Founders
The experienced brethren who signed the petition for the formation of the new Gosport lodge.
Our story
More than sixty years
of fellowship
From its founding in 1962 to the present day, Alwarestoch Lodge has grown through friendship, resilience and a commitment to Gosport.
The beginning
Founded in
1962
Alwarestoch Lodge was named in 1961, received its Warrant of Constitution on 8 November 1961 and was consecrated as Lodge No. 7805 on 21 February 1962.
Created to promote fellowship, charity and personal growth, the lodge has remained part of Gosport life ever since—welcoming generations of Freemasons and supporting causes within its local community.
The founding document
Our Warrant of
Constitution
Issued by the United Grand Lodge of England on 8 November 1961, this warrant formally authorised the brethren to constitute Alwarestoch Lodge No. 7805.
It bears the authority of the Grand Master, Lawrence Roger Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough. The lodge was subsequently consecrated at Gosport on 21 February 1962, when W. Bro. Frank Small became its first Worshipful Master.
- Warrant number
- 7805
- Granted
- 8 November 1961
- Consecrated
- 21 February 1962
The founding brethren
The men who began
Alwarestoch
In 1961, a group of Gosport Freemasons decided that another lodge was needed. Twenty-four Founders and three Original Members petitioned Grand Lodge to create it.
The distinction recorded in the Provincial history is important: the three Original Members had not yet been members of the Craft long enough to qualify as Founders. Once the lodge had been constituted, all three became joining members.
Original Members
Brethren who helped establish the lodge but did not yet have sufficient service to be formally designated Founders.
Consecrated in Gosport
R.W. Bro. Dr Wilfred Attenborough, Provincial Grand Master, consecrated Lodge No. 7805 on 21 February.
The first Master
W. Bro. Frank Small
Frank Small was installed as the Primus Master at the consecration. He appears on the lodge honour board as F. P. Small and led the new lodge through its first year.
The consecration dinner cost eight shillings—equivalent to 40 pence at the time of decimalisation.
A founder remembered
W. Bro. Monty Mason
Founder Monty Mason died soon after the lodge was consecrated. In his memory, the wife of his son, Bro. John Mason, made a banner for Alwarestoch.
The banner was formally dedicated on 9 February 1966, giving the young lodge an enduring memorial to one of the men who helped bring it into being.
The lodge’s first decade of Masters
The Provincial history records that the first ten years were led by Founders and joining members. The surviving public record does not identify which category applied to every individual, so they are presented here collectively and accurately.
1962F. P. Small1963H. O. Giffen1964C. G. Gibbs1965F. Pearson1966A. C. Peek1967T. W. Savage1968E. E. Hambly1969F. J. Berridge1970L. A. B. Hellyer1971S. H. Aynsworth
About the name: the petition originally proposed “Alverstoke Lodge”. Grand Lodge could not accept it because Alverstoke Chapter No. 1705 already used the name, so the Founders chose the historic form “Alwarestoch”.
Read the Provincial history booklet →A name rooted in Gosport
From Alwarestoch
to Alverstoke
The lodge takes its name from an early form of Alverstoke. The settlement appears in Domesday records as Alwarestock and was associated with the monks of St Swithun’s at Winchester.
Across the centuries, Crown and manorial records used forms including Alwarestoch, Halwarestoke, Alvardestoke and Aillewardstoke before the modern name Alverstoke became established.
Explore the local history of Alverstoke →Our badge
Symbols with
purpose
At the centre of the lodge badge are two distinctive emblems: the mitre of St Swithun above a portcullis.
Represents faith, benevolence and charity, together with instruction and education.
A reminder to bar that which is unworthy and ensure those who enter understand the principles of the Craft.
One of the familiar Masonic symbols surrounding the lodge’s individual story.
Lodge milestones
A journey through
the decades
The lodge is constituted
Named in 1961, the lodge received its warrant on 8 November and was consecrated at Gosport on 21 February 1962.
A busy and memorable period
The lodge was holding nine meetings a year, with ballots for multiple candidates and several double ceremonies. In January 1987, high winds damaged the Masonic Hall gable and left the dining room unusable, forcing the meeting to be postponed.
The “Installation that Never Was”
The Master was delayed abroad and the Master Elect could not take office. The existing Master subsequently continued for another year, giving the meeting its memorable nickname.
Looking to the future
With fewer prospective candidates appearing, members were encouraged to consider introducing two or three suitable candidates each year and to prepare lectures for meetings without ceremonies.
