Freemasons from all across the country gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 1 November, for the National Freemasons’ Service of Remembrance. This year marked the second national ceremony of its kind. First introduced last in 2024 by the Province of Staffordshire, the service now attracts representatives from every Province to stand together in shared remembrance.
The Province of West Lancashire was led by our Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers, the Provincial Sword Bearer Gordon MacLennan, and the Provincial Armed Forces Covenant Officer Martin Clements.
Nestled among the gentle Staffordshire woodlands, the Arboretum offers a perfect setting for national reflection. With over 400 memorials, including the dedicated Freemasons’ monument, it stands as Britain’s centre of remembrance.
The Masonic Garden Memorial was the idea of Edward (Eddie) Ford OSM, who spent years planning and overseeing the project. The first sod for the memorial was turned in 2001, and the site was dedicated by the then Assistant Grand Master David Williamson.
In the following years, raising funds for the memorial proved challenging. Nonetheless, Eddie was undeterred and persisted until the memorial, in all its splendour, was completed in 2016 and subsequently rededicated by the then Pro Grand Master, Peter Lowndes in 2017. Eddie was honoured with the Order of Service to Masonry (OSM) for his work on this magnificent memorial.
At the beginning of the ceremony, there was a procession of dignitaries, queuing along Millennium Way with flag bearers, carrying their respective Provincial banners high. The touching sounds of the Gresley Colliery Brass Band created an inspiring musical backdrop, adding a sense of importance and tradition to the start of the Service of Remembrance.
For the first hymn of the service, ‘O God, Our Help in Ages Past’, echoed across the grounds as it was sung with heartfelt passion by over 600 Freemasons, members of the Armed Forces and their families. This stirring rendition set the tone for the ceremony, uniting everyone present in a moment of collective reflection and remembrance.
The exhortation was delivered by Warren Duke, Metropolitan Grand Master, followed by the Last Post and two minutes of silence. The Piper’s Lament broke the silence around the memorial before the lone bugler played Reveille. Brigadier W. Shackell delivered the Kohima Epitaph, followed by the Metropolitan Grand Chaplain delivering the Prayer. The poignant reading of ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John Thompson, Assistant Grand Master, preceded everyone joining in the Lord’s Prayer.
Delegates from each Province processed into the Masonic Memorial Garden and laid wreaths in honour of their brethren and all fallen servicemen and women. ‘Eternal Father, Strong to Save’ was echoed again by the congregation before the final blessing and a rendition of the National Anthem. The dignitaries then recessed out of the garden to conclude the service. The service was followed by a lunch at the Arboretum, which many of those present attended.
