A mid summer get together at one of Maidstone’s finest Nepalese restaurants.
Join us at the Ghurkha Restaurant in Week Street, Maidstone on Friday 29th June at 19:30.
Wives, Partners, Family and Friends all welcome.
Please book with Ian Packer ASAP.
Agricola Members conquer Vesuvius…
Tuesday 15th May 2018, saw 24 Lodge members, wives and partners gather at the Vesuvius Italian Restaurant in Maidstone for a Dinner to mark the end of the 2017/2018 Masonic “Season”.
The Lodge does not meet during the summer months. It was originally formed as a Farmers’ Lodge, whose members would be busy harvesting their crops during the period May to October.
Organised by Junior Warden and membership Officer Neil Marshall, the evening featured some excellent Italian food and wines all cooked and prepared by the lovely staff at Vesuvius. Several happy diners remarked on the quality of the food, especially the Steak and the Veal which were pronounced “yummy!”
We were delighted to welcome our newest recruit Michael K. and his partner who were able to meet and get to know the members of the Lodge in a relaxed and happy setting. Michael will hopefully be welcomed into the Lodge in January but we hope to see much more of him before then.
As no Masonic occasion would be complete without a raffle, Neil raffled a bottle of Berry Brothers and Rudd’s No 3 Gin in aid of the Lodge’s centenary fund (we will be 100 years old in 2023). Rather unusually for an Agricola event it wasn’t won by Secretary Bob Burns, but went instead to well known Gourmet and “Masterbrew” expert Roger Waltham.
Look out for our next social occasion, a mid summer get together at one of Maidstone’s finest Nepalese restaurants, the Ghurkha in Week Street, Maidstone on Friday 29th June at 19:30. Wives, Partners, Family and Friends all welcome. Please book with Ian Packer ASAP.
Agricola Eggheads rule OK? (Well almost…)
Agricola’s Quiz team recently took part in the 6th annual Maidstone Masonic Centre Quiz Night.
This annual competition for the “Brooks-Tozer Shield” seeks to raise both the intellectual ability of the members, as well as a significant sum for the improvement of the Centre.
However by the end of the evening it was generally accepted that whilst second objective had been achieved, the former “may be in doubt”.
Appearing for what was billed as the “Agro Cola” team were Malcolm & Janet Graham, Mike and Julie Spencer, Ian and Kellie Packer and Bob and Wendy Burns.
For the first time the eventual winners were the team from Fleur de Lis Lodge No 8969 who improved on their previous best position of 2nd.
However the “Agro Cola” Eggheads ended up a creditable 4th.
Secretary Bob Burns afterwards admitted that they would have come third if he had listened to Wendy who provided the correct answer to a critical question.
However the team displayed what Bob describes as…
“A good spread of useless knowledge”.
The evening raised the magnificent sum of £360.00 which will be donated to the Maidstone Masonic Centre for improving facilities for the members.
From the Archives….
This photo was kindly submitted by Roger Waltham. It was taken around 1999. Sadly mobile cameras weren’t as good in those days so the quality isn’t great, but it brings back many happy memories of times gone by.
During the 1980’s and 90’s the Lodge, In association with Agricola Chapter, ran an Annual Cheese and Wine Party every summer. It was hosted by Ernie and Daphne Nicholls at their Farm in Avery Lane Otham and often raised a 4 figure sum for Charity.
The Bar would be set up in one of Ernie’s apple stores which had to be laboriously swept out every year. You can see the Apple Boxes from which it was constructed just below the red table cloth.
Members of the Lodge would make an annual trip to Calais to bring back the wine and the wives and partners of the members would prepare a sumptuous and extensive buffet for the enjoyment of all.
The photo shows Roger and former member Tony Stanesby who took over running the Bar from the late WBro. Tommy Thompson and his wife “Bubbles”.
Sadly a few wet years and the passing of time saw support for this event decline to the point where it was decided to abandon it.
The memories it left however remain strong….
If you have any old photos of Lodge events in times past, please let us have them so that they can be preserved for future generations of Agricola Freemasons….
Installation Meeting 2017
Agricola Lodge No 4501 has a new Worshipful Master!
At our installation meeting on Friday 24th November 2017, Paul Constable was installed into the Chair of the Lodge as it’s 96th Worshipful Master. The ceremony being expertly carried out by his predecessor Neil Sadler.
Paul is one of a very select group of Masons who have served as Master of Agricola 4501 on more than one occasion. Aged 67, Paul is a retired IT professional and former Royal Navy seaman. He lives in Tunbridge Wells with his wife Lin, and has been a member of the Lodge since 2004.
Every Installation meeting in East Kent is attended by a senior member of the Province, representing the Provincial Grand Master. On this occasion we were pleased to welcome Provincial Junior Grand Warden, Martyn Summers.
We were also pleased to welcome 24 other guests and visitors. This number included the Masters of Duke of Kent, Monckton and Malling Centenary Lodges who assisted during the ceremony.
Following the appointment and investiture of the new Master’s team of Officers, the Brethren approved donations to the following Charities….
The Kent Museum of Freemasonry
Demelza Hospice Care for Children
The formal work of the Lodge being complete, members, guests and visitors repaired to the dining room where they enjoyed a sumptuous meal of Farmhouse Pate, followed by Roast Lamb, a dessert of Baked Apple, and the usual Cheeseboard, Coffee and mints!
During his response to the Toast to the Provincial Officers, Martyn Summers thanked the Lodge members for their warm welcome, and conveyed to the new Worshipful Master the personal congratulations of Provincial Grand Master Geoffrey Dearing.
After the meal a raffle organised by new Charity Steward Jim de Save raised the magnificent sum of over £325.00 which was donated to the Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity
Agricola Lodge No 4501, traditionally ends the Festive Board with the Tyler’s Toast which guides our thoughts to those of our Brethren who might be in “….distressed circumstances”. This having been completed, the Brethren departed, eagerly looking forward to a new Masonic year.