Members from the South Yorkshire Lodges of The Order of Women Freemasons had a great time volunteering at the British Transplant Games held this year in Sheffield. They were allocated to duties at the swimming pool and tennis events, compiling 1000's of delegate packs, assisting at the Opening Ceremony looking after the VIPs and marshalling at the 5km fun run.  

 

This year's games saw more than 2,500 competitors with over 10000 transplant recipients, living donors and members of donor families participating in 26 sports at various venues around Sheffield. The Transplant Games aim is to demonstrate the benefits of transplantation, enouraging transplat patients to regain fitness whilst increasing public awareness of the need for more people to join the NHS Organ Donational Register. The Games also seek to thank and celebrate donor families and their gift of life. 

 

Our members felt very honoured to be part of this event and some may even go to Birmingham to volunteer at next year's event! 

 

Representatives of The Order of Women Freemasons were recently invited to the Royal British Legion's summer drinks reception at Draper's Hall in London. 

 

Freemasonry and the armed forces share several core values and organizational structures, leading to significant overlap in membership and historical connections. Both emphasize discipline, loyalty, service, and fraternity, with Freemasonry providing a sense of identity, structure, and team ethos similar to what military personnel experience. 

An open day event was recently held at Hamilton Court, a purpose-built sheltered housing property in Essex run by The Masonic Housing Association. Residents are both Freemasons and non-Freemasons. 

 

The Masonic Housing Association (MHA) was founded in 1975 and specialises in the provision of sheltered housing for older people. The Association has five purpose-built sheltered housing properties located in Buckinghamshire (Prebendal Close), Essex (Hamilton Court), Northamptonshire (Palmer Court), Staffordshire (Wilson Keys Court) and Warwickshire (Reading Court) which provide now and in the future living safe affordable fit for purpose accommodation. The Association is committed to providing affordable, quality sheltered housing to Freemasons, their family connections, and others in need that are over the age of 55 who are able to live independently. 

 

MHA‘s voluntary Board of Management, mainly made up a Freemasons, maintains ultimate control and The Order of Women Freemasons is proud to have our Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Mabs Attwood, as a member of the Board of Management. 

The Order of Women Freemasons (OWF), the largest Order of Freemasons in the UK, continues to work closely with United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) on promoting Freemasonry. We support all activities across the country including the University Scheme through Masonic Societies and Freshers Fairs. 

In May 2026, the Grand Master of The Order of Women Freemasons, Most Worshipful Brother Jean Michele Knight, accompanied by Very Worshipful Brother Elaine Malone, paid an official visit to the Order’s Brethren in Malta. 

During the visit, Most Worshipful Brother Knight met with the Grand Master of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta, as well as Right Worshipful Brother Richard Jump, Grand Inspector of Malta for the United Grand Lodge of England, who graciously conducted a guided tour of the Masonic Temple in Valletta. Discussions were also held regarding opportunities for closer cooperation between lodges of The Order of Women Freemasons and those operating under the United Grand Lodge of England in Malta. 

 

The visit followed a significant milestone for women’s Freemasonry in Malta. In December 2025, a group of women travelled from Malta to the Order’s Grand Lodge at Notting Hill Gate, London, and returned home one week later as Freemasons, having been Initiated, Passed, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Lodge Voyagers No. 40. Lodge Voyagers, consecrated in the late 1950s, was established to facilitate the initiation of applicants from overseas. The candidates completed the three degrees within the course of a single week. 

 

From March 1961, The Order of Women Freemasons maintained a lodge in Malta, Lodge St Michael and St George No. 132, meeting in Sliema. The Lodge enjoyed many successful years and attracted candidates from service families stationed on the island. However, the eventual withdrawal of the British Army from Malta led to the conclusion that the Lodge could no longer continue. Although plans remain under consideration, it is hoped that Lodge St Michael and St George No. 132 may be reopened in the future. 

 

It is therefore especially encouraging that the Order now has members in Malta eager to revive the Lodge, while many other interested ladies await the opportunity to join the Order. 

 

Reflecting upon her visit, Most Worshipful Brother Jean Michele Knight said: 

During 2025 the Order of Women Freemasons donated £25,000 to the Royal British Legion and is delighted to have received a copy of a report (click on image below) highlighting the many ways Freemasons, both men and women, supported the Legion throughout the year including volunteering during the Poppy Appeal, participation in national remembrance activity and providing charitable funding to help ensure veterans and their families receive the support they need. 

 

The report says of The Order of Women Freemasons: “We were especially pleased to include the generous £25,000 contribution made by the Order of Women Freemasons which helped ensure support could be delivered flexibly wherever need was greatest.” 

More than 50 representatives from charities, community groups, businesses, civic organisations and youth initiatives gathered this morning at Saxon Hall in Southend for an inspiring networking event dedicated to enhancing wellbeing and expanding opportunities for young people across Essex. The event, hosted by Essex Freemasons at Saxon Hall, brought together organisations committed to supporting and empowering the county’s younger generation. 

 

The Order of Women Freemasons was honoured and delighted to be part of such a worthy event.  

Essex Freemasons Bring Community Organisations Together to Support Young People (taken from UGLE website) 

 

Lodge Voyagers No 40 recently welcomed eight candidates from Malta who had flown into London to join The Order of Women Freemasons. They were all Initiated, Passed and Raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason over 3 days and have returned home to Malta as Freemasons. 

 

Lodge Voyagers was set up in the 1950s to help with the Order's expansion plan at the time with the specific task to initiate applicants from overseas. The first Worshipful Master of the lodge was Lucy Bertram O’Hea – most appropriately, as she had done so much to spread Freemasonry for Women within this country. The Lodge had over 300 Founders. Today it has over 900 members and, besides meeting for ceremonies, holds an annual meeting in December where members convene to listen to reports of the progress from the Order's overseas Lodges.