PSLC FESTIVALS

PUBLIC SCHOOL LODGES FESTIVALS

The PSLC decided to hold an annual Festival, hosted by one of the member Lodges, and the first was held in the Abbey Church and Schools at Westminster on 15^th December 1910. Festivals have been held at Cheltenham College in 1913, 1965 and 1991, the latter to coincide with the 150^th anniversary of the founding of College. At first these Festivals were restricted to members of the Sister Lodges and their Masonic friends; in 1971, however, Marlborough decided to invite ladies to participate in the events, except any Lodge meeting, and this has generally been the norm ever since.

1913 The Third Festival was held at Cheltenham College on 3^rd May 1913 under the Presidency of RW Bro The Right Hon Viscount St Aldwyn, PC, PGW, ProvGM(Glos), and was the first to be held outside London. There were at the Festival about two hundred Brethren (non-masons were not then invited) of whom some thirty were Grand Officers. It is also interesting to note that the Headmasters of Bradfield, Sherborne and Clifton were present, as well as the Principal of Cheltenham College, Bro Canon R.Waterfield. There were also present representatives from Westminster, Charterhouse, Sherborne, Wellington, Clifton, Bradfield Winchester, Marlborough and Rugby.

The ceremony at the Lodge meeting, which was held in the College Library, was the installation of Bro D.C.Lee as Worshipful Master. There followed a service in Chapel, at which Canon Waterfield gave an Address.

The banquet on this occasion was held in Cheltenham Town Hall and the Mayor of Cheltenham, Bro J.T.Agg-Gardner, MP, was amongst the speakers. The menu consisted of:

Hors d’Oeuvres varies

Clear Turtle

Scotch Broth

Severn Salmon. Cucumber Salad

Turbot, Lobster Sauce

Sweetbreads and Mushrooms

Roast Lamb and Green Peas

Asparagus

YorkHam, Champagne Sauce

Macedoine of Fruits and Devonshire Cream

George’s Cheese Cakes

Victoria Ice Pudding

Cheese Namequins

Dessert and Coffee

The programme for the Festival was:

Cost of ticket, exclusive of railway fare…….…..23/=

Return ticket, by special train…………………..10/9d

Time Table:

Special train from Paddington………...11.33am

Installation, in the College Library….….4.00pm

Choral Service in the College Chapel….5.00pm

Banquet in the Town Hall………....…..6.00pm

Special train from Cheltenham……….. 9.30pm

arrival at Paddington……......11.55pm

1965 The 32^nd Festival was held at Cheltenham College on 22^nd May 1965 with W.Bro Major General Sir Leslie Nicholls, KCMG, CB, CBE, PGSwdB, in the Chair, and was attended by RW Bro Major General Sir Allan Adair, Bt, CVO, MC, DL, Assistant Grand Master, RW Bro the Hon W.R.S.Bathurst, TD, FSA, Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire, together with many distinguished Brethren, representatives of the Sister Lodges, and Masonic guests. Thirty other Public School Lodges were represented, and the total attendance was 370.

The Lodge meeting was held in Big Classical and the Banquet in the Dining Hall.

At the Lodge meeting the Worshipful Master welcomed Sir George Boag, KCIE, CSI, (Old Westminsters), Chairman of the Public School Lodges Council, as an honorary member of the Lodge, and an address was given by W.Bro J.M.Makower, PJGD. [To read the Address click here]

The menu at the banquet was as follows:

Poached Severn Salmon Steak

Sauce Hollandaise

Cold Baron of Hereford Beef

New Buttered Potatoes

Salads Vinaigrette

Baskets of Fresh Fruit

Double Gloucester and Cheddar Cheese

Coffee

The toast “Floreat Cheltonia” was given by the Assistant Grand Master, Major General Sir Allan Adair, Bt, CB, CVO, MC, DL, and the reply by the Headmaster, David Ashcroft Esq, MA. The Toast to the guests was given by the Worshipful Master, and replied to by the Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire, the Hon W.R.S.Bathurst, TD, FSA.

