WISBECH THE CAPITAL OF THE FENS.
"BE PROUD TO BE A FENMEN"
" For 100 Years the Buff's have had lodges within the town of Wisbech "
CHARLES WYMER LODGE No.9970
Amalgamated with the Faith - hope & charity lodge 10679
EX-SERVICES CLUB ALEXANDRA ROAD WISBECH CAMBS
KINGS LYNN & DISTRICT PROVINCE
ROYAL ANTEDILUVIAN ORDER OF BUFFALOES
GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND
HISTORY OF THE
CHARLES WYMER LODGE No.9970
( KINGS LYNN & DISTRICT PROVINCE )
The lodge was formed after a news paper appeal by the new landlord of the Old Bell Public House Bro. Ted Widdowson K.O.M. for brothers of the order to come forward and get a new lodge started in Wisbech .
The news paper article appear in JUNE 1974 and printed as ;
Calling All Local Buffs
Calling all local Buffaloes! Mr TED WIDDOWSON , LANDLORD of the OLD BELL Public House, WISBECH , would like to hear from you to find out if there is enough support to re-establish a lodge in the town.
And if that all sounds rather unintelligible, it should be pointed out quickly that Mr TED WIDDOWSON ( 45 ) is referring to a Lodge of the ROYAL ANTEDILUVIAN ORDER OF BUFFALOES , a national benevolent, philanthropic and social organisation. I was actively involved in the Buffaloes before moving to WISBECH , 10 months ago ," said Mr WIDDOWSON , " as an officer in the Provincial Grand Lodge at NORWICH . Since being here though , a number of people have asked me about the possibility of setting up a lodge in the town once again," he said. There were apparently five lodges in WISBECH at one time, the last one closed about two years ago. " I definitely think it would be a good idea to get one going again, if there is enough interest," he said.
So after receiving a lot of replies to the article and a few phone calls made to the KINGS LYNN PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY and of course the GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND office, permission was then granted to allow a new lodge to be formed in WISBECH.
The Name ?
The name of the lodge was taken from a brother by the name of
CHARLES WYMER R.O.H.
who had sadly passed by this time. He had shown the way forward for many young brothers to go, and over the years became very well respected by everyone in the order locally and far and wide for his truth, justice , charitable efforts. It seemed only right to name the new lodge after him as a mark of respect to him and his family. The opening of the lodge took place at the OLD BELL Public House on Monday 16th September 1974 with the 4 founder members and another 87 brothers in attendance. Sadly no minute book is left for me to tell you what happened that night but I should well think a number of jars of ale were drunk a merry time had by all . Ever since the lodge opened it has been involved in raising money for many good causes locally and nationally.
The following are just a few of the charities we have supported over the years.
MEADOW GATE SCHOOL WISBECH
M. N. D. PETERBOROUGH GROUP
CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST WISBECH GROUP
FRIENDS OF NORTH CAMBS HOSPITAL
R.N.I.B. ISLE OF ELY BRANCH
WISBECH TALKING NEWS PAPERS FOR THE BLIND
EAST ANGLIA CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
QE HOSPITAL KING'S LYNN
M.A.G.P.A.S.
THE DOWNHAM MARKET CHILDREN'S FUNDLINC`S AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE
east anglian air ambulance
PROSTATE / CANCER RESEARCH
THE BROTHERS
AMBF CHEQUE PRESENTATION 2008 TO QE HOSPITAL AUDIO DEPARTMENT
BRO. BRIAN GREEN R.O.H. BRO. DON PRUE R.O.H.
LODGE TRUSTEE
BRO. FRANK JACKLIN R.O.H. BRO. JOHN WOODWARD R.O.H. BRO. FRANK NEWMAN R.O.H.
BRO. STEVEN ROOFE R.O.H.
GRAND WAITER 2007 P. G. P. 2000
BRO. WALLY GASSON R.O.H.
GRAND PRIMO 1983 SOUTH AFRICA
LODGE TRUSTEE
BRO. ANDREW YOUNG K.O.M. BRO. HAROLD GOULD K.O.M.
THE LODGE SECRETARY
BRO. PAUL JACKLIN C.P.
BRO, TONY POTTER BRO. DEREK GREEN
LODGE TRUSTEE
BRO. ADRIAN GREEN BRO. KEN NEWMAN
BRO. MARK PARKER BRO. WILLIAM SCHOOLING
BRO. RICHARD ABLETT BRO TERRY PRINCE
CITY TREASURER
BRO. ROBERT BRIGHT