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Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
Coronatio Quadrans – Talks, Papers, and Heat!
Today has been a day all about Coronatio Quadrans. This was a pure coincidence, and not planned.
Whilst talking to an old friend this morning, I was reminded that I owed CQ an article for their next publication and that I had not sent one in. This led to me re-writing an old paper on “Ye Sons of the Widow” that I had done possibly over Lockdown (or just before) for the old OpenLodge writing challenge. I was able to get the paper into a sensible and (I hope) entertaining format and posted it off to the editors before they could start shouting at me. Which is how it has gone in the past.
After sorting that, and grabbing some food it was time to log into the Coronatio Quadrans associates talk, where a Canadian was booked to give a talk on Cosmic Consciousness from an engineering/scientific aspect.
The associate talks have been on the generalised topic of Cosmic Consciousness but from different perspectives, such as spiritual, historical, scientific, and practical. once the topic is over, it will make a fantastic and educational special edition of the CQ magazine.
BBW – National Blood Bike Awareness Day (2025)
Today is National Blood Bike Awareness Day,
So lets us take a moment to say “thank you” to the 1000s of volunteers who give up their free time to help support this wonderful and important service.
There are multiple Blood Bikes groups across the UK. they are all charities that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Their riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
TYoaBM – Bonus Meeting
The Year of a Busy Mason has ended, along with my Masonic year itself. Or, I thought it had.
Today I popped along to the Maesgwyn Hall to visit the newest Lodge in North Wales, the Combined Services Lodge. This was only their third meeting, and I wanted to go and hear the advertised lecture. I also wanted to go see what they were like, since they have booked us to give a talk on Blood Bikes at their next meeting.
Unfortunately, the planned speaker who was giving a talk on Freemasonry among Prisoners of War during the Napoleonic and World Wars did not turn up. But we did have two short talks by the two joining members of the afternoon.
Overall it was an enjoyable revisit to Masonry during the summer shutdown period. The only downside was, due to us deciding at the last moment to go visit we had not booked ourselves in for a meal, which would have been since since there were plans to go to the pub for a few pints and a bacon bap. Alas the pub’s kitchens were closed, so no bacon was to be had!
BBW – Scouts Camp Cymru – Fun in the Sun
Today, Welsh Nev, Hugh and myself braved the 32ºC heat and went along to the Scouts “Camp Cymru” event.
900 Scouts of all ages, accompanied by Scout Leaders, Helpers, and Parents descended on “Park in the Past” Hope for a weekend camp. And Blood Bikes Wales were asked to come along and have a spot.
The camp had been split into multiple Zones, with a dozen or so activities in each one.
The scouts were split into multiple groups and circulated around the zones. Each of them had a camp passport, and had to get it signed by every attraction, group they visited. It was a good thing we had a load of Blood Bikes Pens with us because we spent most the morning signing passports, explaining what we do, and letting people sit on the bikes.
At lunch time the Scouts running the stall next to us explained that lunch had been provided for us, and it was just a ten minute walk to the camp where burgers were being cooked.
twenty minutes into the one mile walk up and down hills we started to really feel the 32ºC sun blasting away.
I will say it was worth it, because the burgers were very enjoyable, and the bottle of water provided really hit the spot. The only downside was the one mile walk back to the stall.
The afternoons session was a lot calmer, since the event organisers had told the Scouts they did not have to go about if they did not want too, due to the oppressive heat. Many decided to stay in camp, so there were fewer people all afternoon. So we got a chance to relax and sit out of the sun.
Blood Bikes Wales
Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
RIP Laz
Many, many years ago…
Or in the early 90s when Spodding was a thing, I got chatting to some cool people in Aberystwyth University on Surfers, and the Pleasuredome. After ages of talking, they invited me down to visit. Yes, children, in the days of “Stay away from strangers”, and “be careful of people you meet off the Internet”. it never mattered to Spod’s, we traveled the world meeting strangers in strange places. Spod’s are special bunch of people. We are also trendsetters since now everyone orders strangers off the internet to drive them places.
Anyway, I met a great group of people. The ringleaders being Laz and Babbit.
Over the next few years I would often pop down to Aber for the odd weekend for parties, drinking, fun and madness. These are the guys who formed the Reindeer Liberation Army, amongst other things. We all moved apart after University, but everyone stayed friends online. The friendships formed from Spodding last, you can go years without talking, and the second you reconnect you go on as if you were never apart.
I still have Shroom the reindeers here, that she gave me to look after, which led to an interesting interaction with the police that I will post on here one day.
I have just heard that Laz passed away yesterday, after a battle with illness caused by a stroke she had twenty odd years ago.
She was the heart of the old aber-group, and I felt that something needed to be posted to remember her.
We will miss you Laz.
BBW – Garden Village Fete – AKA Fun in the Sun
Suns out, Bikes out!
Today was a glorious sunny and warm day, some would even call it a heat wave since that is what a lot of media types are saying. So what better to do than go along to the Garden Village Fete, with a load of Blood Bikes and enjoy the weather.
It was a glorious event, we even had queues forming to sit on the bikes, one mother informed me that she had been trying to get her young son to go for a donkey ride for the last fifteen minutes, but he just kept pointing at the bikes and saying he wanted to go there. Who can blame him, big bright motorbikes beat donkeys any day of the week.
