Members of Hanwell Lodge, present and past
Sir Montagu Sharpe, KC
Sir Montagu Sharpe, the famous Middlesex historian, sold Hanwell Park in 1884 which led to the development of the Park Hotel and the streets now known locally as Poets Corner. Sir Montagu lived in Brent Lodge and he was a P.M. of Haven Lodge, 2022 and a founder of our Mother Lodge, the Horsa Dun Lodge. He was born, October 28th, 1857 at Hanwell Park the son of Capt. Benjamin Sharpe, RN and Marianne Fanny Montagu, daughter of Rev. G. Montagu of Swaffham, Norfolk.
After three years of winning the Civil Service Mile Challenge Cup he was called to the bar, Grays Inn 1889, JP from 1896 and Chairman of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions from 1909 to 1936. He took silk in 1920 and was Knighted in 1922. He became Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Middlesex County Council from 1908 to 1909; and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County of Middlesex.
Amongst his charitable works, he was a founder and president of the Hanwell Cottage Hospital, and chairman of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and a member of the Home Office Advisory of Wild Birds Protection.
Sir Montagu was made Honorary Colonel of the 4th Batallion the
Middlesex Regiment, President of London and Middlesex 
Archaeological Society and a Past Grand Deacon in
Freemasonry.
Among the books he wrote were : "Middlesex in Roman and Saxon Times", "Bygone Hanwell", "The Great Ford of the lower Thames" and "Middlesex in the Domesday Book".
Sir Montagu died at home at 1 Mount View, Ealing in 1942 at the age of 85 and his memorial stone is in the City of Westminster cemetery, Uxbridge Road, Hanwell. A memorial sculpture to Sir Montagu stands in the middle of Lincolns Inn Fields, London.
(Photograph with ackowledgement to London Borough of Ealing Library Services)
Explanation of Lodge Badge given by Sir Montagu Sharpe
It is held
that the name Hanwell is a local one and derived from a combat in
the sixth century between the Britons and some West Saxon
invaders, which took place on Cuckoo Hill in a clearance, since
known as "The Bloody Croft".
The defeated Saxons buried their dead by the wayside during their retreat to the ford of the Thames, south of Hanwell. In 1886, when digging for gravel, the graves of seven of their leaders were found buried with hempen garments fastened over their breasts with round bronze brooches of a saucer pattern peculiar to the West Saxons and thickly plated with gold. Nearby had been buried over 50 iron spear heads.
The word Hean-wel signifies "slaughter on high ground" but in the course of centuries the "e" in "Hean" has been lost in verbal transmission, as in other Middlesex place names.
On the jewel of the Lodge, the chariot of victory and the rising Sun proclaims the success of the Britons, won in a clearing amidst the oak trees on Cuckoo Hill over a band of invading West Saxons, whose retreat is shown by their shield at the bottom of the hill.
John James Lynch
Born in London of Irish descent in 1877. A champion walker, he won record time in the London to Brighton walk in 1909. He was the first secretary of the Hanwell section of the Boston Road Allotment Holders Association and was elected onto the old Hanwell Borough Council which, was absorbed into Ealing in 1926. He served as Chairman of the Council from 1922 to 1924. A local caterer with interests in Ealing, Perivale and Park Royal and was the owner of Park Farm in Hanwell. Alderman Lynch was a Founder of Hanwell Lodge and became Mayor of Ealing in 1936.
Albert Toley (The
Playing Fields King)
Born in Axminster, Devon. At the age of 17, qualified as a pupil teacher and was made Assistant Master at the United Westminster School at 21. At the time, there were no playing fields so he secured 28 acres at Willesden and let them out to other clubs. He then gave up teaching and devoted his life to the provsion and maintenance of sports grounds with control of over 1,000 acres. He championed the right of ordinary people to play cheaper golf and founded Ilford, Brent Valley, Harrow, Greystoke and Southall Park golf clubs. Sports clubs were accommodated on his grounds in Sudbury, Boston Farm, Park Royal and Harrow.
Albert Toley owned Wormholt Farm and Old Oak Farm in Shepherds Bush along with the site on which White City Stadium was built. Toley Avenue, Wembley is named after him.
He was Initiated and served as Master in Perfect Ashlar Lodge, No.1178, was Past Master in Cricklewood Lodge and was the Founding Treasurer in Hanwell Lodge. He died a few months after the consecration in 1925.
Earnest Albert Toley
Councillor of Ealing, Founding I. P. M. of Hanwell Lodge, son of Albert Toley and brother of Frank Toley, the Founding Secretary of the Lodge.
Harry Carter
Founder of Hanwell Lodge, grocer and cheesemonger of Carters Stores in Hanwell Broadway by the clock tower. Introduced his son in law, Jack Ives into the Lodge in 1949. The building is now a cofee bar.
Stanley Purkiss
Another local trader, Founder of Hanwell Lodge and greengrocer at 35 Greenford Avenue. This view is looking north from the junction of Drayton Bridge Road, his shop can be seen in the picture, fourth awning along with the handcart outside.
