Congratulations Bryan

Congratulation from all the members of St John's Lodge, St John's Chapter and St John's Mark on being awarded the BEM

Bryan Catchpole, Newton Abbot

For services to Young People

Bryan Catchpole

• Bryan has, for a quarter of a century, been the sole member of employed staff in full-spectrum support of an Army Cadet Force (ACF) company, comprising a headquarters and 8 cadet detachments dispersed throughout South Devon.
• Throughout, he has rarely been responsible for administering less than 250 adult volunteers and cadets at any one time.
• He acts as the Regional Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) local officer, providing facilities and estates management for 7 discrete Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites in the South Devon area, 4 of which include MOD rifle ranges and 3 of which are jointly occupied by the Air Training Corps.
• In his spare time, Mr Catchpole serves as a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer in his own right. 2020 will mark his 35th year of loyal service.
• During this time he has held a host of appointments, bringing to each of them a rare combination of military proficiency, honed as a former Royal Marine, and genuine compassion for, and interest in, his cadets.
• In particular, as a Detachment Commander for 3 different ACF detachments and as the Regimental Serjeant Major Instructor for Devon ACF as a whole, he has proved instrumental in ensuring the very highest of standards are maintained.
• Under his direct tutelage, nearly 100 cadets have achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
• In all, he has directly touched the lives and tangibly enhanced the life chances of upwards of 1,500 young people across the County of Devon.

200th Anniversary of St John's Lodge Warrant

On the 8th March 2010 St John’s Lodge, No 328 celebrated the 200th anniversary of its warrant being granted on the 8th March 1810, as reported in the Herald Express on Friday the 5th March 2010.

Needless to say that on Monday the 8th of March 2010 the lodge was full to capacity. The Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, the Past Provincial Grand Master, a Past Assistant Grand Master, Grand Officers and present Provincial Grand Officers processed into the lodge after demanding admission.

Read more: 200th Anniversary of St John's Lodge Warrant

Coffee Morning Success!

As part of our recruitment initiative it was agreed that we should try and publicise the lodge to mark 200 years since it's initial warrant was issued on 8th March 1810.

Using information from our historian, the lodge's Assistant Director of Ceremonies contact the Herald Express to ask if they would run an article on this historic event. It was noted that there was going to be a public coffee morning on Saturday 6th March 2010 for members of the public to view the lodge and find out more about freemasonry in general. The article was printed in that Thursday's Herald Express and you can read a copy of the actual article here - Public invited to celebrate Masons' 200th anniversary.

Read more: Coffee Morning Success!

Public invited to celebrate Masons' 200th anniversary

Article was originally published in the Herald Express on Thursday 4th March 2010.

THE doors of Torquay's oldest Masonic Lodge swing open to the public tomorrow.

Members of St John's Lodge number 328, in Park Hill Road, are celebrating two centuries of Masonic work in the Bay.

People are invited to pop along between 9am until noon on Saturday for an open morning, with refreshments and information on offer.

The actual anniversary will be marked on Monday, when the great and good of Devon's Masons attend the Lodge. Among those going along will be the Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire, the Past Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire, an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, two Past Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, Grand Officers, present Provincial Grand Officers and numerous Past Provincial Officers.

Read more: Public invited to celebrate Masons' 200th anniversary