It was a good day to stand in the sun, eat ice-creams, and talk to the public about what we do and why. We even met some young kids that while they were having their photos taken on the bikes, their mothers let us know that we had been delivering breast milk to them after the were born prematurely. It is always heartwarming to meet people we have helped, especially when we see how well they are doing now.
I think I may have gotten a bit of sunburn on my arms, but it was well worth it.
Blood Bikes Wales
Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
The Year of a Busy Mason Pt.2 – The end of the Year.
The masonic year has ended!
So the second year of a a busy Mason has come to an end, and how busy did it turn out to be? Well I went to 42 meetings of which 10 were visits across 13 Masonic Halls. I attended 16 rehearsals, 9 committee meetings, 4 AGM’s and 2 special events. I did unfortunately have to miss 2 meetings, and 5 rehearsals. So all together 74 events, which is what happens when you get a busy year and the “It’s only 8 nights a year” goes out the window.
I now get a couple of months holiday from all things Masonic. Apart from some papers to write, and work as the Provincial Secretary that will come up.
This will probably be my last blog series on this topic because next year should be a lot quieter. I have resigned from one of my Royal Arch chapters (4 meetings, 4 rehearsals, 2 committee meetings), I will be resigning from a Lodge after the summer break (8 meetings, 8 rehearsals, 4 committee meetings) so that frees up 30 nights a year. Not to mention stepping down as the Assistant Provincial Grand Mentor in Craft and Royal Arch, Provincial Pathway Team member, and a NWAMS committee member, along with active roles like Secretary of MLIM. My next year is set to be a lot less busy.
Vault of the Adepts 2025
Today was the Vault of the Adepts (Second Order) meeting for the Province of Western Counties and North Wales.
We have one Second Order meeting a year, normally in Macclesfield Masonic Hall, but due to several reasons we were unable to hold the event there this year, and so we held it at Cheshire View. Which in my opinion was a much better choice, especially since the weather for the Summer Solstice was Sunny and 1 gazillion degrees centigrade! (or 29ºC in real figures) and at least Cheshire View had air conditioning.
As well as being held in a different location, today was also special because I had NOTHING to do, I got to sit back, watch and enjoy the day.
The first time I attended a Vault of the Adepts meeting was to get my Grade Vº, the following year I got my VIº (And got to watch a Vº which up until today was the only one I ever saw), the following year I got my Grade VIIº and then acted as Conductor for grades VIº & Vº. And every year since then I have been the Provincial Conductor and conducted the ceremonies, until today!
Now some people assumed I was busy as the Provincial Secretary organising the day, and booking things, sorting people out, doing minutes and the other endless paperwork. But NO! In the Province of Western Counties and North Wales, the Second Order meeting is organised and run in full by the Assistant Secretary. So I had absolutely nothing to do.
I really enjoyed being able to sit back and watch, but maybe next year I will volunteer to do one of the volunteer roles for the meeting to feel more useful.
Grade VIIº
Grade VIº
Grade Vº
All in all it was a great way to kickoff the summer solstice.
Four people down for each grade (although one of the Vº’s could not make it on the day), followed by a lovely festive board, with great food and ever greater company.
There was even a conversation about the Coronatio Quadrans magazine, and the Secretary of Coronation Lodge informed me that I had won this quarters competition.
Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (S.R.I.A.)
The Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (S.R.I.A.) stands as the world’s oldest independent society of Rosicrucian Freemasons, proudly composed of Master Masons from Lodges acknowledged by the United Grand Lodge of England.
Our Colleges are strategically located across the globe, including England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Wales, France, and Holland. To find the most convenient location for you, please click HERE to access our interactive map of S.R.I.A. College Locations.
For more information on the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, please click on the link to the Societies website, or the Province of Western Counties and North Wales website.
£400 donation to 1st Gwersyllt Scouts Group
Coronatio Quadrans – “To what extent are Masonic rituals Theurgic Rites”
Coronation Lodge No. 2927 has a quarterly Masonic Publication associated with it called Coronatio Quadrans, or CQ for short.
One part of the publication is “Question from the Master” This is where the Lodge’s Worshipful Master asks a esoteric or masonic question to the Lodge Mentor who will answer it in an article in the next edition. After the Mentor answers the question, the “Question” is thrown open to all, and anyone can try and answer it themselves anonymously. The CQ Editors will read all the submissions and pick the best which gets published in CQ.
The Question in CQ Vol 6 was “To what extent are Masonic rituals Theurgic Rites?“. Just before the Magazine was due to be released the Editors mentioned to me that there had been no entries for this edditions question. So to make sure thay had at least one paper to publish, I knocked up a response to the question.
It turns out they had a few last minute entries, I guess the Editors moaning no one had responded, encouraged multiple people to actually submit something.
So, I won.
“What did you win?” you ask, (yes I heard you. I have explained in an old blog post, I can hear you when you speak out loud while reading this site).
Well my prize is that I get to write an article on any topic of my choice, and it will get published in the next edition of CQ.
ANYTHING!
So now I need to think of what I would like to write about.