Harold Squires, QPM
A very charismatic and outspoken member of the Lodge. Harold was born in 1908, the son of a senior police officer and excelled in most sports, especially judo. Followed in his father's footsteps in his career with the Metropolitan Police, rising to the rank of Detective Chief Superintendent and achieved fame re-organising and heading the fingerprint department at Scotland Yard. Harold was Master of the Lodge in 1968-1969 as well as his mother Lodge, The Jeanne D'Arc Lodge 4168. Appointed Lodge Almoner from 1978 to1986 and continued active in the Lodge and attended Lodge of Instruction regularly until his death in 1998. He is succeeded by his son, Christopher who, worked as Lodge Treasurer from 1989 and stood down from that position in October 2001 after serving that office for 12 years.
Ashley Stephenson, LVO
A horticulturist who worked for many years in the Royal Parks in London and became the Bailiff of the Royal Parks and Palaces. Ashley was Lodge Treasurer from 1972 to 1974 and introduced his son in law, William Plumridge into the Lodge.
Sidney James Hoadley (Lord Jim)
A former secretary and twice
Past President of Hanwell Philanthropic, Jim was
Initiated into Hanwell Lodge in February 1951 and was the first
member to serve as Master twice, 1963 and 1969.
Affectionately known as the "Father of the Lodge", Jim
was Assistant Director of Ceremonies and Preceptor of L.o.I from
1971 and DC and Preceptor from 1981 until ill health made him cut
back on activities in 1987. Jim spent 20 years as Ladies
Festival Secretary and continues to be an active member on
committees and L.o.I. AGM meetings. The photograph was
taken in February 2001 and shows Jim being presented with his
certificate celebrating 50 years service to Freemasonry by our
London Visiting Grand Officer, W. Bro. Maurice Curtis.
The three other Grand Officers are, from L to R, W. Bro.
Gerry Massey, WM 1974-75, W. Bro. Derek Briggs,
WM 1983-84 & 2000-01 and W. Bro. Colin Rennie, JP,
WM 1977-78 & 1997-98. Jim passed to the Grand Lodge
Above on 9th November 2008 at the age of 91.
Frank Davis
Licensed victualler of the Grosvenor public house in Grosvenor Road, Hanwell, managing director of Brentford Football Club and vice chairman of the Football Association. Frank was Lodge Almoner from 1943 to 1978.
Charles Nares-Pillow
An insurance broker down at the old Brentford Market. His greatest talent was hypnotism. He would regularly demonstrate his hypnotic powers to members of the Lodge. He used this gift to heal many people of psychosomatic and physical illnesses.
Bill Harding
A wartime motorcycle policeman, Bill owned the cycle shop in Argyle Road, West Ealing. The shop was a regular stopping off point for weary policemen on the beat knowing that there would always be a constantly topped up pot of tea waiting for them. Bill was one of the founders of the Phoenix Lodge of Hanwell in 1953, awarded the Masonic rank of Grand Standard Bearer in 1976 and Initiated his own son, Bill Harding Jnr. into Hanwell Lodge in 1977.
Hanwell Philanthropic
The Hanwell Philanthropic comprised of a group of volunteers to raise money for charity. Their work involved looking after the poor, aged and disabled people of Hanwell and for providing coal, clothing and food. Several coachtrips were organised for summer and Christmas outings. Although the Philanthropic has no connection with Freemasonry, it's aims are similar, as are Rotary, Lions and Round Table - that is Charity.
Several members of Hanwell Lodge were or, are still members of the Hanwell Philanthropic. The list included four founders and twenty four Hanwell Lodge members. Among the names were :- William Deakin (of Ealing Studios), Frank Miles (Ealing jewellers), Len Wiles, J. J. Lynch, Harry Carter, Jack Ives, Frank Gower, Bob Martin, John Martin, Frank Davis, Frank Ryder, Jimmy Hoadley, and Ken Fox, (see photograph). Ken was well known in Hanwell for his work at the Friends of William Hobbayne Trust and Ealing and Hanwell Rotary clubs. He continued to work for the elderly folk in Hanwell until his sudden death, age 90 in May 2006. Hundreds of people attended his funeral including Ealing MPs, present and past.
Tony
Wackett
Tyler of the Lodge since 1984. Tony is a retired Police Officer and before then was a Regimental Sergeant Major in the British Army. Many Lodges and Chapters at the West London Masonic Centre are looked after by Tony who, has worked diligently over the years. Tony was given the honour of Freeman of the City of London, in recognition of his work for charity and the Masonic rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies (RA) in the Province of Middlesex. Tony had spent a long time in Ealing and Roehampton Hospitals undergoing surgery and made a remarkable recovery. Tony celebrated his 90th birthday in October 2006. Tony passed to the Grand Lodge Above on 1st May 2009.
Frank
Hiorns
An honorary member of our Lodge for many years. Born in February 1900, Frank was the last surviving member of crew from HMS Hood from the First World War. In his long lifetime, Frank founded many Masonic Lodges in his home County of Warwickshire, Middlesex and London. He played football for England in the 1920s and later became champion of tennis, bowls and any other sport he turned his hand to. Sadly, Frank passed away peacefully in his sleep two months before he was due to celebrate his hundredth birthday.
Chandos Willie King Neale
Master of the Lodge, 1945 - 46, Treasurer from 1953 to 1971 and Founding Member of the Phoenix Lodge of Hanwell in 1953. A VoSL cushion was kindly donated from his daughter to his memory, which now takes pride of place whilst the Lodge is in session.
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