If you think Freemasonry is all about ancient traditions, serious faces and secret handshakes, you might want to take a look at what we've got planned this weekend at RTTV Lodge 9697 in Henley-on-Thames! We've got quite the weekend ahead of us, with a bit of everything thrown in: friendship, food, a masked ball, some early mornings and a little community spirit. And that's all in just three days! Friday – A Little Lodge Visiting! We're kicking things off on Friday evening, wh

Integrity. Friendship. Respect. Service. Four simple values that have the power to make a real difference. In a world that often feels increasingly divided, where life moves at an extraordinary pace and genuine human connection can sometimes seem harder to find, there is something rather refreshing about an organisation that places friendship, kindness and doing the right thing at the heart of everything it does. At Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 (RTTV), based in th

Saturday 17th October | 9am | The Cherry Tree Inn, Stoke Row Freemasonry isn't just about what happens inside the Lodge. It's also about the friendships we make, the conversations we have and, occasionally, a rather good Full English breakfast! On Saturday 17th October, members of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 are getting together at The Cherry Tree Inn in Stoke Row for a relaxed Saturday morning breakfast, and we'd love you to join us. There's no meeting, no cerem

RTTV Lodge No. 9697 was delighted to donate £500 in support of Jen MacDonald, wife of our Worshipful Master, Dave, as she shaved her head to raise money for Elliott’s Arc. Jen, a teaching assistant at Sacred Heart Primary School in Henley, helped bring the fundraising total to more than £1,400 for a cause with a personal connection to both her and Dave. The school supports Elliott’s Arc in memory of former pupil Elliott Peto, who died from rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of can

It has been a busy and very sociable couple of weeks for members of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge (RTTV 9697), with meetings and visits taking us from Henley to Abingdon and Banbury. We started closer to home with a double meeting in Henley of Royal Ark Mariners and Mark Master Masons. Many of our RTTV members are also members of these two additional Masonic Orders, so there were plenty of familiar faces around the temple and, of course, at dinner afterwards. Our stand-in W

The beautiful, and unusual Council Chamber, converted in 1759. Members of our Lodge enjoyed a visit to a meeting in Abingdon on Thursday this week, joining a very well-attended evening with visiting Brethren travelling from as far afield as Portsmouth and Warwickshire. One of the things that makes visiting other Masonic Lodges so interesting is that you never quite know where it might take you — and sometimes the building itself is almost as fascinating as the meeting. A Lod

I t’s a fair question. In a world of smartphones, social media, AI, streaming, gaming, dating apps and almost everything available instantly, why would a man in his 20s or 30s want to join an organisation that has been around for hundreds of years? Actually, perhaps the better question is: why wouldn’t he? Because for all the ways modern life connects us, plenty of men feel increasingly disconnected from the people around them. We might have hundreds of contacts on our phones

September 2026 Members of RTTV Lodge No. 9697 in Henley-on-Thames have donated £500 to Riverside Counselling Service, supporting the charity’s important work providing accessible mental health services to adults and young people across South Oxfordshire. Charitable giving is at the heart of Freemasonry and an important part of life at RTTV Lodge. Each year, our Past Masters are given the opportunity to nominate a local charity or good cause that is particularly important to t

Once again, members of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 helped to welcome visitors to Henley Masonic Centre as part of Heritage Open Days, giving members of the public an opportunity to step inside, explore the building and discover more about Freemasonry in Henley. Heritage Open Days take place across England each September, opening the doors to historic buildings and fascinating places that the public may not ordinarily have an opportunity to visit. For Henley Mason

If you’ve been accepted to join a Freemasons’ Lodge and the date of your Initiation is approaching, it’s perfectly natural to wonder what is actually going to happen. You may have read things online. Friends may have dropped hints. You may even have encountered some of the more imaginative stories about Freemasonry that have circulated over the years. The reality is rather different. Your Initiation is designed to be memorable, thought-provoking and welcoming. And while there

