an avid sports enthusiast, serves as a vital resource for children, young people, and the broader community, offering opportunities for outdoor activities such as football, tennis, basketball, table tennis, dog walking and various community events. There are currently 471 such fields across the UK.
Kate kindly shared further insights about the Charity’s impactful work, leading to an engaging dialogue, after which the Brethren invited Kate to inquire about Freemasonry, resulting in a mutually enriching exchange of knowledge about our respective endeavors.
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freemasonryinthecommunity feelgoodfriday Charity bucksmasons
CORINTHIAN
The Corinthian order is the most ornate and elaborate of the three principal orders of classical Greek architecture. Emerging in Greece during the late 5th century BCE, it is distinguished by its slender fluted columns and richly decorated capitals adorned with acanthus leaves and scroll-like tendrils. According to ancient tradition, the sculptor and architect Callimachus was inspired by a basket surrounded by acanthus leaves, leading to the creation of the distinctive Corinthian capital. The order was initially used sparingly in Greek architecture but became extremely popular under the Romans, who employed it extensively in temples, public buildings, triumphal arches, and monuments.
Notable examples include the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Pantheon, and the Arch of Septimius Severus. During the Renaissance and Neoclassical periods, the Corinthian order was often chosen for prestigious buildings because its elaborate decoration conveyed grandeur, wealth, dignity, and artistic achievement. It remains one of the most recognizable classical styles and continues to influence civic, religious, and institutional architecture around the world.
Within Freemasonry, the Corinthian order is traditionally associated with beauty, completing the symbolic triad of Strength (Doric), Wisdom (Ionic), and Beauty (Corinthian). Masonic teachings frequently use these three classical orders as allegorical supports of a well-governed lodge and a well-balanced life. The richly ornamented Corinthian column is seen as representing the beauty that arises from harmony, virtue, and the proper application of wisdom and strength.
In Masonic symbolism, Corinthian capitals and columns may appear in tracing boards, lodge furnishings, architectural decorations, and educational lectures. The acanthus leaves that characterize the Corinthian capital have sometimes been interpreted as symbols of growth, immortality, or the flourishing of knowledge, although these meanings vary among Masonic traditions and are generally symbolic rather than doctrinal.
Notable UK Examples:
St Paul's Cathedral - Sir Christopher Wren incorporated Corinthian columns throughout the cathedral, particularly in the grand interior and west front.
Somerset House - A prominent Neoclassical building featuring Corinthian detailing and monumental façades.
The Royal Exchange - The principal portico employs Corinthian columns, reflecting the prestige associated with the order.
Mansion House - The official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, featuring a grand Corinthian portico.
Birmingham Town Hall - Inspired by Roman temples and incorporating Corinthian features in its classical design.
Wheel Power - Tour de Vale
For 22 years, the Tour de Vale has brought together families, leisure riders, club cyclists and experienced endurance participants for a much-loved charity cycling event across Buckinghamshire. With clearly signed routes, dedicated marshals and a welcoming atmosphere, it has earned a strong reputation as an enjoyable and well-organised ride for people of all ages and abilities.
Throughout that time, entry fees and personal fundraising have helped support enabling disabled people to lead more active, fulfilling lives through sport and physical activity.
Sadly, after many successful years, 2026 marked the final edition of the event. Falling participation in recent years, combined with the increasing time, effort and financial cost required to plan and deliver an event of this scale, made it difficult to continue. While that decision is disappointing for everyone who has supported and enjoyed the ride over the years, the Tour de Vale leaves behind a lasting legacy of community spirit, generosity and support for an important cause.
This year, 765 riders took part across four different routes, raising a substantial amount for Wheel Power and once again demonstrating the strength of support behind the event. Buckinghamshire Freemasons were proud to play their part, as they have done over many years, by providing 14 Brethren to serve as marshals along the routes. Their role in guiding riders, offering reassurance and helping the day run smoothly contributed to the safe and successful delivery of the event, and reflected the same spirit of service and community that has always been at the heart of the Tour de Vale and Freemasonry.
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IONIC
The Ionic order is one of the three principal orders of classical Greek architecture and is generally regarded as more elegant and decorative than the Doric order. Originating in the Greek cities of Ionia on the western coast of Asia Minor during the 6th century BCE, it is distinguished by its slender, fluted columns, moulded bases, and capitals adorned with distinctive spiral scrolls known as volutes. Ionic buildings often convey a sense of refinement, balance, and sophistication. The order was widely used for temples, public buildings, and monuments throughout the Greek world and was later adopted and adapted by Roman architects.
