Masonic Memories 1

It was the 16th of January 1991, the day of my initiation into Star of Saxony. Both my brother and my father were Freemasons. Sadly my Dad died early in 1965 but my brother, now a UGLE GL Officer, was in attendance (only after receiving a dispensation from UGLE because of ‘recognition’ problems). I was to learn that evening that my brother, only 61 years old, was fatally ill, with but 9 months to live. It could not have been a more poignant evening.

WM Arthur Bradshaw, his Wardens and team of officers conducted an excellent double first for me and a German brother. We sat next to each other at the Festive Board. It was a splendid evening and at one point my new German brother asked whether I worked at RAF Brueggen? I confirmed that I did. He pressed by asking when the desert war with Iraq would begin?

Those were closely held secrets to which I was not privy. Yes, I ran the Operations Squadron at Brueggen but was far too low on the totem to know. He pressed me further! But when – would I guess? I said everything pointed to today and, looking at my watch, the attack would start about now.

I was not to meet this brother for another year. When we did he introduced me to his German friends and told them I was the guy he’d told them about that not only guessed the date,  but also the time of the attack. It was a complete fluke of course, but it added to the memory my initiation into Star of Saxony Lodge – one of the best things I ever did.

W Bro Gordon Rayfield PJGD

PM Star of Saxony Lodge