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The idea of a Lodge for radio amateurs first took root in the
immediate aftermath of the Second World War, but it was
not until 1962 that the project was resurrected, and Radio
Fraternity Lodge No. 8040 was consecrated at Freemasons’
Hall, London, on 23 November 1965 – some 20 years after
the idea was first put forward.
Among its distinguished Founders was John Clarricoats
(Call Sign g6cl), who had been full-time secretary of the
Radio Society of Great Britain (rsgb) for 32 years until his
retirement in 1963. He was both the first Lodge Master and
subsequently its secretary.
The Lodge history recalls:
‘A strong reason made to the committee for establishing the new
Lodge was that there did not exist, as far as was known then, any
such fraternity in the world comprising radio amateurs. London
received many foreign radio amateur visitors, some of whom are
Masons, to whom they could extend the inviting hand of friendship.’
Since the consecration, Lodge members have maintained a
weekly communications “net” every Sunday morning at 9am
on the 80 metre band (3.757kHz). This “nine o’clock net”
is controlled by the Lodge Master during his year of office.
This regular link provides the Almoner with up-to-date
information about anyone who is unwell or otherwise in need
of help. It has also been a golden rule that Freemasonry is not
discussed over the air, and new members are told that the
Lodge is not a radio club.
Christopher Jones, Radio Fraternity
Lodge secretary, in his ‘shack’
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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