History of the Lodge
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Date of Consecration - 2^nd May 1973

The Gateway Lodge No: 8474 in the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight was created as a ‘Daughter Lodge’ of The Lodge of Peace and Harmony No; 359.

The initial idea of forming a Lodge was started in the late 1960’s when a number of members of The Lodge of Peace and Harmony and two other local Lodges used to travel many miles on a regular basis to Lodges in Bristol and Bath as guest of

Bro John H Miles and Bro Peter Tambling.

During the many hours spent in the car the topic of discussion often wandered to the many years it took to reach the office of Worshipful Master of The Lodge of Peace and Harmony.  The Lodge had at that time a membership of 160 members and took about 20 - 22 years to attain the Chair.

With this in mind the Brethren decided to research the opportunity of forming a new Lodge:

Eventually after much work and discussion a petition was duly signed and submitted to The Lodge of Peace and Harmony No: 359 our sponsoring Lodge on the 20^th December 1971.  The total cost of all the necessary equipment and appropriate consecration fees was £384.50.

On the 2^nd May 1973 at Brook House the R.W. Brother Major General R L Bond, CB, CBE, DSO, MC, Hon. F.R.A.M., Provincial Grand Master over the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight assisted by Fourteen Provincial Grand Officer’s carried out the consecration of Gateway Lodge No: 8474.

The list of Founders was follows:

            W Bro  G F K Pearce                            W Bro F C S Andrews MM

            W Bro T J R Timewell                         W Bro R Campbell

            W Bro C G Payne TG                            W Bro E A Atkinson

            Bro      P Tambling                                Bro      J L Chiverton

            Bro      J H Miles                                     Bro      A C Baker

            Bro      C S Wilson                                   Bro      W T Lack

            Bro      L A Gates                                     Bro      R G Cole

            Bro      A L Pratt                                      Bro      L E Cope

            Bro      M D Hobson                                Bro      E W Dennes

            Bro      H G Ryan                                      Bro      H Whettingsteel

            Bro      G Fitzjohn                                    Bro      J M V Backhouse

            Bro      D H Tappenden

Bro C E Shepherd and Bro D R Langridge did not have the qualifying 3 years as Master Masons therefore were classed as original Members and treated as Founders.

The Lodge was consecrated by the Provincial Grand Master and W Bro G F K Pearce was installed as the Founding Worshipful Master of Gateway Lodge No: 8474 EC by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master the V W Bro P H R Evans PG Supt Wks.

The Worshipful Master then invested his officers and all present were invited to  attended the first Festive Board.

The whole day being a great success which started at 10am and finished with the Parting Toast at 11.30pm.
 

 Back Row

L. E. Cope, H. Whettingsteel, R. Cole, E. Atkinson, J. Backhouse, A. Baker, M. Hobson, J. Miles, H.Ryan, G. Fitzjohn

Front Row

E. Dennes, C.G. Payne, C. Wilson, J. Chiverton, G.F.K. Pearce, R. Campbell, A. L. Pratt,

F.C.S.Andrews, W. Lack

The Lodge Family Tree