our history

The Association’s original minutes show that it was formed on Friday, 1st December 1922, as an extension of the Golf Competitions in aid of charity held by Lincoln Lodges over the previous two years which had proved successful. The meeting chaired by W Bro J Varty of Paulinus Lodge No 3957, agreed conditions of play, and agreed the entrance fee of Ten Shillings (50 Pence) should be charged, all proceeds to be donated to the Lincolnshire Masonic Charity Association. The Joint Secretaries were to be W Bro W T Warrener and Bro Wright Holmes.

A further meeting held on the 15th of December saw acceptance of a letter and entry forms to be circulated to all Lodges in the Province inviting them to take part. At a meeting held on the 25th of January,1923, it was reported that in addition to the Lincoln Lodges Witham, Excalibur, Paulinus, Ermine and St Hugh, Lindsey at Louth and Pelham Pillar of Grimsby had signified their intention to enter.

The form of the competition was that Lodges in the Province should form themselves into regions, play competition on mutual courses, and that a certain number from each of these Regional Competitions should meet in a final to which the Provincial Grand Master, The Earl of Yarborough and the Deputy W Bro T Kitwood would be invited to take part.

The 20th April 1923 minutes record that Bro S V Hotchkin had offered the use of a course at (the now world famous) Woodhall Spa, and the date 7th June at 1.30pm be fixed. Two handicap sections were agreed; 0 to 14 and under, 15 and over, so we have not changed much over the years. An extract from a letter sent to all Lodges on the 6th November, 1923, quotes “… it is hoped that these competitions may be the means of raising £1,000 for the Provincial Charity Association in the next 4 years.” Following the final at Woodall Spa, Bro Captain S V Hotchkin MP generously promised to present a valuable silver trophy to be won outright.

The next minutes show that 16 Lodges were now participating, and that the1924 Final would be held at Woodall Spa in June and the sectional Finals played by 12th May. In 1924 the Secretary of Seacroft Golf Club proposed that the final should be held at Skegness; this was accepted, and an optional sweepstake of 2s and 6p (12.5 pence) should be introduced. Dinner at the Crown Hotel was offered at 6 shillings (30 pence) was accepted. The first financial accounts show that in 1924, £136 1s was handed to the Lincolnshire Charity Association. The statement of Accounts is beautifully recorded in the Minutes and is well worth seeing as an example of the care and propriety taken by Secretaries in those far-off days. Things continued much along the same lines with Grimsby being added in 1925, Belton Park in 1926, dinner at the George Hotel 5 shillings and 6 pence (26p), Cleethorpes 1927 and Torksey 1929.

1930 saw the Minutes being recorded by Bro Wright Holmes and the introduction of the ‘Bald-Headed section (!), and the purchase of a Challenge Cup and the names of brethren who had offered to subscribe to the cost. The list of names can be seen on the carrying case lid. The last valuation of the trophy was £4,500 and this is one of the reasons (because of insurance costs) that winners can no longer take it and the other trophies home after the events.

Other trophies have been added over the years and we now have 14 which have been donated from different lodges and individuals. We have the St Lawrence Cup which when won, is accompanied by a Silver Tankard for the winner to keep.

2014 saw the inclusion of a further trophy donated by the Spavin family who had already donated the Jesse Spavin Trophy in memory of Jesse Spavin who was Secretary for a number of years. The latest trophy is the Roy Spavin statuette and is played for by those taking part in both the Spring and Autumn meetings. The winner is the player with the best nett medal score for both events. It was very appropriate that the first winner was W Bro Steve Spavin, Roy’s son.

We have had problems with trophies over the years and have lost two (one which has been kindly replaced by W Bro Eric King), however there is still one which we have been unable to track down which is the Industry Lodge trophy. If you or anyone you know has it, please see it contact the Provincial Office. 

In 2016 and 2017 the Association took part in a 5 Province competition with Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire. There was also, for a short time, a triangular match with Staffordshire and Derbyshire for a couple of years. 

The Association has had, through the help of W Bro John Day, sponsored and donated team shirts for its Provincial matches Also there is an Association tie which can be purchased by players, a small amount of each sale sees part of the cost going to charity.

In 2018 a charity donation of £220 was made to the Junior section of Sleaford Golf Club thanks to a raffle for an 18th Tee flag from the British Open donated to the association by Bro Coote of St Botolph’s Lodge.

There has been a steady increase in the number of lodges taking part over the years and this has helped raise funds for charity, both Masonic and general, until the present time. The Association is giving around £1,000 a year to various charities including the 2014 appeal for Masonic Girls and Boys. The total raised up to 1990 was £24,363. The total at the time of updating the history has risen to £ 45,775, an increase of just over £20,000 pounds and with the efforts of the membership, it would be nice to celebrate £50,000 by the end of 2023.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the work done by the various secretaries over the years up to my taking over from W Bro Derek Stones (2009) 12 years ago. However, neither he or I would have been able to run the golf days, and been so well organised at each, had it not been for the time and effort put in by Mrs Joyce Dudley the wife of W Bro Rod Dudley from Gainsborough who for 16 years attended both Spring and Autumn meetings, giving so much of her time to keep us in order. Thanks also go to W Bro Ray Wade who has been the Association’s Treasurer for some 18 years, along with W Bro John Day who goes by the title of Assistant secretary but is really the golf day organiser.

In 2022, alongside the usual Spring and Autumn meetings we will have three other events. The mixed pairs competition for the Sleaford Cup, a home fixture with the Province of Nottinghamshire for the John Day trophy and a new match, which will be a bi-annual event, with Derbyshire for a new trophy in the names of Les Spencer and Mick Wright. The two names show the link between both provinces as they were up to Les’s death members of Engineers Lodge 9493 (Derbyshire) and Past Captain’s of Chesterfield and Ashby Decoy Golf Clubs.

As we look forward to the Centenary in 2023 with a comprehensive programme of events I hope the aims of the founders of having fun, friendship and helping charity will be maintained. This is still the watch word of the Association, and it is hoped with your support we will be able to say in our 100th year that we are achieving both greater success and participation.

W Bro Mick Wright
Secretary, 2022