The Ionic order holds an important symbolic role within Freemasonry, where classical architecture is used as a source of moral and philosophical allegory. Characterised by its elegant proportions and distinctive scroll-shaped volutes, the Ionic column is traditionally associated in Masonic symbolism with wisdom. In many Masonic lectures and tracing boards, three classical columns—Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—are used to represent the virtues of Strength, Wisdom, and Beauty, which together support the ideal Masonic lodge.
Within this symbolic framework, the Ionic column is often linked to the wisdom required to govern and direct human actions. Masonic writers sometimes connect it metaphorically with wise leadership, knowledge, and thoughtful judgment. This interpretation draws on the long-standing classical perception of the Ionic order as more refined and intellectual than the robust Doric order. The symbolism appears in Masonic educational materials, lodge furnishings, artwork, and architectural motifs.
Notable examples of the Ionic order include the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion with its famous Caryatid porch, and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. During the Renaissance and Neoclassical periods, the Ionic order became popular for libraries, universities, courthouses, and civic buildings because its graceful proportions suggested learning, culture, and intellectual achievement.
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New Ambulance Bay
Prebendal Close in Aylesbury is a Masonic Housing Association (MHA) development that offers sheltered accommodation for people aged 60 and over, with those aged 55 and above sometimes also considered if they are able to live independently. As the residents are elderly, ambulances are needed from time to time, but limited space had made access difficult.
When a call went out for help to create a dedicated ambulance parking bay, Freemasons from the Province of Buckinghamshire were quick to rally round and lend their support. Over seven evenings across a two-week period in May and June 2026, Brethren from Buckingham, Eric de Young, New Urban, Verney, Wendover and Wineslai Lodges came together to clear foliage and shrubs and excavate more than 20 cubic metres of earth, with valuable help from a digger supplied by Brother Simon Cardell.
The team worked through every stage of the project with care, relocating a lamppost, digging a deep trench for the telephone cable, laying a weed membrane, spreading 10 tonnes of hardcore, and finishing the bay with two compacted layers of fresh tarmac.
Residents and staff were delighted with the finished result and deeply appreciative of the hard work, generosity and speed shown by everyone involved.
This project was a wonderful example of Freemasonry in the Community, showing what can be achieved when we come together with kindness, commitment and a shared desire to make life better for others.
DORIC
The earliest and simplest Greek order, featuring a sturdy, fluted column with a plain, cushion-like capital.
The Doric order is the oldest and most austere of the classical orders of architecture, originating in mainland Greece around the 7th century BCE. It is distinguished by thick, fluted columns with no base, simple circular capitals, and a strong sense of proportion and solidity. Doric temples such as the Parthenon exemplify the order’s emphasis on balance, strength, and restrained ornamentation. Above the columns sits a frieze divided into triglyphs and metopes, one of the defining visual characteristics of the style. Because of its simplicity and monumental character, the Doric order became associated with ideals such as discipline, permanence, and civic virtue, and it heavily influenced later Roman, Renaissance, and Neoclassical architecture.
The connection between the Doric order and Freemasonry is primarily symbolic rather than historical. Freemasonry developed many of its teachings and rituals around the imagery of builders, temples, and sacred geometry, so classical architectural forms naturally became important symbols within Masonic tradition. The Doric order, with its plain and sturdy appearance, came to represent qualities such as strength, stability, endurance, and moral firmness. In some Masonic writings and lodge symbolism, the Doric column is associated with the virtue of strength, complementing the Ionic and Corinthian orders, which are often linked with wisdom and beauty respectively.
Some of the most famous examples of the Doric order come from ancient Greek temples, where the style’s heavy proportions and simple capitals were used to create a sense of strength and harmony.
Parthenon: The best-known Doric temple, built in the 5th century BC on the Acropolis. Although it includes some Ionic details, its exterior colonnade is fundamentally Doric.
Temple of Hephaestus: One of the best-preserved ancient Greek Doric temples, known for its balanced proportions and intact columns.
Temple of Zeus at Olympia: A monumental Doric temple that once housed the famous statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
What an incredible day at Freemasons’ Hall for the 2026 Light Blues Communication!
The Buckinghamshire Light Blues are having a fantastic time connecting with Brethren from across the globe. After last year’s roaring success, this year looks set to top it. Our delegation had the special privilege of visiting the Buckinghamshire temple!
As the only surviving Hall Stone Province, we never take a great day out for granted, and today is one for the history books.
The day is racing by - after the meeting proper they'll be catching the live recording of Craftcast in the Grand Temple, chatting with the Solomon Live team, and sipping a few cold ones, the energy is been unmatched.
Some even managed to swing by the shop to pick up the One Journey necktie and the LBC 2026 lapel pin to commemorate the occasion!
Huge thanks to everyone who is making this day so memorable. Can't wait for next year though the day is still young!