An old tradition with a surprisingly modern message about equality, character and how we treat one another To someone seeing a Masonic meeting for the first time, some things immediately stand out: the aprons, the formal dress, the symbolism — and the white gloves. They can look ceremonial, perhaps even mysterious. But like much within Freemasonry, there is a simple idea behind the tradition. White gloves are a visible reminder that character matters. They connect today's Fre

Friendship, teamwork and community spirit were very much on display as members of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 supported this year’s Haddenham Youth Football Festival. Members of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 were delighted to support the recent Haddenham Youth Football Festival, sponsoring Pitch No. 1 and spending the morning enjoying some excellent grassroots football. For us, supporting an event like this is about considerably more than sponsorship.

A few of us from Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 recently enjoyed a visit to Grey Friars Lodge No. 1101, which meets at the Berkshire Masonic Centre in Sindlesham. Consecrated in 1866, Grey Friars was the 1,101st Lodge to be established under the United Grand Lodge of England and has a proud history spanning more than 160 years. One of the great things about Freemasonry is that your journey doesn't stop at your own Lodge. Visiting other Lodges gives you the chance to

One of the great things about Freemasonry is that wherever you go, you'll find a warm welcome waiting. Recently, a group made the journey from Henley-on-Thames to the beautiful Cotswold town of Burford to visit the Brethren of Wychwood Lodge. What followed was an evening that perfectly demonstrated what Freemasonry is really about – friendship, hospitality, shared values, and learning from one another. Burford itself is one of Oxfordshire's most historic towns, and its Masoni

When most people think of Freemasonry, they tend to picture old buildings, formal meetings, and perhaps a few secret handshakes thrown in for good measure. The reality is often rather different. At Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 in Henley-on-Thames, Freemasonry is as much about friendship, shared experiences, and enjoying life as it is about tradition. And recently, one of our members, Bro. David Spruce, got the chance to tick something off his bucket list in specta

The Henley Masonic Centre, in conjunction with Round Table Vivace Lodge No. 9697 (RTTV), is delighted to announce that it will once again be taking part in Heritage Open Days, welcoming members of the public to explore one of Henley's lesser-known historic buildings and learn more about the fascinating world of Freemasonry. The Masonic Centre will be open on: Saturday 12th September 2026 – 10:00am to 3:00pm Sunday 13th September 2026 – 10:00am to 3:00pm Admission is free and

As Membership Officer for RTTV, I want to give a huge shout-out and congratulations to Bro Peter Smith, who recently took on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in the UK – all in support of Leukaemia UK. Now, raising money for charity is a fantastic thing in itself, but what Peter achieved goes far beyond simply collecting donations. It took commitment, preparation, determination, and more than a little grit to tackle a challenge of this scale. Anyone

Tucked away on Reading Road sits one of Henley-on-Thames’ most fascinating historic buildings — the Henley Masonic Centre, home to Thames Lodge No. 1895. While many people walk past without a second glance, behind its doors lies over 140 years of local history, community spirit, and some surprisingly famous connections. A Henley Institution Since 1881 Thames Lodge was founded back in 1881, at a time when Henley was rapidly growing into the thriving riverside town we know toda

You Certainly Won’t Miss Peter on the Mountain Some people relax at weekends. Others take on the highest mountain in the UK for charity. RTTV’s own Bro Peter Smith definitely falls into the second category. In what can only be described as a serious test of endurance, determination, and probably sanity, Peter is trekking Ben Nevis in support of his chosen charity, Leukaemia UK — a cause incredibly close to his heart following the sad loss of a much-loved family member to the

Pictured are the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Professor Stephen Tucker, Worshipful Master Dave MacDonald, and his Wardens, Bro David Spruce and Bro Darren Morris-Spruce. RTTV 9697 Lodge was proud to welcome the Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire, the Right Worshipful Professor Stephen Tucker, along with several Provincial Officers, to our May meeting for a very special presentation. During the evening, Worshipful Master Dave MacDonald was presented with the P