The Chapel service was conducted by W.Bro Rev E.Temple Lang, MA, TD,HCF, PSen GChap (Scotland), PSen ProvGChap(Ayrshire SC), PM.

The programme was as follows:

Cost of ticket………………………………………….£2.7.6d

Time Table:

Special Buses leave Victoria Coach

Station,London……………………………….9.00am

Special buses arrive at Cheltenham……….. 12.15pm

Robing Rooms open………………………...12.20pm

Reception by the Worshipful Master and

The Headmaster, David Ashcroft Esq, MA,

In the Gymnasium…………………………..12.30pm

Luncheon in the Dining Hall……………...…1.30pm

Lodge Meeting in Big Classical…………......4.00pm

Chapel Service…………………..................4.45pm

Tea…………………………………...…….5.15pm

Special Buses depart for Victoria

Coach Station, London………………..…….6.00pm

1991 The 58^th Festival was held at College on 8^th June 1991 with W.Bro H.F.Waddy, SLGR, in the Chair, and the guest of honour was the RW Deputy Grand Master, Rt Hon Lord Farnham.. The guests included the Provincial Grand Masters of Gloucestershire and of Herefordshire, the Chairman of the Public School Lodges Council, numerous Grand Officers, members of Sister Lodges, and Brethren from other Lodges, together with their ladies – a total of 407.

As the College Chaplain declined to be involved, the Chapel service was conducted by W.Bro A.C.Charters of the King’s School, and the address was given by W.Bro the Very Rev Dr A.G.MacWilliam, Deputy Provincial Grand Master (South Wales Western Division). The Anthem, Panis Angelicus, was sung by the choir of the Junior School, under the direction of Mrs M.Hughes, LRM, ARCM, Director of Music – Junior School, accompanied on the organ by C.Enston, FRCO. The principal organist was W.Bro A.J.Leopard, PM.

At the Lodge meeting, held in Big Classical, the Worshipful Master gave an address. [To read theAddress click here]

Top MW Bro Lord Farnham, Deputy Grand Master

Below: W.Bro H.F.Waddy Peter Wilkes

Worshipful Master Headmaster

The Banquet was held in a marquee erected for the occasion. The catering was provided by the College caterers, and the menu consisted of:

Ogen Melon with Pimms Cup

Poached Wye Valley Salmon

Tarragon & Chervil Mayonnaise

Minted New Potatoes

Salads:

Green

American

Summer Pudding with Cream

Assorted English Cheese and Biscuits

Celery

Coffee & Mints

The programme was as follows:

Cost of ticket…………………………………….£36

Time Table:

Coffee in Dining Hall………………………...9.15am

Robing Rooms open………………………….9.15am

Chapel Service…………………………..….10.30am

Lodge Meeting in Big Clasical………….…..11.45am

[Entertainment foe Ladies and other

Guests in Thirlestaine House].

Headmaster’s Reception in the gardens

of Thirlestaine House………………………12.30pm

Lunch in the marquee………………………..1.15pm

Conducted Tours of College…………………3.30pm

Tea in the marquee………………………......4.30pm

Financial provision for the Festival began seven years before the event by the collection of a voluntary payment of £10.00 per member per annum which was very well supported. Some of the contributions were invested in the purchase of red wine five years prior to the Festival, which should have given the Lodge the option of drinking the wine or selling it at a profit before the event. Unfortunately, this investment was stolen and became the subject of a fraud investigation. The final Festival account showed a profit of £439.04.

Back row left to right:

S.Robinson E.P.Wilmot-Morgan M.H.K.Hamer P.S.Hammerson R.C.C.Palmer T.P.Jewell R.A.J.Steel D.T.D.Hughes A.J.G.Penelton-Cowper

Front row:

M.T.V De Lucovich M.T.Brett K.R.Cottrell