STOKE MANDEVILLE POOL POD
Thousands of disabled people will be using the Pool Pod at Stoke Mandeville Stadium thanks to Buckinghamshire Freemasons.
More than 2,000 wheelchair users every year will be able to access the pool at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, thanks to a new Pool Pod presented by Buckinghamshire Freemasons to the charity.
The grant from the Freemasons will fund the urgent replacement of the Pool Pod within the Stadium’s swimming pool. A Pool Pod is a specialist submersible platform lift that enables wheelchair users and people with limited mobility to enter and exit the water safely, independently, and with dignity.
The existing Pool Pod has reached the end of its operational life and is no longer repairable. Its replacement is essential to ensure continued access to aquatic activity for disabled users, including individuals undergoing rehabilitation, those with long-term health conditions, and members of the local community.
Thousands of people rely on the Pool Pod to access the swimming pool, including regular users from the nearby National Spinal Injuries Centre. On a weekly basis, dozens of individuals benefit from safe, supported access to the water for both rehabilitation and recreation. The donation will remove barriers to participation, reduce the risk of injury, and enable more people to experience the physical and social benefits of swimming. It will also ensure that families and friends can take part in activities together, regardless of ability.
Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring the five classical orders of architecture, defining styles based on column and entablature design, they are the simple Doric, the scroll-voluted Ionic, the ornate Corinthian, the plain Roman Tuscan, and the combined Composite, progressing from simplest to most elaborate. These Greek and Roman styles dictate proportions, capitals, and decorative elements, influencing public buildings like temples for centuries.
In Freemasonry, the orders are often introduced during the Fellow Craft degree. The three original Greek orders (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian) are frequently linked to the virtues of Strength, Wisdom, and Beauty, respectively
Haddenham Tri-School Run & Fun Day
Sunday saw members of Haddenham Lodge once again take to the barbecue for the annual Haddenham Tri-School Fun Day and , a popular community event that continues to bring together local families, runners, and supporters each year.
Although the weather stayed dry throughout the day, strong winds and colder than expected temperatures provided an added challenge for both participants and volunteers alike. Despite the conditions, there was a fantastic turnout, with the event successfully raising funds in support of the combined village schools initiative.
The Lodge team arrived on site at 8:00am to begin preparations ahead of the runners’ arrival. Early attendees were welcomed with hot bacon baps served fresh from the barbecue, helping to warm runners and supporters before the start of the race.
Once the runners were underway, the barbecue team quickly prepared for the busy afternoon ahead, firing up the grills to serve burgers and hot dogs to the many families, spectators, and returning runners enjoying the fun day festivities.
The atmosphere throughout the event was lively and community-focused, with residents coming together to support the schools while enjoying a day of activities, refreshments, and local spirit.
We hope you have enjoyed our series and it has piqued your interest to ask questions and possibly enquire about joining our amazing fraternity
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On Sunday 10th May 2026, the Chiltern Neuro Centre proudly hosted its much-loved annual Run Prestwood event, bringing together runners, volunteers, and supporters from across the local community for a memorable day of fundraising and fitness.
Despite the chilly conditions and a brisk breeze throughout the morning, an impressive 285 runners took part in the event’s 10k and 5k races. Participants of all ages and abilities showed tremendous determination and enthusiasm as they tackled the scenic routes through Prestwood and the surrounding countryside.
The event was supported by six dedicated volunteers from Freemasonry in the Community, who assisted with marshalling duties and helped ensure the races ran safely and smoothly from start to finish. Their support played an important role in creating a welcoming and well-organised atmosphere for runners and spectators alike.
Thanks to the generosity of participants, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters, the event raised more than £6,200 for the centre. These funds will help Chiltern Neuro Centre continue providing vital services, therapies, and support for people living with neurological conditions and their families.
Overall, Run Prestwood 2026 proved to be a fantastic success, a true reflection of community spirit, resilience, and the positive impact that local fundraising events can achieve
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MYTH:
"Freemasonry Is Linked To The Illuminati"
"Freemasonry Is Linked To The Illuminati"
THE FACTS:
FALSE – There is no factual evidence linking Freemasonry to the Illuminati. The historical Bavarian Illuminati was a short-lived political group founded in 1776 that was banned and dissolved within a decade, while Freemasonry existed long before and continued independently. Claims connecting the two come from conspiracy theories that conflate separate organisations based on symbolism and secrecy, not documented history or Masonic practice
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The Freemasons became Wombles
Last week a coordinated litter pick took place up and down the province of Buckinghamshire. Lodge Members, Family & Friends all mucked in with bin bags and litter picking rods to walk chosen areas collecting as much waste as possible.
