The 2026 WOOLSTON FESTIVAL

The Lodge of St. Denys No. 7383 hosted the very first WOOLSTON FESTIVAL last night, appropriately at the Woolston Masonic Centre in Southampton. In these modern times of modest attendances and excess elbow room, organiser W. Bro. Dave Bowen hoped that a combined event would bring plenty of brethren together. He wasn’t disappointed! Around 80 brethren and visitors, including a contingent from the Netherlands, filled the Temple to witness Mr. Adam Worley and Mr. James Warren take their first regular step in Freemasonry. For once, spare seating was not the evening’s principal attraction.

The W.M. of St. Denys Lodge, W. Bro. Josh Mitchell was in overall charge, supported by brethren from other Lodges who meet at the Centre, including: Clausentum Lodge No. 1461, Hamtun Lodge No. 7083, Priory Lodge No. 5204, Netley Abbey Lodge No. 6989, Deanery Lodge No. 9191, Southampton Old Edwardians Lodge No. 7106, and Pear Tree Lodge No. 7954 (with the guest organist from Lyndhurst Lodge No. 8012 of course!) A line-up that required almost as much breath to announce as the ceremony itself.

W. Bro. Dave Bowen acted as DC, ably assisted by W. Bro. Morgan Tye as stand-in ADC, as they bravely attempted to keep order in a very full Temple. Between them, they just about achieved it, and managed to uphold the St. Denys Lodge motto, ‘Fluctuat nec mergitur’ which translates from Latin as ‘rocked by the waves, but never sinking!’ With so many Lodges aboard, it could have presented a challenge. The Charge after Initiation was delivered by a Masonic Quintet, with five brethren confidently sharing the ritual. Meanwhile, the exuberant Tyler ensured that nobody forgot his presence, with his thunderous knocks providing a percussion not requested by the organist who was sat rather too close to the door!

W. Bro. Jon Bell APGM attended in an unofficial capacity and spoke at the Festive Board about the evening’s success, recommending that other Centres should follow suit. On the evidence of the turnout, the combined-event idea certainly had legs, even if there was precious little room in the dining room to stretch them.

At the end of the evening, the visiting brethren of La Flamboyante Lodge No. 37 from the Netherlands presented St. Denys Lodge with a framed medal featuring their Blazing Star. La Flamboyante is French for ‘The Blazing Star’ (De Vlammende Ster). In Masonic symbolism, the Blazing Star represents the guiding light of truth, reason and divine providence on a Mason’s path towards self-improvement and enlightenment. It made a fitting conclusion to an evening full of fellowship, and a rather more elegant keepsake than a spare napkin from the Festive Board.

The usual analysis of the dinner is under ‘A Square Meal’