THE HISTORY OF THE INGHAM CLARK LODGE ( 1967-2017)
Prepared by WBro T W Greene PPSGD
Having been given the task of preparing this short history of the lodge for the 2017 celebration of the lodge’s first 50 years, I am most grateful for the help I received from other members of the lodge especially W Bro Keith Winterbone . I hope that the information contained in these pages will be of interest to all those who are members in 2017 and to all future members who will be presented with a copy of this booklet at their Initiation.
The Lodge Where I Belong
Tho my lodge may lack the splendour of a temple or a shrine
Or possess gaudy fixtures that are classed as superfine
Yet the fellowship it offers is in price beyond compare
And I wouldn’t trade it ever for life’s treasures rich or rare
The hand grasped firm the word of cheer, oh such meanings
they impart the mystic ties of brotherhood that links us heart to heart.
You would really have to travel far, for the friendship quite so strong as those one always finds right here
In the lodge where I belong.
When at my earthly travels end and at last I’m borne to rest where mortal hands no longer toil, and I cease life’s endless quest, why there is nothing I’d like better should I join the heavenly throne. Than to meet with all the brothers.
Of the lodge where I belong,
(Bro Herman)
Consecration Ceremony
The consecration of the lodge took place On Friday 28th April 1967 at the Wallingford Masonic Centre Goldsmiths lane where there were 23 members and founders, 74 visitors and 11 members of the Provincial
Consecration team in attendance.
The Lodge was open in all three degrees and the ceremony of consecration then proceeded and in conclusion the Ingham Clark Lodge 8164 was declared a duly constituted lodge on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England.
The Provincial Grand Master then vacated the chair in favour of
W Bro Brig E Flavell PGSwdB
Deputy Provincial Grand Master
who conducted the ceremony of Installation.
The Master Designate
W Bro Robert Alastair Ingham Clark PDepGDC
was presented, obligated and installed as the
First Master of Ingham Clark Lodge.
At the consecration meeting the R.W.Lt.Col.R.H.Ingham Clark PGM presented the Lodge with a claymore (Sword) that he had carried during his army career which he had last used at the Funeral of King George V.
This was entrusted to Bro.H.Jakeman as he was invested as Tyler
Lodge Founders
W Bro R A Ingham Clark
W Bro P R Slade
W Bro J H W Wilder
W Bro T B Johnson
W Bro C R Richards
W Bro G A Howes
W Bro J M Dipper
W Bro S J J Waldron
Bro E S Druce Bro R W R Hives
Bro R LGroves Bro T G Faulkner
Bro T B Wigley Bro F R Foster
Bro G G Smith Bro J C Moxon
Bro R Ingham Clark Bro L Sproston
Bro E E Palmer Bro C F Parsons
Bro H Jakeman Bro B G Moxon
Bro G Rees
Lodge Officers 1967-1968
W Bro R A Ingham Clark PDepGDC …….….……………………………….….W.M
W Bro J M Dipper ….………………………………………………..…………….S.W
W Bro G A Howes …………………………………………………………………J.W
W Bro T B Johnson ………………………………………………….……….Chaplain
Bro G Rees ……………………….………………………………………..…Treasurer
W Bro S J J Waldron PPGW ………………………………………………….Secretary
W Bro J H W Wilder PPDepGDC ….….…………………………………………..DC
W Bro C R Richards ………………………………………………………………..SD
Bro E S Druce ………………………..……………………………………………..JD
Bro R W R Hives ..…………………..……………………………….………..Almoner
Bro R L Groves ..…………………..…………………………………………..Asst Sec
Bro T G Faulkner ………………..…………………………….……………..……..I.G
Bro T B Wigley ………………..………………………………………….…..Steward
Bro F R Foster ………………..………………………………………………..Steward
Bro G G Smith ……………..……………………………….……………….…Steward
Bro J C Moxon …………..…………………………………………………….Steward
Bro H Jakeman ………….………………………………………………………..Tyler
W Bro P R Slade PPGReg …………………………………………………Acting IPM
The Ingham Clark Masonic Family
Fredrick Walter Fell Clark
Grand Master Mason Depute of Scotland
Robert Harry (Bobby) Ingham Clark
PGM Berkshire 1960 to 1967 & MEGS 1960 to 1966
Robert Alastair (Alastair) Ingham Clark
PGSwdB PGStwd
Robert James (Jamie) Ingham Clark
PSGD MetGInsp PGStwd
Frank Ingham Clark
PJGD PGStwd
Roderick (Roddy) Ingham Clark
PGStwd
Lodge History
In the 1960’s Freemasonry in Wallingford was thriving and although there were already two lodges meeting in Wallingford namely St Hilda’s No 1887 and her daughter lodge Portcullis No 6672 both which had a large membership it was felt by many members who lived in and worked around Didcot that they would like to form a new lodge serving and meeting in Didcot town it was without success that they tried to purchase a building within the town.
The members then sought permission from the Wallingford Masonic Centre to hold their meetings within the centre this was granted.
With the sponsorship of St. Hilda’s Lodge it was agreed to create the new lodge and name it after the Provincial Grand Master of the time
Lt Col R H Ingham Clark whose family has a long connection with freemasonry.
The Coat of Arms on the lodge banner was granted to the Ingham Clark family by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Scotland and is also registered in England. The Lodge Emblem was designed by
W Bro Sir Colin Cole PSGD, Garter King of Arms.
It is important to note that Ingham Clark Lodge has always considered its self a Didcot Lodge and to support the local charities within the area and also for many years held an annual church service in All Saints Church Didcot and still to this day it is the duty of the Master of the lodge each year to attend the Remembrance day parade and lay a poppy wreath at the War Memorial.
At its conception the lodge membership soon swelled to over 50 members and over time increased to over 65 with many brethren becoming joining members from both St Hilda’s and Portcullis Lodges in addition the inter lodge visiting of the brethren of all three lodges in the centre was magnificent often swelling the numbers to over 80 at our meetings.
It’s sad to say that during the late 90’s membership of the lodge started to decline some of which was due to the age and health of some of the members and those who had passed to the Grand Lodge Above and due to the commitments of work and family of the younger members they were no longer able to attend the meetings.
At one time some brethren would be a member of at least two lodges as well as other orders in the centre and would visit the lodge they were not attached to helping each lodge to remain on a steady footing by swelling their numbers at the meetings and festive board but sadly this is no more due to the costs of subscription’s, dinning fees and personal commitments etc.
We are at present going through a difficult time and although our membership is small the quality and commitment of the lodge members is impressive and we are looking forward to launching a new recruitment campaign in the summer months.
We, the members of Ingham Clark Lodge, would like to take this opportunity to record our thanks to the directors and committee members of the Wallingford Masonic Centre for the work they do in providing us with such an outstanding environment to hold our meetings and festive board.