The Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, November 12th 2023. Under a leaden grey sky, with rain ever threatening, hundreds of spectators gathered to witness the Remembrance Sunday Service. Their chatter was abruptly interrupted at precisely 1030hrs by the tones of a Royal Marine Marching band. Typically, both note and step perfect as they paraded into the Square...Read More

The calendar of Provincial official visits for the masonic year running 8th September 2023 to the 3rd of July 2024 lists ten Lodges that are celebrating significant milestones in their history. These range from a 50th anniversary to a 175th anniversary. I was fortunate enough to attend United Service Lodge 1428 on Wednesday 27th September,...Read More

Excelsior Lodge No 4505 meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Horndean Masonic Centre under the current Mastership of Worshipful Brother Simon Sandham. According to the current Yearbook, they have 40 subscribing members. The November meeting at Excelsior Lodge is a special occasion for them, being their “Old English Night”. This is...Read More

The Arthurian Lodge 5658 is the first lodge in the South East Area to achieve a Platinum Festival Award having donated the sum of £26,000.  This is largely due to the fact that at the end of the 2016 Festival, having achieved a Gold Award, the then Charity Steward, Scott Clarke, suggested brethren continued to...Read More

My Dear Brethren, I hope you have all enjoyed a break over the summer recess. It seems much longer than two months ago that 900 of us attended the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at Freemason’s Hall in London, where the Provincial Grand Master appointed and promoted many South East Area...Read More

Earlier this year, it was announced that Barrie Hewitt would stand down as APGM for the South East Area and that Chris Bayliss would be appointed to that role at the Provincial AGM on 5th July. Not knowing Chris at all, I thought it may be a good idea to let him take me out...Read More

After six years of service to the South East Area and supporting Barrie Hewitt in his time as APGM, Terry Stephens stepped down as Area Chairman with Steve Brewster taking up the mantle after his investiture at our recent Provincial AGM. Steve is well known throughout the Area for being very active in the Craft,...Read More

June 21st, 2023. Five Heads Lodge, under the competent Mastership of Worshipful Brother Paul Lillington, held an emergency meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their consecration (4th June 1973). APGM Barrie Hewitt, escorted by a 23-strong Provincial escort, was in attendance to observe and support proceedings. This official visit by the southeast area APGM...Read More

On Monday July 10th the Cosham Masonic Centre was the venue for the first Cheque Presentation Evening to be held in the South East Area of our Province, since Tuesday 25th June 2019. For those of you that are unaware of its purpose, the cheque presentation evening is an opportunity for our lodges to present,...Read More

The spectrum of people that I meet through Freemasonry never ceases to surprise me. Being a brand new companion of the Holy Royal Arch, with a whole seven weeks of experience, I have been pleased to receive several invitations to Chapters in the Southeast and Central areas. The warmth and fellowship of Craft lodges very...Read More