The Lodge Badge
The Design
When the lodge was founded in 1948, the founders wished to adopt the coat of arms of the Borough of Woolwich as their badge. The Borough Council, however, declined to grant permission for its use.
Undeterred, W Bro Laver — a founder member and keen artist — designed an alternative badge that captured the spirit and heritage of the area. His design drew on the symbols most closely associated with Woolwich: the Royal Arsenal, the Dockyard, the town’s industrial tradition, and the peace that the lodge’s founding in the post-war years represented.
The result is the badge the lodge proudly bears today — a design that tells the story of its home town and the values of the men who established it.
The Lodge Banner
The lodge badge is divided into four quarters, each representing a facet of Woolwich and its heritage:
- Top left — A dove bearing an olive branch, the emblem of peace.
- Top right — A cannon, symbolising the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich’s most famous landmark and employer for generations.
- Bottom left — A sailing ship, representing the Great Harry and the historic Woolwich Dockyard, where Henry VIII built his fleet.
- Bottom right — A workman at his bench, reflecting the industrial character of the town and the skill of its tradesmen.
The badge is surmounted by the Invicta white horse of Kent — a symbol of the county to which the lodge belongs.
The lodge banner was presented by W Bro Sid L Reeves PPrDGReg PZ, a Past Master of the lodge from 1952–53, and a devoted member for many years.
The banner was dedicated on Monday 12th January 1981 at a regular meeting of the lodge — a meeting made all the more memorable as the Worshipful Master, W Bro D G Hoxey, initiated his own son David into Freemasonry that same evening.
The banner depicts two golden pillars flanking the lodge badge, set against a light blue background on white tapestry, with the traditional square pavement beneath. The Provincial Grand Master, the Rev Canon Peter Churton Collins, performed the unveiling, and the Rev C O A Darby conducted the dedication.
The banner is displayed at installations and special occasions, a proud symbol of the lodge’s heritage and the generosity of its members.
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