Lincolnshire Provincial Social Committee»

Jack Wayman - "Gentleman and Gentle Man"»

Lord Worsley - the man behind the Lodge»

Archiving - preserving our Masonic History»

THE LINCOLNSHIRE PROVINCIAL SOCIAL COMMITTEE.

(See also the Lincolnshire Provincial Social Committee Web Page at: http://www.pgllincs.org/LPSC.shtml )

An amazing story of suceess compiled by W.Bro. Bruce Goodman.

LINCOLNSHIRE PROVINCIAL SOCIAL COMMITTEE

President: Rt.W.Bro. G.W. SMITH
Vice President: Rt.W.Bro. G.M. Cooper
Chairman: V.W.Bro.R.P. WINDSOR

BACKGROUND
The Lincolnshire Provincial Social Committee (LPSC) was formed in the 1980’s from an idea of the late V.W.Bro. Walter Patton and W.Bro. Ben White. The then Provincial Grand Master, Rt.W.Bro. G.M. Cooper, gave his agreement and a first meeting was held at Horncastle Masonic Rooms, where most have been held since. The Committee was originally called the Festival Committee until it changed to its present name in 1991. Ten Link areas were formed with one Link Representative per area. An early decision to include Link Representatives Ladies with full voting rights has enhanced the Social ideas for the Committee. These Ten Link areas developed into having one Linkman for every Lodge under an area co-ordinator. These areas have now been increased to 11 with the introduction of a Crowle area.

PURPOSE
The LPSC aim is to encourage, promote, co-ordinate and disseminate information about activities of a social nature; to further friendly relationships of Brethren and their Ladies in and out of the Province of Lincolnshire; to assist in the raising of money for Masonic, Non Masonic Charities and other projects as approved by the Provincial Grand Master; to provide links with all Lodges in the Province in the attainment of the LPSC’s objectives.

SOCIAL EVENTS
Many Social Events have been organised by the LPSC over the years, including Garden Parties, Concerts, Quiz’s, Battle of Britain Lunches and Provincial Lunches. Recent large events were the Market Rasen Garden Party for Disabled in 2004 and 2006 and the Cathedral Concert in 2005 in 2007.

LADIES FESTIVAL
In 1997 W.Bro Roy Eaton organised the first LPSC Ladies Festival at Harrogate with the PGM Rt. W. Bro. Gordon Walkerley Smith as the President. It proved a great success and remains a popular event every year. In 2004 W.Bro. Trevor Clingan and W. Bro. Derek Butcher took over the events organisation. Over the years the Ladies Festival has been held at Harrogate, Stratford, Oxford, Warrington, Daventry, Norwich and Macclesfield.

LINCOLNSHIRE LINK
Early days of the LPSC saw a newsletter being circulated, which grew into the Lincolnshire Link magazine which unfortunately has now been discontinued. This publication came out twice a year and was distributed to every Brother in the Province. W. Bro Colin Kennedy was the editor and produced excellent productions.

FUND RAISING
Over the years the LPSC has raised funds for charity in a number of ways. Resulting in the 1991 Festival receiving £33,000. The ‘Refurbished Regalia’ organised by W. Bro Peter Cowe and Pauline Cowe joined the LPSC until their retirement in 2004 and raised over £23,000 for Charity. The Provincial Grand Raffle Draw has also helped raise funds with tickets being distributed by the Linkmen. Donations from the Committee to the 2003 Festival amounted to £43,000. In 2004 the New Provincial Benevolent Fund benefited by £2,000, and Lincolnshire Disabled Charities by £6,300. 2005 saw the support of Youth Organisations with over £3, 500 being donated. In 2006 £6,400 was donated to Disabled Organisations and in 2007 £3,200 to the NMBF. To the present date that represents a grand total of £99,520 raised.

CONNAUGHT COURT
The LPSC has given support over the years to the Connaught Court Masonic Residential Home in York. Early fund raising for the Home was shared each year by the Masonic Provinces involved. When Lincolnshire organised the York Garden Party in 1994 a massive £43,000 was raised - twice the amount of previous years. Recent years has seen the funding format changed, but two LPSC members still attend the Homes Management meetings and a stall is organised for the annual Garden Party.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The L.P.S.C. held its AGM at Long Sutton on Sunday the 10th February 2008 and among the items was the retirement of W.Bro Jim Brackley as Secretary after 8 years in office.

