In late 1985 W.Bro Reg Barnett, the Chairman of the Brook House Masonic Centre, Botley, Southampton, approached W.Bro Denis Gilbert with the idea of forming a new Lodge to meet in Botley, and asked Denis if he felt there would be sufficient support for such a Lodge, and could we attract enough candidates within the catchment area. W.Bro Gilbert immediately started sounding out his many Masonic friends and was very soon able to report back to W.Bro Barnett that he felt they would be able to attract the requisite number to form a new Lodge. With a very enthusiastic group of 40 interested Masons a Founders’ meeting was soon arranged, with W.Bro Denis Gilbert as the Chairman, and W.Bro Norman Gillman the Secretary. It was also proposed by W.Bro Reverend Bill Evans that W.Bro Denis Gilbert be the Master designate, this proposition was seconded and approved by the Founding Committee. A decision then had to be made for a suitable name for the proposed Lodge and at a meeting between W.Bro Reg Barnett and W.Bro Denis Gilbert took place. W.Bro Gilbert suggested the name of THOMAS BENNETT LANGTON in memory of the late Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and Isle of Wight who had recently passed away. This was then approved by a full Founders meeting. A letter was sent to Mrs Langton by W.Bro Denis Gilbert to seek her permission to use the family Coat-of-Arms and Motto in the new Lodge Crest, these to incorporate the Shield within the Square and Compass, The Lodge name and the Langdon family motto: Honor Homini.

Rt WBro. Thomas Bennett PGM Hampshire & IOW

It was reported at a Founders’ meeting on Thursday 24th July 1986 that Mrs. Langton approved of the name for the Lodge, and the use of the Arms subject to a final sight of the layout. W.Bro Denis Gilbert then prepared three design suggestions for the new Lodge Crest and at the founders’ meeting on the 27th August 1986 the Founders agreed that the Lodge Crest should depict the personal Coat-of- Arms of Thomas Bennett Langton and is Quarterly sable and gules a bend argent, three holly leaves proper, or, in plain English red and black quarters with a silver stripe with three green holly leaves on it.For the Lodge Crest this has been changed to a bend gold with three holly leaves in black. At the Founders’ meeting on Wednesday 27th August 1986 it was agreed that the Lodge ritual should be Emulation 1986 Revised Edition. It was also agreed that the Founders’ Jewels to incorporate the Langton Coat-of-Arms, the final design to be prepared by W.Bro Denis Gilbert.There would be two types of Founders Jewels; those for Lodge Officers which would have their badge of office on the ribbon while the rest would have a plain ribbon. A brooch with the same crest was prepared for the Ladies. At the regular meeting of Brook House Lodge No. 8606 the Brethren wholeheartedly agreed to sponsor the proposed Thomas Bennett Langton Lodge. The Petition was signed by the Worshipful Master, W.Bro Russell, followed by the Senior Warden W.Bro Laidlaw and the Junior Warden Bro Fisher.

THE FOUNDERS. W.Bro James Cyril BALLARD Netley Abbey Lodge No. 6989 W.Bro Reginald Harry BARNETT St.Christopher Lodge No. 7919 Bro Steven Kirk BEECHING Albert Edward Lodge No.1780 W.Bro Rodney Ernest BROOME St.Christopher Lodge No.7919 Bro Peter BUNDY Pudbrook Lodge No. 8366 Bro David John BURNETT St.Christopher Lodge No.7919 Bro Peter George DESTY Beach Lodge No.2955 Bro Max Stanley EDGE Forest Green Lodge No.7925 Bro Thomas James ELLIOTT Lodge of Progress and Unity No.6402 W.Bro Rev.William Thomas EVANS Lodge of Peace and Harmony No.359 Robert Burns FRANCIS Rose Window Lodge No.7839 W.Bro Denis Raymond GILBERT Totton Lodge No.8080 W.Bro Gordon Joseph GULLIVER Lodge of St.George No.1958 W.Bro Norman William GILLMAN Netley Abbey Lodge No.6989 Bro Peter GREGORY Oceanus Lodge No.7785 Bro Reginald Arthur HAMPTON Netley Abbey Lodge No.6989 Bro Raymond Charles HENRY Royal Gloucester Lodge No.130 Bro Douglas E.S.HICKMAN Forest Green Lodge No7295 W.Bro Sam HUGHES Fair Oak Lodge No 8191 Bro Philip Trevor HUSBANDS Brook House Lodge No.8606 Bro Keith Stewart HUTCHINGS Duke of Connaught Lodge No.1834 Bro Ian F.JUDD Wilfrid Attenborough Lodge No.7672 W.Bro Brian KIMBER Pudbrook Lodge No.8366 Bro Capt.Maurice LARRIVE Lodge of Peace and Harmony No.359 W.Bro Robert Henry LAWRENCE Royal Gloucester Lodge No.130 Bro Norman LAY Netley Abbey Lodge No.6989 Bro Alfred C.MARKS Solent Lodge No.6182 Bro Derek William MAWBY Royal Pavillion Lodge No.4307 Bro Keith C.NEWMAN Forest Green Lodge No.7295 Bro John Frederick OSMAN Minerva Lodge No.2433 Bro Donald John PAGE Royal Gloucester Lodge No.130 Bro David TAPLIN Gosport Lodge No.903 Bro Malcolm Herbert Neville VEAL Beach Lodge No.2955 W.Bro Reginald WOLSTENHOLME St.Christopher Lodge No.7919 Bro Malcolm WOOD Duke of Connaught Lodge No.1834 Bro Arthur William Henry WOODMAN Forest Green Lodge No.7295

