The foundation
Craft
The best-known part of Freemasonry: friendship, personal development and service to the community, all held together by tradition and the people in the room.
It's where it all begins...
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From the diary
Craft stories
26 July 2026 · Damerham · Craft
Damerham Fair: sunshine, teddies and men dressed as horses
A bright day at Damerham Fair brought games, classic cars, a lively Discover Freemasonry stand and all the cheerful absurdity a proper country show requires.
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23 July 2026 · Chandler’s Ford · Craft
Sunrise, Sunset—and a perfectly timed curry
Merdon Lodge gathered at the Sunrise Indian Curry House in Chandler’s Ford for a social evening with food, friendship and a pun that had clearly been waiting for its moment.
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22 July 2026 · Southampton · Craft
Peartree prizes, two organists and a garden in a bottle
Lyndhurst Lodge made an impressive showing in the Peartree Lodge raffle—proof that a good evening can be measured in prizes, plonk and garden lights.
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15 April 2026 · Lymington · Craft
A new club begins with camaraderie and cholesterol
Breakfast in Lymington, conversation without ceremony and a table where it was perfectly acceptable just to listen.
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11 November 2025 · Harrow · Craft
Eight Hampshire Masons head into the wilds of Middlesex
A visiting party travelled to Harrow to support an official visit to Greenford Lodge—and discovered that pastures new can produce a fabulous evening.
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18 October 2025 · Brockenhurst · Craft
The new team, with a couple of old boys thrown in
A changing of the guard at Lyndhurst Lodge—and proof that experience can still be smuggled into the photograph.
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2 July 2025 · London · Craft
Five minutes late to the Grand Temple
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Craft AGM involved London traffic, a narrow escape, curry and the reflective calm of a coach ride home.
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25 June 2025 · Brockenhurst · Craft
£4,500 for local causes—and I still prefer cake
Brockenhurst Masonic Centre brought local charities together for an evening about practical support, community and the rewards available in sponge form.
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18 June 2025 · Chandler’s Ford · Craft
The 120th pint—and every last drop
A visit to the new blood donation centre in Chandler’s Ford marked donation number 120, conveniently close to another place experienced in extracting money.
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25 March 2025 · Winchester · Craft
£300 towards Peru—and a reminder of my age
Merdon Lodge helped a King’s School student towards a World Challenge expedition, while I tried not to calculate how long ago school was.
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18 March 2025 · Southampton · Craft
Ten years of Brevity—and one enormous cake
Nearly fifty people marked a decade since Brevity Lodge was consecrated, with an installation and a cake scaled for the occasion.
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8 March 2025 · Hursley · Craft
Meet Annie: a lesson that could save a life
Merdon Lodge swapped the usual programme for CPR and defibrillator training—practical knowledge every Masonic centre ought to have.
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5 February 2025 · Wiltshire · Craft
Dinner for the visitors who had not booked
A journey into Wiltshire ended at Longleat Lodge, where a particularly friendly welcome extended even to unexpected diners.
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14 December 2024 · Hursley · Craft
A packed room, £700 for charity and a bottle of sake
Merdon Lodge’s installation filled both the temple and festive board—which, at Hursley, involved remarkably little travelling.
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3 December 2024 · Brockenhurst · Craft
Carols, charity and a very large Christmas feast
Lyndhurst Lodge gathered friends and families in Brockenhurst for a Christmas dinner that raised £575 for Children First.
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17 August 2024 · Brockenhurst · Craft
Old cars, sunshine and the essential slice of cake
Forest Villages Lodge opened Brockenhurst Masonic Centre for a classic-car show featuring polished machinery, tea and entirely justified drooling.
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27 July 2024 · Damerham · Craft
Freemasonry, a village fair and some serious bear work
Vale of Avon took Teddies for Loving Care into the community at Damerham Village Fair under suspiciously glorious skies.
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18 December 2023 · Brockenhurst · Craft
A mad choir, tasty food and Christmas approaching fast
Forest Villages brought music into Brockenhurst with Leigh Jerwood, a lively choir from St Mark’s and Becky’s reliably good catering.
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16 July 2023 · Bisterne · Craft
Sunshine arrives exactly when ordered
The South West Area summer garden party at Bisterne brought the Province together near Ringwood after volunteers survived a considerably wetter rehearsal.
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