Pictured above: V.W.Bro. Raymond Windsor Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Chairman of the LPSC presenting a retirement gift to W.Bro Jim Brackley.

JACK WAYMAN, "GENTLEMAN AND GENTLE MAN".

A moving tribute by W. Bro. Steve Cole

(The following article was, as will be apparent, written for the Link magaine before its demise).

I have thought long and hard about how to start writing this piece for the Link magazine and by kind permission of W. Bro. Eric Wayman, I have finally found a starting point. What an excellent description of a man to whom many titles and accolades are due!

The titles include choir boy; sailor; bulb farmer; pilot; Christian; freemason; Grand Officer; friend; mentor and most importantly husband and father.

W. Bro. Eric Wayman covered all of the above in detail at the Service of Remembrance so it is my duty and pleasure to add some facts to the photograph that accompanies this article.

There is no doubt that Jack was equally proud of all three sons and his daughter, Pat. However, English Craft Freemasonry not allowing ladies to join, Jack had to make do with only seeing three of his children initiated into the Craft.

The late W.Bro Jack Wayman with behind his sons (left to right) Tim, Eric, andPeter.

Having been initiated into Hundred of Elloe Lodge No. 469 on 8th September 1966,

Jack was passed on 8th December 1966 and raised on 4th December 1967. He rose by merit to be installed into the chair of King Solomon in January 1982.

It was no doubt a great thrill for Jack to see two of his sons, Tim and Peter, initiated into Hundred of Elloe on the same night in March 1980. They were then both passed in December 1980 and raised in November 1981, again both ceremonies taking place on the same night in what must be very rare if not unique double ceremonies on each occasion.

They were quickly followed by Eric, who was also initiated into Hundred of Elloe, in September 1981; passed in March 1982 and raised in November 1982.

1980 - 1982 proving to be three vintage years for Hundred of Elloe and Jack!

Jack’s friendship and keenness to enjoy everything he did came to the fore when he was instrumental in establishing the now flourishing Lincolnshire Provincial Social Committee and the Lincolnshire Link magazine. It was through the social committee that Jack was able to involve Enid and together their roles as mentors to many young masons and their wives developed. My wife and I are fortunate to be just one couple who have benefited greatly from this.

Despite being everywhere for everyone all of the time, Jack did not neglect his sons and this was proved when first Tim in 1991 and then Peter in 1994 took the Master's Chair at Hundred of Elloe. Tim has since risen to be a Provincial Grand Officer.

Jack was worried that he may not see Eric, by now Provincial Organist, into the Chair. But, those who were privileged to be there will never forget the pride that shone from Jack when, in January 2007, he presented Bro. Eric Wayman to the Worshipful Master to be installed as Worshipful Master of Hundred of Elloe Lodge No. 469.

The accompanying photograph lived on Jack’s bedside table and it was with great pride that he called me to him shortly before he moved on to the Grand Lodge above to ask me to see if I was able to have it published in the Link magazine.

I was only too pleased to accept the task, not realising that to try to write about such a great gentleman would be so hard. I therefore present to you the picture that brought so much pride and joy to Jack, in the knowledge that you will understand and share in his pride and joy.

LORD WORSLEY - THE MAN BEHIND THE LODGE

A history compiled by W.Bro. Stewart Oxborough, Master of Lord Worsley Lodge No.3017

Freemasons Lodges are variously named to commemorate worthy individuals, events, Masonic tenets, etc.. The founding Brethren of the Lord Worsley Lodge No:3017 in 1904 continued a strong local Masonic custom by linking its name with the family of the Earl of Yarborough - the then Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire and first Worshipful Master of the Lodge.

Despite their sagacity, they were not to know what an inspired choice they had made in naming the Lodge after Charles Sackville Pelham, the then sixteen-year-old eldest son of the 4th. Earl, who traditionally takes the title of The Lord Worsley.