To name just a few of the lodges and areas:
Cymberline Lodge - Great and Little Kimble
Longueville Lodge - Manor Fields in Fenny Stratford
Bletchley Park Lodge - Bletchley
Bowen & Windsor End Lodges - Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield Lodge - Jubilee River at Slough
Hughenden Lodge - Divided into three teams to tackle key areas: Bryant’s Bottom/Hughenden, the footpath behind The Harrow, and the parkland surrounding Hughenden Church.
Heatherden Lodge - Britwell Parish Field
Fairway Lodge - Fairford Leys sports fields
The Bowen lodge were joined by some notable local figures who really helped boost morale. The Deputy Town Mayor came along to lend a hand, alongside one of our former Town Mayors.
The organised pick in Aylesbury saw the famous area litter pickers join the team too.
MYTH:
"Freemasons Wear Silly Aprons."
"Freemasons Wear Silly Aprons."
THE FACTS:
FALSE - That statement is technically true, but misleading.
Freemasons wear ceremonial aprons during meetings, which come from ancient stonemasons’ work aprons and symbolise honest labour and moral integrity. They may look unusual to outsiders, but to Freemasons they’re a traditional and symbolic part of the ritual—not “funny,” just historical
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BUCKS MASONS VISIT THE LINDENGATE CHARITY
On the beautiful sunny morning of Friday 24th April, the RW ProvGM Tim Anders, accompanied by his wife Steph and several Brethren from Lodges throughout the Buckinghamshire Province, visited a mental health charity located in Wendover.
Founded in 2013 by Charlie Powell and Sian Chattle, the charity utilises specialised social and therapeutic horticulture within a 6-acre garden (which was originally a small, underused waste-rich allotment site) to enhance both mental and physical wellbeing. The charity uses nature-based, therapeutic horticulture and conservation programs aimed at assisting individuals facing mental health challenges, social isolation, and reduced self-esteem.
The Charity’s website explains the origin of its name: “The name Lindengate comes from mixing the Old English name for a Lime tree – ‘Linden’, known for its recuperative and stress-relieving properties and the ‘Gate’, symbolising passing through on the journey to recovery.” Lindengate is honoured to have as patrons His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Countess Howe, and Roger Jefcoate CBE DL, a notable philanthropist.
Following a very warm reception from CEO Andy Grant, and Senior Fundraising, Partnership, & Programme Manager Jacqui Greenham, Brethren were invited to take a seat for an informative presentation regarding the Charity’s commendable initiatives. Brethren learned that the Lindengate team, which possesses a wide range of skills, assists both the young and the elderly who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, memory loss, or dementia through various programs, volunteering opportunities, events, and open garden sessions. In 2025, the Charity supported 3,840 individuals!
After the presentation, Brethren were given an opportunity to ask questions, which they eagerly embraced. Our Provincial Grand Master was particularly impressed by the Charity’s structure and efforts. Thereafter, the Brethren were led on a tour of the wonderful grounds and were given additional information regarding the charity’s activities, including seed sowing, harvesting, cooking, mindful walking, woodwork, as well as arts and crafts. Additionally, it was noted that the Charity does not use pesticides, employs a no-dig approach, focuses on compost-based cultivation, and captures rainwater. Subsequently, delectable cakes were served alongside proper cups of tea and coffee before the visit neared its end.
MYTH:
"Freemasonry Is In Compatible With Modern Life"
"Freemasonry Is In Compatible With Modern Life"
THE FACTS:
FALSE – Far from being outdated, it encourages character, kindness, and self-improvement, providing a positive counterbalance to the pressures of modern living. It builds real friendships, supports personal development, and uses modern tools like digital communications and online learning to keep members engaged.
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Spring Into Freemasonry - What a Growing Success
Throughout the months of February, March & April, spanning an active and highly engaging period of 10 weeks, Buckinghamshire has once again demonstrated its leadership and forward-thinking approach with a Province wide recruitment initiative that truly reached every corner of our community.
This coordinated effort brought together an impressive 60 lodges across the Province, with activity taking place in 13 different Masonic Centres. The scale of participation highlights not only the strength of our organisation but also the shared commitment to securing a vibrant and sustainable future for Freemasonry especially in Buckinghamshire.
During this period over 100 new brothers joined the Buckinghamshire family. Each initiation represents more than just a number, it reflects a personal journey begun, a connection formed, and the continuation of our values, traditions and fellowship for what we hope will be generations to come.
The initiative concluded with a special and symbolic finale day, with initiations taking place at both our most southern centre in Slough and our largest northern centre in Bletchley. This powerful moment showcased the unity and reach of the Province, bringing together members from across the region in a shared celebration of growth and achievement.
This success is a testament to the dedication, enthusiasm, and tireless efforts of all involved, from organisers and lodge members to those who supported behind the scenes. It reflects what can be achieved when we work together with purpose, pride, and passion.
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