The Consecration of Thomas Bennett Langton Lodge No.9224 took place at the Botley Masonic Centre, Botley, on Wednesday 25th March 1987 at 2.30 p.m.( The Primus Master W.Bro Denis Gilbert arranged for a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to Mrs. Langton on behalf of the new Lodge at Precisely 2.30 p.m) by the Rt.W.Bro James Edward Bullen, Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, ably assisted by : V.W.Bro. Surg.Capt. Gerald S.Irvine Deputy Provincial Grand Master W.Bro A.D.CHUN Assistant Provincial Grand Master W.Bro A.C.L.CALLAWAY Assistant Provincial Grand Master W.Bro R.J.McGAREL-GROVES Assistant Provincial Grand Master W.Bro D.R.ANDERTON Provincial Senior Grand Warden W.Bro G.DAVIES Provincial Junior Grand Warden V.W.Bro Rev.Dr.M.MORGAN Provincial Grand Chaplain W.Bro Cdr.R.A.CHAMPION Provincial Grand Secretary W.Bro M.E.SLATER Provincial Grand director of Ceremonies W.Bro C.HILLS Provincial Grand Sword Bearer W.Bro S.G.SMITH Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro J.F.COOPER Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro J.A.C.OLIVER Provincial Senior Deacon W.Bro E.E.BLACKMORE Provincial Junior Deacon W.Bro N.I.TRIVETT Provincial Grand Standard Bearer W.Bro M.W.CHILDS Provincial Grand Pursuivant W.Bro R.E.JACKSON Provincial Grand Tyler

The Musical arrangements and Provincial Choir conducted by W.Bro R.E.H.CARTER Provincial Grand Organist. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , V.W.Bro Surg.Capt.Gerald S.Irvine enters the Lodge in procession with the Grand and Provincial Grand Officers and appoints the Officers. The Provincial Grand Master , Rt W.Bro James E.Bullen then enters the Lodge and address the Brethren on the Motive of the Meeting. He then calls upon the Provincial Grand Chaplain V.W.Bro Rev.Dr.Michael Morgan to give the opening prayer. After the Consecration of the Lodge, during which the Elements of Consecration are carried around the Lodge, these consisting of: Corn The symbol of Plenty Wine The symbol of Joy and Cheerfulness Oil The symbol of Peace and Unanimity Salt The symbol of Fidelity and Friendship The oil used in this Ceremony was given to W.Bro Denis Gilbert, by a Minister when in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, who in turn gave it to V.W.Bro Michael Morgan and this oil was used in the Consecration. The Consecrating Officer then Dedicates and Constitutes the Lodge. This is then followed by the Installation of W.Bro Denis Gilbert as the W.M of the Lodge by W.Bro Alan D.Chun, Assistant Provincial Grand Master. The Worshipful Master then proceeded to appoint and invest his Officers. The Address to the Master was given by W.Bro Alan Callaway, Assistant provincial Grand Master. The Address to the wardens was given by W.Bro Cdr.Ronald Albert Champion Provincial Grand Secretary. The Address to the Brethren was given by W.Bro Robin McGarel Jones , Assistant Provincial Grand Master. The following were made Honorary Members: Rt.W.Bro James Edward Bullen. W.Bro Alan David Chun. W.Bro Col.Roland Stephen Langton. W.Bro Michael Jeremy Langton. The reigning Master of Gordon Langton Lodge 3069 was made an Honoured guest. On the 1st July 1987 at the Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting in Southampton Guildhall W.Bro Alan Chun was invested as the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Masonic Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight and requested W.Bro Denis Gilbert , the Master of the newest Lodge in the Province, and the Master of Medina Lodge the oldest Lodge in the Province to be included in his Guard of Honour when he processed at the Guildhall, which was done with great ceremonial aplomb. Rt.W.Bro Alan Chun, now our Deputy Provincial Grand Master wrote this letter to W.Bro Denis Gilbert :- “ Dear Worshipful Master, I cannot let the splendid Masonic occasion of Wednesday ( 1st July ) pass without writing to thank you for your support and presence as one of my escort into Provincial Grand Lodge for my Investiture as Deputy Provincial Grand Master of our great Province. It seemed fitting that you, as Master of the newest Lodge in the Province which bears the name of a Provincial Grand Master who was kindness itself to me should be part of the Escort and since Thomas Bennett Langton Lodge was the very first to make me an Honorary Member , I was delighted to have an early opportunity of returning the compliment. I do hope that you will be able to find a way of recording your participation in the minutes of your next Lodge meeting- perhaps by referring to my letter even !-so that when the History of your Lodge comes to be written, your part in a historic “first” will be recorded. The “first” is that although the Southampton area has produced Assistant PGMs , this is the first time that a Deputy PGM has come from this part of the Province Thank you again for all you did, Yours sincerely and fraternally, Alan D.Chun.” A short time after the Provincial meeting W.Bro Alan Chun again contacted W.Bro Denis Gilbert, this time to invite him as the representative of Thomas Bennett Langton Lodge, to a Champagne reception at his home. Through the passing years Thomas Bennett Langton Lodge has become stronger and stronger, we always have had a candidate for every meeting in the 29 years the Lodge has been in being; of the 40 Founders at the Consecration we still have 8 who attend. The fore-sight of the Founders and the support of the Members has given the Lodge all the essentials to be well respected as one of the premier Lodges in the Province. Long may it continue”. Prepared by the Founding Master. W.Bro Denis Gilbert. P.P.S.G.W.

Secretary - W/Bro Gino Fanti secretary@tbl9224.co.uk Treasurer - W/Bro George Butler treasurer@tbl9224.co.uk Dining Steward - W.Bro John Fritz-Domeney dining@tbl9224.co.uk Charity Steward - W/Bro Kevin Rennison charity@tbl9224.co.uk Almoner - W/Bro George Smale almoner@tbl9224.co.uk