Lord Worsley in 1904

As we shall see, Lord Worsley's life was a shining example of those qualities we profess and strive to maintain, both in action and word, in Freemasonry.

A shy boy throughout his early years, Charles, had an endearing passion for horses which he never lost and was, just like many other young men brought up in the country, being a fine rider, and keen about sports.

Lord Worsley on his Charger at Brocklesby

He was devoted to his mother and had an intense love of home. He possessed a very loveable and affectionate disposition, and was always cheerful and happy. These qualities, along with the natural courtesy of his manners, could sometimes hide from strangers a strong depth of character. He was a particularly sensible young fellow and considered in advance of many of his own age.

Lord Worsley was educated at Eton and then abroad before taking the entrance examination into the Military College at Sandhurst. He had determined to join the Royal Horse Guards "the Blues" and was posted as a 2nd. Lieutenant into the Regiment on 5th. October 1908 - just a short time after attaining his majority on August 14th. 1908.

These early years in the service of his country were filled with good times both in the service and at home, and it was during this time that Lord Worsley became a family man. He had known The Honble. Alexandra Vivian, a young lady of charming manners and great attraction, for some years and in the autumn of 1910 they became engaged. They were married on January 31st. 1911 and the honeymoon, necessarily short due to his military service demands, was spent in Rome where Lady Worsley's father had once been British Ambassador. Lord Worsley was 23 and his bride just under 21.

The following year a daughter was born, but to the grief of themselves and their families, it was stillborn, and there was no other child of the marriage. The married life of these two young people, which was destined to be so soon cut short was, however, blessed with much happiness despite this early tragedy.

Lord Worsley had followed his father into Freemasonry - thought not initially into the Lodge which bore his name. On the 6th May 1913 this was rectified and he was balloted for, and accepted into the Lord Worsley Lodge No:3017 as a joining member. The Lodge and the man were at last united.

Later that same year the couple went on a big game expedition in East Africa. Returning via Egypt and reaching England in January 1914, the young couple moved into their newly refurbished residence in Little Brocklesby, Lincolnshire. Lord Worsley himself was only to spend a few days there - intensely happy days for him and his wife in that Spring of 1914, before he had to go back to his regiment. As it turned out, they were the only days he lived there.

At the time war was declared, Lord Worsley was approaching 27 years of age. His first brother, Sackville George Pelham, who was born in 1888, was to serve in the Great War with the 11th Hussars. Another brother, Marcus Herbert Pelham born in 1893, served in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry and subsequently the 1st Life Guards. Both these brothers survived the Great War and left the Army. A third brother, Darcy Francis, had been born in 1892 but survived only a few days.

In the summer of 1914, and although in a cavalry regiment, Lord Worsley was sent on a machine gun course and on his return to the Regiment was placed in charge of the Machine Gun Section.

Two squadrons of the Royal Horse Guards, including Lord Worsley's unit were sent to Ludgershall Camp on Salisbury Plain for many weeks training.

Lord Worsley, front left, at Ludgershall, October 1914

Lady Worsley travelled there and took lodgings with other officers wives. On Saturday 26th September Lord and Lady Worsley went up to London to their house in Great Cumberland Place. The following day they went with their parents to morning service at Grosvenor Chapel in Great Audley Street. They all then had lunch and remained in conversation until Lord and Lady Worsley motored back to Salisbury Plain. That was the last time on which his parents saw him.

Soon afterwards, on 6th. October, the Regiment embarked for Ostend. Throughout that October the Regiment was moved backwards and forwards around Passchendaele, Zonnebeke, Ypres, Mount Kemmel, and Zillebeke - names well known to those who study the Great War. These manoeuvres often resulted in spending 17 hours in the saddle, a few hours rest, and then a further period in the saddle. On October 23rd. 1914 the "Blues" were sent into trenches at Zandvoorde, relieving the "Royals" at daybreak and receiving a good shelling as a welcome.

Trenches at the early part of the war, particularly those at Zandvoorde, were very primitive and uncomfortable. The shelter they afforded against the enemy's H.E. shells was negligible. He wrote to his wife "I am still in the trenches...last night was the most miserable I have ever spent...the heavens opened and it poured and blew all night." In his last letter on October 27th he wrote that his brown charger "Bodmin" had been killed and closed with the words..."God keep you and me, and bless us both and our friends."

