ericstuart-bamfordDear Visitor,

Websites are considered to be objects of information and learning. This Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey website is no exception; I therefore recommend it to you. It contains a wide variety of information both specific to this Province and to Freemasonry in general.  The launch of this site signifies the start of our New Masonic Year, one that I hope you all enjoy.

Yours sincerely,

Eric Stuart-Bamford

Provincial Grand Master

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Lecture Festivals Origin PDF Print E-mail

Similar Festivals were started at Croydon in 1990, Surbiton in 1992 and in the Southwest of the Province at Guildford in 1994.   Now, such is the interest, any Lodge of Instruction within the Province may participate either individually or jointly with another L of I and irrespective of whether the lodge normally uses Emulation Working.

Since 1987 Surrey Lodges of Instruction have sponsored no fewer than fifty-four Craft Lecture Festivals with such success that they are now regarded as established events in our "provincial calendar" and have raised thousands of pounds for charity.

The Surrey Craft Lecture Festivals Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Surrey Committee) was formed in 1992 under the Chairmanship of the late W. Bro. G. D. Channer, PAGSuptWks, PPJGW, a Member of the Committee of Emulation Lodge of Improvement, to promote and co-ordinate the demonstration of the Craft Lectures through annual Festivals sponsored by Lodges of Instruction within the Province of Surrey.   W. Bro. Channer continued to lead and inspire the Festivals until August 2003 and the work of the Committee continues with a team of enthusiastic and experienced brethren, several of whom are Members of the Committee of Emulation Lodge of Improvement.

The Surrey Committee gratefully acknowledges the interest, encouragement and enthusiastic support throughout by R. W. Bro. P. A. Toler, PJGW, PDepPGM, the first President of the Festivals, when he was Deputy Provincial Grand Master, by R. W. Bro. D. A. M. Phipps MBE, Past Provincial Grand Master and past President and by the current President R. W. Bro. E. Stuart-Bamford, ProvGM and successive members of the Surrey Provincial Executive over the years.

The Committee  also wishes to record its appreciation and thanks to the Members of the Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement for their assistance and guidance together with the ongoing contribution made by individual members of that Committee whilst acting as Preceptors and Lecture Masters at our Surrey Festivals.