Beauchamp Lodge April 2026 Meeting – Double Passing and RAF Mess Night

Beauchamp Lodge April 2026 Meeting Highlights

The Beauchamp Lodge April 2026 meeting proved to be another memorable evening for Beauchamp Lodge No. 1422, the West Kent Military Lodge, combining an excellent double ceremony with the particular mixture of military tradition, humour, friendship and fellowship for which the Lodge has become so well known.

The meeting was held at Wilmington Masonic Centre on Friday 17 April 2026, having been moved from its normal date because of the Easter Bank Holiday.

Unfortunately, the revised date subsequently coincided with the East Kent Provincial meeting, meaning that a number of members and regular supporters were unable to attend. Nevertheless, support remained excellent, with 55 Brethren booked to attend, nearly 50 dining and more than 45 apologies received.

That level of support says a great deal about the affection in which Beauchamp Lodge is held.

A Double Ceremony of Passing

The principal ceremonial business of the Beauchamp Lodge April 2026 meeting was the Passing of Bro Sean Ballard and Bro Stuart Sturgess to the Second Degree.

The ceremony was conducted by W Bro Andrew Mallard, who had been invited to occupy the Chair for this important part of the evening.

Both candidates were ably conducted by the Deacons, and the ceremony concluded with W Bro John Ryland delivering an explanation of the Second Degree Tracing Board.

We congratulate Bro Sean Ballard and Bro Stuart Sturgess upon taking the next important step in their Masonic journey and hope that they will continue to enjoy many happy years amongst the Brethren of Beauchamp Lodge.

Lodge Business

Before the ceremonial work commenced, a full programme of Lodge business was conducted.

The Beauchamp Lodge April 2026 meeting summons included:

• presentation of the audited Lodge accounts for the year ending 31 December 2025;
• the ballot following the previous Notice of Motion concerning Honorary Membership for W Bro Mike Garman, W Bro Paul Holmes and W Bro Peter Nilsson;
• appointment and investment of officers unable to attend the January Installation meeting;
• reports from the Lodge Almoner, Charity Steward, Mentor, Membership Officer, Military Attaché, Royal Arch Liaison Officer and Wilmington Masonic Hall Representative; and
• confirmation of the next Regular Meeting on Friday 5 June 2026. 

As ever, the business of the Lodge was accompanied by a particularly warm welcome for visitors, including those experiencing Beauchamp Lodge No. 1422 for the first time.

From the Lodge Room to the Mess

With the formal business completed, attention turned to another important part of Beauchamp Lodge life — the Mess Dinner.

The Beauchamp Lodge April 2026 meeting had its own character, and members had received an advance operational briefing warning them that April’s dining theme would celebrate the Royal Air Force, formed on 1 April 1918.

The instruction had been simple:

Every attendee was to wear or carry something relating to the RAF.

Failure to comply, members had been warned, could result in immediate and merciless Mess Fining.

Members of the Senior Service and Infantry were also reminded in advance that good humour would be compulsory.

They were not disappointed.

Operation High Spirits

The evening had been given the appropriate operational title:

OPERATION HIGH SPIRITS

The April 2026 meeting therefore moved seamlessly from serious ceremonial work to the particular style of military fellowship for which the Lodge has become known.

The Lodge assembled at 17:30 for the formal meeting, with the Mess beginning afterwards.

Military headdress, service ties and medals were once again much in evidence, reflecting the distinctive character of a Lodge whose membership brings together serving personnel, veterans and Brethren connected with the Armed Forces and civilian services.

The RAF theme provided ample opportunity for the customary Beauchamp humour, friendly inter-Service rivalry and inevitable Mess fines.

Creativity had been encouraged.

Compliance was rather more variable.

April 2026 meeting - An RAF-Inspired Menu

Even the menu had been placed on operational footing.

Starter – Prawn Cockpit

The finest prawns, allegedly harvested from Himalayan mountain waters by elite WRAF operatives.

Main – Lancaster Bomber Hot Pot

Chicken accompanied by appropriately deployed vegetables of operational resilience.

Pudding – Crash Landing

An Eton Mess, deployed with precision and authority.

Tea and coffee followed, together with the traditional continuation of fellowship around the tables.

As members had been warned before the meeting:

Altitude would increase progressively throughout the evening.

Ceremony, Camaraderie and Controlled Chaos

What makes Beauchamp distinctive is not simply its military heritage.

It is the way that heritage is used to bring Brethren together.

The Lodge takes its ritual seriously, respects its history and traditions and remains proud of its remarkable origins in India, while ensuring that the friendship surrounding the formal meeting is every bit as memorable as the ceremony itself.

The April 2026 meeting demonstrated that balance particularly well: a double Ceremony of Passing conducted with dignity in the Lodge Room, followed by a Mess filled with humour, military memories, inter-Service banter and friendship.

That combination of ceremony, camaraderie and controlled chaos is increasingly becoming a hallmark of the West Kent Military Lodge.

A Lodge with a Remarkable History

Beauchamp Lodge No. 1422 was founded at Roorkee, India, on 2 April 1872, later transferring to Calcutta before finally making its home at Wilmington, Kent, in 1975. 

More than 150 years after its foundation, that military heritage remains very much alive.

Today the Lodge welcomes Brethren from across the Armed Forces, veterans and those associated with the civilian services, while also extending a particularly warm welcome to visitors who simply want to experience something a little different.

Thinking of Visiting Beauchamp Lodge?

If you are:

• a veteran;
• currently serving;
• connected with the Armed Forces or civilian services; or
• simply interested in visiting one of West Kent’s most distinctive Lodges,

you will receive a very warm welcome at Beauchamp Lodge No. 1422.

The Lodge normally meets four times each year at Wilmington, with its meetings held in January, April, June and October. 

Come along and discover for yourself why the Lodge continues to attract members and visitors from well beyond West Kent.

The April 2026 meeting captured that balance particularly well: excellent ceremonial work in the Lodge Room followed by friendship, humour and military camaraderie in the Mess.

And, occasionally, a little controlled chaos.

This Beauchamp Lodge April 2026 meeting post has been created by the West Kent Military lodge for information. If you would like to now more about the Lodge contact us here