Celebrating 125 years of Peterborough Freemasons lodge

In the Fraternity of Freemasonry there is much to celebrate. Individuals reaching milestones in their own Masonic journey, be it from a time or learning perspective, writes Craig Bunday of Peterborough Freemasons.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Mar 2020, 06:00 BST
David Burton, Jonathon Hibbins (Director of Ceremonies), Dan Jones, and Neil Mitchell (Worshipful Master)David Burton, Jonathon Hibbins (Director of Ceremonies), Dan Jones, and Neil Mitchell (Worshipful Master)
David Burton, Jonathon Hibbins (Director of Ceremonies), Dan Jones, and Neil Mitchell (Worshipful Master)

On Thursday, March 5, 2020, Fitzwilliam Lodge in Peterborough celebrated the 125th anniversary of its foundation which took place on the 21st of February 1895, and it heralding the beginning of another journey in local history.

The meeting was chosen to mark the lodge’s celebrations as it was the closest meeting to the anniversary. This seemed entirely appropriate as it was also the occasion of an official visit from a past member of the provincial team and local Freemason David Burton. Also, it saw the admission of Dan Jones, the lodge’s latest member.

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The special occasion was further marked by a brief historical explanation of the forming of the lodge given by Vince Tindale, lodge secretary. Fitzwilliam Lodge was the second lodge in Peterborough. Originally there was disagreement about the need for a new lodge – so much so that the existing lodge in the city, St Peter’s, opposed its creation. It took the support of masons from further afield in Northampton, together with some of the St Peter’s members, to move the process forward.

One such Mason was George Charles Wentworth Fitzwilliam, the grandson of the fourth Earl of Fitzwilliam, who put his family name to new lodge.

The final icing on the cake for the 125th anniversary was the serving of a commemorative cake made by the current Master of The Lodge himself, Neil Mitchell, shown in the picture with Dan, the newest member of the lodge. The founders of the Lodge would have been proud.

If you want to know more about Freemasonry in the Peterborough area, please visit www.northants-huntsmasons.org.uk or call the Ellindon Masonic Centre on 01733 331948.

Pictured are David Burton, Jonathon Hibbins (Director of Ceremonies), Dan Jones, and Neil Mitchell (Worshipful Master).