His words do not convey the heroism and endeavour shown by the "Blues" at that time. Field Marshal, Earl Haig speaking of the British Cavalry at Zandvoorde said...."British Cavalry were more than a match for the German Cavalry brought against them, their sound training and good shooting proving more than sufficient to counterbalance German superiority in numbers."

On the 29th October the "Blues" were relieved in the trenches by the 1st Life Guards under Lord Hugh Grosvenor. As he was coming out of the trenches, Lord Worsley was told that as the Life Guards only had one machine gun, it was necessary for him to go back and assist them. That was after seven consecutive days in the front line, with no relief as the other troops had had. No complaint was heard; to others he appeared cheerful, and when receiving orders to remain in the trenches he smiled and said it was "all in the day's work"; but it must have been a bitter disappointment when he was ordered back once more to face danger and discomfort - and death.

After an ominously quiet night, at 7.00am on the 30th October 1914 the enemy began a terrific barrage with high explosive and shrapnel from some 260 heavy guns on the Zandvoorde Ridge.

This terrible shelling lasted for one and a half hours. The trenches were exposed to full view of the enemy on three sides and by 9.00 o'clock were literally blown to pieces and one troop totally buried.

As the Germans advanced, the Brigade withdrew to the support trenches. Messages were sent to Lord Worsley's unit telling him to fall back, but it is not known if they ever reached him. Indeed, nothing is known with certainty what took place, because none of the officers and men in the remaining trenches survived and there were no prisoners; not a man came in to give any information as to what took place - they were all killed. An officer in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers trenches to the left of Lord Worsley subsequently described the defence put up that day as one of the finest feats of the War.

Lord Worsley and his Machine Guns, October 1914

Lord Worsley was last seen directing his gun as enemy shell fire exploded all around him. In front of his position was a mound of dead Germans - mute testimony to the work of his Machine Gun Section throughout that morning. His gun was heard chattering before an ominous silence settled over the Zandvoorde Ridge. Despite the apparent loss of our Brother, the cost to the enemy had been heavy, and valuable time had been gained for the British Command. Field Marshal, the Earl Haig was doubly distressed at this grim news as Lady Worsley was his sister-in-law.

The War Office telegraphed on November 7th 1914 that Lord Worsley was "missing" but with no assured notice of his death he was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain on November 15th 1914. On January 11th 1915, however, the sad news was received that the latest German list of British killed showed the name of Lord Worsley. It was also stated that he had been buried south of Zandvoorde. Thus, after more than two months of intense anxiety and doubt for his young wife, his parents, and relatives and friends the worst was announced.

The Worshipful Master of the Lord Worsley Lodge called an emergency meeting on the 19th January 1915 and the sad news was passed to the Brethren that their Brother Mason had given his life in the service of his country.

Lord Worsley's parents made enquiries which resulted in a map of the location of his grave and return of Lord Worsley's identification disc. The Imperial War Graves Commission followed up on this and came across a report of the battle. A German cavalry officer and aristocrat, Oberleutnent Freiherr von Prankh, interested to know who had held out so valiantly against him inspected the trenches. There he found the body of Lord Worsley, removed the identity disc, and had him properly buried and a cross placed on the grave.

Unfortunately, von Prankh was killed a few days later and the personal belongings never recovered. The identity disc did, however, survive and was returned to Lady Worsley.

A friend of Marcus Pelham, Col. A. W. H. James, was entrusted with a copy of the map of Lord Worsley's grave and endeavoured to find it. The first attempt failed but on a second visit in December 1918 proved successful. Taking bearings outside the village of Zandvoorde, due North 100m to one road and due East 100m to another, he walked to the spot indicated on the map. At the exact spot they found the upright of a cross. There was no sign of the cross piece or any other grave.

He placed some large pieces of stone around the upright before leaving. In the village where he was billeted he then had a simple wooden cross made which was inscribed with the words:

" R. I. P. Lord Worsley, R. H. G. Oct. 30th, 1914."

