About Camelot Freemasonry

Founding Officers
  • Worshipful Master W. Bro. Arthur Ormond PSGD
  • Senior Warden APGM Bro. Derek Hall
  • Junior Warden Bro. Marcus Woodhouse
  • Chaplain W. Bro. D. F. Mant PPGD (Staffs)
  • Treasurer Bro. C. D. Chiverton
  • Secretary W. Bro. R. W. Durgan
  • Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. L. T. Leggett
  • Senior Deacon Bro. L. R. Wilson
  • Junior Deacon Bro. J. M. Couch
  • Asst Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. P. F. Ashford

In the early 1970s, three members of Farnham Round Table who were also Freemasons felt that there were possibly enough Round Tables in West Surrey and North- East Hampshire to form the nucleus of a Round Table Lodge. Consequently, they were put in touch with the Secretary of Shaldon Lodge in Alton, Bro. Derek Hall and that lodge agreed to sponsor a possible new Lodge.

A list of Round Tablers, who were known to be Masons were invited to a meeting in March 1973. At that meeting, there were ten Masons present, who were prospective founders, plus an Assistant Provincial Grand Master who was a member of King Arthur Lodge, (also a Round Table Lodge).

Also, it was suggested that an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. A. L. E. Ormond, who lived locally, might be interested in being a Founder. Because there was room in the Alton Masonic Centre calendar, and that they were willing to take a new lodge, determined that Alton would be the meeting place of this new Round Table Lodge.

"... a warrant be sought"

The meeting agreed to the proposition that, “A warrant be sought for the formation of a lodge to be held in Alton on the third Friday of October, December, February and April”. Following the pattern of three other Round Table Lodges in the Province, King Arthur, Arthurian, and Chivalry, in having a name from the King Arthur Legend, it was agreed our name would be Camelot.

Following a petition for this new lodge and subsequent approval by Grand Lodge, a warrant was issued on the 14 November 1973. The consecration of Camelot Lodge took place on the 19 April 1974 led by the Provincial Grand Master, RW. Bro. Maj. Gen R. L. Bond, accompanied by 13 members of Provincial Lodge, the Provincial Choir and 22 founder members of Camelot Lodge.

Following the consecration, W. Bro. J. F. Freeston PJGD took the chair as Installing Master and installed W. Bro. A. L. E. Ormond PSGD as the first Master of Camelot Lodge.

While Camelot uses the Emulation Ritual, a number of modifications have been adopted, but not to the words. At the opening of the lodge, the Senior Steward answers for the Tyler, from then on the individual officers answer for their own situation. This method gets them used speaking in preparation for what is to come.

At the installation meeting, in the 2nd degree, the Master Elect recites his Obligation.

Following the new Master’s installation, and the opening of the lodge in the first degree, the outgoing Immediate Past Master delivers the Address to the Master. Following the installation of the Wardens, the previous Immediate Past Master gives the Address to the Wardens and following the installation of the Stewards the next previous Immediate Past Master delivers Address to the Brethren.

At every meeting, an item on the agenda is “To make a Daily Advancement in Masonic knowledge” usually given by a Past Master, though not exclusively. It takes the form of a short lecture on a subject of general Masonic interest.

From the beginning, it was the aim of the Founders to maintain within the lodge the spirit of Round Table. To this end the Round Table motto, “Adopt, Adapt and Improve” became the Camelot motto. To emphasise this, at the end of the Festive Board, following the last formal toast, is the ‘Camelot Toast’ which is a dialogue between the Master and his two Wardens as follows,

“Bro. Junior Warden what is RTBI?”– [answer] – “The Round Table movement in Britain and Ireland to which all of the Founders belonged”. “Bro. Senior Warden, why was Camelot Lodge formed?”– [answer] – “To adopt the friendships of Round Table, to adapt them to the principles of Freemasonry and improve our lives by their combination”. “Then Brethren I give you the Camelot toast, To Freemasonry and RTBI.”

"... Adopt, Adapt, Improve"

1976 saw the approval of the Lodge Banner and in October of that year, the Provincial Grand Master, Rt. Revd John Phillips dedicated it. The badge on the banner is an adaption of the Round Table emblem, which was itself adapted from the Round Table in the Great Hall in Winchester. Camelot added the Square and Compasses, and, in the centre, the initials of the lodge motto, Adopt, Adapt, Improve.

Because of the number of Tablers wishing to join Camelot in the early years, most meetings consisted of two ceremonies: The first starting at 4.30 p.m or 5.00 p.m, calling off at the end of the first part and calling on to continue with the regular meeting at about 6.00 p.m.

In the first six years there had been 13 initiations; and with only four meetings a year, one of which was installation, there was considerable congestion for 2nd and 3rd degrees. Moreover, during this time there were two additional emergency meetings each working both a 2nd and 3rd degree.

In 1980, in an attempt to avoid this situation continuing the number of meetings was increased to six. They were in April, (Installation), May, June, October, December, and February. However, because of poor attendance at the June meeting, it was decided to delete the June meeting from the calendar and replace it with a meeting in November. Even so, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, double ceremonies still took place.

In June 1992, the 275th Anniversary of United Grand Lodge of England was celebrated by a Grand Lodge meeting in Earls Court. One of the senior managers of Earls Court who was involved with the organisation of this gathering on behalf of Earls Court was W. Bro. Dennis Shepherd, a Past Master of Camelot Lodge. His efforts to ensure the success of the event were considerable, and as a result, he was appointed to PG.Std.B.

In 1993, following a competition, W. Bro. Derek Hall was appointed the Province’s first Provincial Lecturer with his lecture on Thomas Dunckerley, entitled ‘From Powder Monkey to Provincial Grand Master’. In 1995, as a reward for their contribution to the Festival, a number of brethren received patronage of the RMBI and Camelot Lodge received a Certificate of Patronage of the RMBI.

Initially, the Founders intended that membership of the lodge be confined to members and past members of Round Table, but by the late 1990s many Round Tables had closed, and the reservoir of new members from Round Tables diminished, so in 2001 the lodge saw its first non-Tabler initiated. Since then most initiates have been non-Tablers and the lodge has thrived.

In 2003, the lodge received a Gold Certificate for achieving the target set for the 2005 Festival and in 2005 received a Pewter Trowel for their achievement in raising double the target.

For the 2016 Festival, Camelot Lodge has been awarded the following certificates; in 2011 Bronze, Award, in 2012 a Silver Award and Grand Patronage of the RMTGB, and in 2015 a Gold Award, presented by Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Bill Withers.

Now, in 2016, history is repeating itself and the wheel has come a full circle, Camelot is in the fortunate position of having an increasing number of candidates and, once again, there is a need to consider working two ceremonies. This time, Past Masters filled most of the offices for the first ceremony.

Camelot Official Visits

  • 1974 Consecration

    Provincial Grand Master, RW. Bro. R. L. Bond

  • 1976 Dedication of Lodge Banner

    Provincial Grand Master, RW. Bro. John Phillips

  • 1979

    Provincial Senior Grand Warden, John Happel

  • 1981

    Assistant Provincial Grand Master, A.S. Watson

  • 1988

    Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Alan Chun

  • 1992

    Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Earnest Moss

  • 1994

    Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Derek Seaman

  • 1997

    Provincial Grand Master, Alun Chun

  • 1999

    Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Brian Bellinger

  • 2001

    Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Michael Wilks

  • 2004

    Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Alan Gregory

  • 2008

    Assistant Provincial Grand Master, J. Michael Codd

  • 2010

    Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Leslie Hipwell

  • 2015

    Assistant Provincial Grand Master, William Withers