OBM LODGE

Presentation of Cedric Woodger seat

The OBM Lodge is one of 165 old school lodges throughout the country. They derive their membership, in most cases, from former pupils. In Bedfordshire there are also Lodges for the Old Bedfordians, the Old Lutonians, the Old Dunstablians and the Old Cedarians (Leighton Buzzard). Freemasonry is intended to offer those who are members the opportunity to make themselves better individuals and demonstrate to others that they are kind, considerate and charitable to those less fortunate than themselves, irrespective of whether or not they are freemasons.

It is hoped this will help to dispel the myths that we are only out to look after ourselves. These misrepresentations have over the years caused a lot of concern to freemasons and their families. Whilst we do raise money to help our members, their families and dependants, it is also true that we as masons ensure non-masonic charities benefit regularly each year from vast donations administered through the Freemasons’ Grand Charity. More particularly of course the Lodges in Bedfordshire serve the needs of local non-masonic charities. At a successful Charity Cheque Presentation Evening held recently at Bedford Masonic Centre at The Keep, Kempston, freemasons gave £48,578.00 to local charities throughout the county as part of their regular contribution to charities working within the community.

In total, over £30 million has been donated to non-masonic charities of all sizes. This includes over £8 million for hospice services as part of a special programme of support that began in 1984, nearly £400,000 for air ambulances and over £1.8 million for emergency relief work worldwide. Within hours of news of the Haiti earthquake, the Freemasons` Grand Charity approved an immediate payment of grants totalling £30,000. Bedfordshire freemasons met with air ambulance crews and presented a cheque for £4,000. Wives of Luton freemasons gave £500 to the local air ambulance. Nearly forty classic vehicles took part in the annual Masonic Classic Car Run. The entrants (including two members of the OBM Lodge), some others from Bedfordshire , travelled to Weybridge . As a result of pre-event sponsorship two benefiting charities – Help for Heroes and Brooklands Museum Trust – each received £2,750. The funds raised since the Masonic Classic Car Run was started now total over £95,000. A donation of £40,000 from Bedfordshire freemasons helped towards the opening of a new high dependency unit at Ampthill`s Leonard Cheshire Disability Care Unit for people with severe physical disabilities. Members of a Luton lodge raised £700 in a novel way to raise awareness of prostate cancer by taking part in a moustache growing charity. The Freemasons` Grand Charity handed over £3,155 to Keech Hospice, near Luton in what was described by the Hospice as a `difficult year`. This is in addition to over £350,000 already granted to this cause by Bedfordshire freemasons in the last 20 years.

Interested in becoming a Freemason in the OBM Lodge?

The OBM Lodge is just one of those generous lodges who contribute to local and national charities. We very much support BMS in the form of an annual grant to a suitable pupil, or pupils, too. Want to be part of it? It`s a great opportunity to help those less fortunate, meet fellow OBMs and fellow freemasons from all walks of life, meet other like-minded people and keep in touch with the School. In December we look forward to an OBM in his 20s joining us in the Lodge. Five members of the Lodge live abroad and we are pleased to see them from time to time. The Lodge Almoner keeps in contact with widows of members.

Our meetings are great social occasions. Members are aged from their twenties up to early nineties. We live mainly in the Bedford area. Others live in Norfolk, Warwickshire, Devon, New Zealand, France, Cyprus and Dubai. You`ll have the opportunity to meet fellow OBMs, visitors from other school lodges and freemasons from elsewhere. After our meeting we hold a dinner (known as Festive Board), a semi-formal occasion with plenty of good food and wine. The Meeting, held at BMS, usually starts at about 4.00 pm and the dinner finishes about 9.30-10 pm. You certainly don`t have to attend every meeting. Come when, and if, you want. Furthermore, as a freemason you`ll be able to visit lodges in this country and abroad. We meet at BMS on a Saturday afternoon in October, December, February, April and May/June. Call Simon Collier (1981-91) on 01234 830987 e-mail: collier-simon@sky.com or e-mail the Lodge Secretary, Ian Brown (Brown IG at BMS, 1956-63) at obm5268@yahoo.co.uk Either will be pleased to pass on information on becoming a member.

The Lodge Award 2009

Sam Towler (Year 10) has received the Lodge’s Annual Award of £750, which will contribute towards the financial pressures associated with his golf training and development. Sam has been playing golf for over three years and is now in the England South East Squad; he not only represents the county and his school, but also won the U16 category this year and finished third in the U18 category.
Sam also competed in the Nick Faldo Series earlier this year, as the youngest competitor taking part in the U16 section. Sam led overnight by one shot, eventually winning by three shots. Sam's prize was to take part in a week long final in October 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Old Bedford Modernians' Lodge Awards are for academic, sporting or artistic achievement. The Headmaster presented the Award to Sam at a school assembly on 29 June 2009 in the Howard Hall: also present were David Cook and Gordon Ambidge from the OBM Lodge.