Lodge of Concorde Remember the Few
Eighty-five years have passed since the Battle of Britain, when “the Few” defended the skies of southern England against the Luftwaffe. To honour that courage, the Lodge of Concorde met in the historic Battle of Britain Bunker—once the nerve centre of RAF Uxbridge and the command hub of 11 Group. This remarkable venue provided a deeply atmospheric setting for a memorable Lodge meeting.
The evening began with welcome drinks in the Visitor Centre, surrounded by wartime displays. Among the distinguished guests were Provincial Grand Master Tim Anders and his wife, and Past Provincial Grand Master John Clark and his wife. Guests divided into two groups; brethren for the Lodge meeting and partners for a private tour, before descending the same seventy-six steps once taken by Churchill and King George VI, a symbolic journey into history.
The Lodge opened its meeting and swiftly completed its business, welcoming two new members in what must be one of the most historic Masonic settings imaginable. Meanwhile, guests enjoyed a guided tour of the Bunker, culminating in the famous plotting room where Britain’s air defence strategy was shaped. Guide Daisy vividly explained the Dowding System and its vital role in victory. Once the meeting concluded, the brethren joined their guests, and the story of those desperate days came alive once more.
Afterwards, everyone ascended to the Visitor Centre, greeted by Prosecco, 1940s music, and a WAAF performer in period dress. Canapés and vol-au-vents added elegance to a lively celebration. Worshipful Master Graham Thorne gave thanks and made a touching presentation of cufflinks fashioned from metal of the Spitfire P7350 to a guest celebrating his eighty-fifth birthday—on Battle of Britain Day itself.
The evening closed with toasts to the King and to “the Few,” a spirited raffle, and a superb total of £1,000 raised for the RAF Benevolent Fund. The memory of the night—and the heroes it honoured—will long endure.
If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
Eighty-five years have passed since the Battle of Britain, when “the Few” defended the skies of southern England against the Luftwaffe. To honour that courage, the Lodge of Concorde met in the historic Battle of Britain Bunker—once the nerve centre of RAF Uxbridge and the command hub of 11 Group. This remarkable venue provided a deeply atmospheric setting for a memorable Lodge meeting.
The evening began with welcome drinks in the Visitor Centre, surrounded by wartime displays. Among the distinguished guests were Provincial Grand Master Tim Anders and his wife, and Past Provincial Grand Master John Clark and his wife. Guests divided into two groups; brethren for the Lodge meeting and partners for a private tour, before descending the same seventy-six steps once taken by Churchill and King George VI, a symbolic journey into history.
The Lodge opened its meeting and swiftly completed its business, welcoming two new members in what must be one of the most historic Masonic settings imaginable. Meanwhile, guests enjoyed a guided tour of the Bunker, culminating in the famous plotting room where Britain’s air defence strategy was shaped. Guide Daisy vividly explained the Dowding System and its vital role in victory. Once the meeting concluded, the brethren joined their guests, and the story of those desperate days came alive once more.
Afterwards, everyone ascended to the Visitor Centre, greeted by Prosecco, 1940s music, and a WAAF performer in period dress. Canapés and vol-au-vents added elegance to a lively celebration. Worshipful Master Graham Thorne gave thanks and made a touching presentation of cufflinks fashioned from metal of the Spitfire P7350 to a guest celebrating his eighty-fifth birthday—on Battle of Britain Day itself.
The evening closed with toasts to the King and to “the Few,” a spirited raffle, and a superb total of £1,000 raised for the RAF Benevolent Fund. The memory of the night—and the heroes it honoured—will long endure.
If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join