The next visit to the grave was by Sackville Pelham and Col. James. They collected the new cross and made their way to Zandvoorde. On arrival at the grave they found a patchy osier fence growing near the grave running East to West. They took cuttings from this and several of these plants now grow in the grounds at Brocklesby. Park. At the grave they dug down six inches and amazingly found the cross piece of the old German Cross. It was remarkable as the area had been under constant shellfire since the original grave had been dug. The new cross was put in place and the old German one removed. This now hangs over Lord Worsley's sword in Brocklesby Church. They reported what they had done to the War Graves Commission who put up a sign prohibiting anyone from touching it.

It was the policy of the War Graves Commission to exhume the body of those soldiers in isolated graves and put them in suitable cemeteries so they may be properly attended. However, they would also honour any wish of the family in this delicate matter. Lord Worsley's family considered it wise and right to move the grave and the Chaplain of the Naval depot at Immingham, the Reverend R. S. Swann-Mason, representing the family, attended the exhumation at Zandvoorde, on September 8th 1921.

The body was properly identified, reverently placed in a coffin and covered with the Union Jack. Then, along with the wooden cross, conveyed in a covered van at a stately pace to a mortuary near the town of Ypres.

Lord Worsley's coffin is carried into the Ypres Cemetery

The burial took place the following morning at 10.00 am Friday September 9th 1921 in the Military Extension No. 291 of the Ypres Town Cemetery, just outside the Menin Gate and beyond the cross-roads of the Menin Road which leads to the infamous "Hell Fire Corner". A short, simple service followed and two small bunches of marigolds were placed on the coffin - one for Lady Yarborough and one for Lady Worsley.

Reverend R. S. Swann-Mason at Worsley's Re-burial

After committal and prayers, the grave was then closed and the wooden cross from Zandvoorde placed at its head.

There the cross remained until 1923, when the new War Graves Commission erected the now familiar headstone used at all military cemeteries. The wooden cross was carefully removed and returned to Lord and Lady Yarborough. This cross now also hangs in Brocklesby Church - opposite Lord Worsley's sword and the original German Cross from Zandvoorde.

The headstone bears the monogram of the Royal Horse Guards at the top; above the Cross are the words:

LIEUTENANT
LORD WORSLEY
ROYAL HORSE GUARDS
ZANDVOORDE
30TH OCTOBER 1914, AGE 27

Below the Cross:

HE DIED FIGHTING FOR GOD
AND RIGHT AND LIBERTY
AND SUCH A DEATH IS IMMORTALITY

The grave is set out as one of four in a row amongst others in the Military annexe of the town Cemetery.

Members of his family visited the grave at Ypres, so carefully tended and in the spring bright with English flowers - the last resting place of our dear departed Brother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Lord Worsley's original grave at Zandvoorde was located, Lady Worsley at once took steps to buy the ground in which her husband lay. The task was long and tedious , but the land was eventually purchased. The money required was raised by the wives and parents of those who died on 30th October 1914. This land was eventually conveyed to the Imperial War Graves commission by Lady Worsley and it was there that the Household Cavalry decided to erect a memorial to commemorate the sacrifice of the three regiments who perished on the Zandvoorde Ridge.

The memorial is in the form of a 21 feet high column, which is surmounted with a cross. The names of the glorious dead are inscribed on the front of the column, and on the base is the following inscription:

"To those of the 1st and 2nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards who died fighting in France and Flanders, 1914. Many of them fell in defence of the Ridge upon which this cross stands."

The memorial was unveiled by Field Marshal Earl Haig, Colonel of the Royal Horse Guards, also representing the King, on May 4th 1924. The three regiments were present along with a large number of the relatives of those who were commemorated.

Earl Haig gave an impressive address. There then followed two minutes silence between the "Last Post" and "Reveille." The service ended, wreaths were placed by officers of the three regiments, and they were followed by the relatives - among them were Lord Worsley's family - his parents, Lady Worsley, and Lord Worsley's two brothers.