The “Alwarestochisms” are recorded
The lodge compiled its catalogue of rubric and ritual variations, preserving the character developed across its ceremonies.
The meeting pattern changes
The lodge returned to eight annual meetings in 1997, then removed January and March meetings in 1999 as membership patterns changed.
Exceptional service
W. Bro Tom Savage returned as Master more than thirty years after first serving, reflecting his remarkable commitment to Alwarestoch and its character.
Renewal and resilience
A fresh influx of candidates allowed the lodge to perform its ceremonies with new members again. Numbers later declined and an amalgamation with its mother lodge, Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1705, was discussed—but the lodge remained independent.
A lasting legacy
Following the death of W. Bro Tom Savage, his substantial bequest continued to support and influence the lodge he had served for so long.
An unusual lodge distinction
The historical address records that every senior officer was left-handed, resulting in three successive left-handed Worshipful Masters.
Fiftieth anniversary
The lodge celebrated fifty years with a rededication of its banner on 21 February and an anniversary dinner on 3 March.
Sixty years of Alwarestoch
The lodge’s meeting papers marked its sixtieth year, continuing a story that began with the 1962 consecration.
Seventy years of service recognised
The Provincial Grand Master attended Alwarestoch to recognise W. Bro Sydney Aynsworth’s seventy years in Freemasonry.
Remembering W. Bro. Maurie Freeman
Maurie Freeman served as Worshipful Master in 2026. Sadly, he died from cancer before completing his year in office. He is remembered with affection and respect by the lodge. Read our tribute →
Continuing service to Gosport
The lodge has supported local organisations including The Elizabeth Foundation, Elson Community Hub, St Faith’s Hub and Butterflies Bereavement Support, which publicly thanked Alwarestoch for a £500 donation.
The story continues
Alwarestoch meets seven times a year, on the second Wednesday of each meeting month, and continues its traditions of friendship, visiting and charitable support across Gosport.
Masonic family
The Royal Sussex
Lodge family
Alwarestoch is a great-granddaughter lodge of Royal Sussex Lodge No. 342. Research by W. Bro Richard Lovell-Butt charts a family spanning lodges across Hampshire, Cyprus and Leicestershire & Rutland.
Explore the family tree342Royal Sussex Lodge
our Masonic ancestor7805Alwarestoch Lodge
founded 1962
our Masonic ancestor7805Alwarestoch Lodge
founded 1962
Honour board
Those who have
served
The complete record of Brethren who have served the office of Worshipful Master of Alwarestoch Lodge since its consecration in 1962.
Transcribed from the lodge’s honour board and updated through 2026.
Open the dedicated Honour Board page →
1962 F. P. Small1963 H. O. Giffen1964 C. G. Gibbs1965 F. Pearson1966 A. C. Peek1967 T. W. Savage1968 E. E. Hambly1969 F. J. Berridge1970 L. A. B. Hellyer1971 S. H. Aynsworth1972 D. H. Read1973 L. H. Atkins1974 R. E. Rowe1975 J. T. Hales1976 W. E. Selby1977 W. T. Gibbs1978 G. E. Berridge1979 B. J. W. Curtis1980 E. B. Savage1981 P. T. Blundell1982 A. J. Brill1983 J. F. W. Pitman1984 L. J. Matthews1985 R. S. Merrett1986 B. Elwall1987 F. W. Blackwell1988 C. J. Johnson1989 G. C. A. Mason1990 G. C. A. Mason1991 D. C. Dallamore1992 R. R. J. Coleborn1993 M. C. Berry1994 M. R. Sothcott
1995 L. M. Page1996 D. R. Newman1997 L. J. Painter1998 C. J. Johnson1999 D. R. Newman2000 T. W. Savage2001 P. C. Royal2002 C. A. Vaughan2003 N. R. Harris2004 D. G. White2005 M. M. Philpott2006 R. E. Rowe2007 A. M. Smelt2008 C. A. Vaughan2009 D. Cousins2010 P. M. Speak2011 D. N. H. Collins2012 M. V. Sherwin2013 W. N. Mansfield2014 M. C. Berry2015 C. N. Davey2016 J. R. Davey2017 J. R. Davey2018 B. P. Aitkenhead2019 E. G. Fryer2020 T. C. Aitkenhead2021 T. C. Aitkenhead2022 S. H. Aynsworth2023 M. Abban2024 S. P. Aitkenhead2025 T. M. Coatsworth2026 M. J. Freeman View memorial →
Preserving our story
Explore the lodge archive
Photographs from the original website have been brought together with the information that accompanied them.