Our founding Worshipful Master must have had a heavy heart that day but could take great consolation in the knowledge that his eldest son, Lord Worsley, had enforced by example and precept the tenets of Freemasonry even to the point of his own death.

As he wrote to the Lodge... " I beg you to convey to the Brethren of the Lord Worsley Lodge the grateful thanks of Lady Yarborough and myself and Lady Worsley for their kind expression of sympathy on the death of our dear son. You and the Brethren who were privileged to know his noble character can measure the depth of our grief, and the loss we have sustained. It is however some consolation to know that we can always look back with pride to the fact that he did his duty and died like a Hero."

OUR HISTORY RE-VISITED

Brocklesby Today

Memorials to the 4th Earl of Yarborough and his son, The Lord Worsley, are in Brocklesby Church and are fitting tributes to these two Freemasons who are so close to the heart of the Lord Worsley Lodge members.

The 4th Earl was the Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire from 1895 to 1936 - a remarkable record of 41 years which our current Provincial Grand Master said (in his address to the Lord Worsley Lodge's Centenary Meeting in 2004) he had no wish to emulate.

On the memorial to the 4th Earl of Yarborough, the Square and Compasses can be seen in the oval tablet to the left of the Earl's likeness and Lincoln Cathedral in that on the right.

The memorial to Lord Worlsey is a wall mounted high relief in alabaster and marble and shows him, in uniform, kneeling at prayer. The memorial is by the sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885-1934) who has produced many magnificent memorials to the Great War.

Jagger also sculpted Sir Ernest Shackleton, another famous Freemason, and this stands in a niche on the Exhibition Road side of the Royal Geographical Society.

The memorial to Lord Worsley is finished in a 17th century style and bears, in a roundel above the frame, the buckle logo of Lord Worsley - a likeness of which has been adopted in tribute by the Lord Worsley Lodge of Masonic Instruction.

The Household Cavalry Memorial at Zandvoorde today.

Once in the centre of a field in the village of Zandvoorde, the memorial is now behind modern houses and is acessed by a gate and path between them. A Book of Remembrance is placed at the gate for visitors to sign.

The photograph is taken along the line of the trenches that Lord Worsley commanded. The Germans attacked from the left - trying to break through to Ypres and the sea to the right.

The Memorial stands on the site of Lord Worsley's original grave - where he was killed - his name is engraved on the base of the Memorial hidden by the small hedge.

The Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium today.

The British Memorial to the Missing was built to commemorate those who were killed around Ypres between 1914 and 1917 but have no known grave - it bears the name of 54,896 soldiers.

Every evening at 8.00 p.m. the traffic is stopped and members of the Ypres Fire Brigade sound the Last Post. In a simple, moving ceremony the silver bugles ring out in tribute to those who died. On a still night the fanfare can be heard from Lord Worsley’s grave in the small Ypres Town Cemetery Military Extension, only just beyond the Menin Gate - past the cross roads and houses which can just be seen through the archway.

Lord Worsley's Grave, Ypres Town Cemetery today.

Lord Worsley's grave is the first of the row of four. He is buried next to an unknown soldier and two double graves. So it is that all distinctions, save those of goodness and virtue, cease when death, the grand leveller of all human greatness, reduces us to the same state.

• to identify and disseminate knowledge on best practice for the collection and archiving of our historical records, artefacts, pictures, manuscripts, etc.;
• to ensure our Masonic history is preserved effectively with the aim, eventually, of displaying it in a museum;
• to promote the rich heritage of Freemasonry generally and to increase the knowledge and understanding of Lincolnshire Masonry in particular;
• to contribute to the public's awareness and understandingand thereby change any public misconceptions of Freemasonry.

• promote archiving to preserve and safeguard our historical records and collections;
• promote the use of our records and collections for the purposes of education;
• encourage and promote access to our records and collections to the widest possible audiences, both Masonic and public;
• promote the Provincial Website, by remote access through the World Wide Web using information technology;
• form partnerships with other Masonic Orders and Bodies as appropriate;
• seek to obtain the resources needed to realise these aims.
• WE AIM TO BECOME THE LEADING INFORMATION AND LEARNING RESOURCE FOR THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN LINCOLNSHIRE