Blog Posts:
Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
Amazon Best Seller
Widows Sons: Outlaw Bikers or Masonic Ambassadors.
Book Info:
We are fully recognised, and approved by the United Grand Lodge of England, even featuring prominently on the main page of their website. We have had articles about us in multiple issues of “The Square Magazine”, as well as being often mentioned in “Freemasonry Today”, and were the main part of the third episode of Sky’s five-part documentary series “Inside the Freemasons”.
Even so, until recently, not many brethren had heard of us, or knew what it is we do, they may have just seen us an Outlaw biker gang. To be fair we do have some scary looking members.
To help spread word about us, especially in the Province of North Wales, I wrote a talk originally called “Widows Sons – Brotherhood Squared” which I would give at Lodge meetings as a brief introduction of where we came from, who we are, and what we do.
So, who are the Widows Sons?
Are we just a group of patch wearing “Outlaw Bikers”, or if not, how can we claim to be ambassadors for freemasonry if bikers cause so much fear and concern everywhere they go?
Amazon: #2 Hot New Release
Widows Sons: Outlaw Bikers or Masonic Ambassadors.
Amazon has listed “Widows Sons: Outlaw Bikers or Masonic Ambassadors” as #2 in the Amazon Hot new releases for Freemasonry.
Book Info:
We are fully recognised, and approved by the United Grand Lodge of England, even featuring prominently on the main page of their website. We have had articles about us in multiple issues of “The Square Magazine”, as well as being often mentioned in “Freemasonry Today”, and were the main part of the third episode of Sky’s five-part documentary series “Inside the Freemasons”.
Even so, until recently, not many brethren had heard of us, or knew what it is we do, they may have just seen us an Outlaw biker gang. To be fair we do have some scary looking members.
To help spread word about us, especially in the Province of North Wales, I wrote a talk originally called “Widows Sons – Brotherhood Squared” which I would give at Lodge meetings as a brief introduction of where we came from, who we are, and what we do.
So, who are the Widows Sons?
Are we just a group of patch wearing “Outlaw Bikers”, or if not, how can we claim to be ambassadors for freemasonry if bikers cause so much fear and concern everywhere they go?
Book Launch: Widows Sons: Outlaw Bikers or Masonic Ambassadors
I have spent the last few years traveling around the Province of North Wales (and Cheshire) giving various talks on the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association. I have even had articles on the subject published in two editions of the Square Masonic Magazine.
I am also known on Social Media as a Widows Son, and a founder of the North Wales Chapter, which is how I got pulled into a conversation that was happening on Twitter where the merits of the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers/Riders Association was called into question. The main issue was how can leather clad bikers be a good advertisement for Freemasonry, unfortunately the person who was the main opponent know of no members he could talk to and find out more.
I therefore decided to convert one of the talks I have given in Masonic Lodges across the UK into a small book to hopefully answer some questions.
And today that book “Widows Sons: Outlaw Bikers or Masonic Ambassadors” was published.
New Book Launch:
Widows Sons: Outlaw Bikers or Masonic Ambassadors.
We are fully recognised, and approved by the United Grand Lodge of England, even featuring prominently on the main page of their website. We have had articles about us in multiple issues of “The Square Magazine”, as well as being often mentioned in “Freemasonry Today”, and were the main part of the third episode of Sky’s five-part documentary series “Inside the Freemasons”.
Even so, until recently, not many brethren had heard of us, or knew what it is we do, they may have just seen us an Outlaw biker gang. To be fair we do have some scary looking members.
To help spread word about us, especially in the Province of North Wales, I wrote a talk originally called “Widows Sons – Brotherhood Squared” which I would give at Lodge meetings as a brief introduction of where we came from, who we are, and what we do.
So, who are the Widows Sons?
Are we just a group of patch wearing “Outlaw Bikers”, or if not, how can we claim to be ambassadors for freemasonry if bikers cause so much fear and concern everywhere they go?
BBW – A Talk for Rhodri Fawr Chapter on Blood Bikes Wales
This morning Nev and myself went along to the Bangor Masonic Hall to give a talk to Rhodri Fawr Chapter of Rose Croix.
The Talk was “Blood Bikes Wales – It’s What We Do!”.
The talk was well received, and they will be making a future donation, along with other chapters. The bucket collection at the festive board raised the grand sum of £160.
Photographed are Nev and the Inspector Generals of North Wales, South Wales, and Gloucestershire.
Thanks to the North West Rider for bringing a bike along.
UPDATE:
On the 24th June 2023 North Wales Rose Croix presented the years donations to Blood Bikes Wales. It came to the fantastic amount of £7000 and you can read more about it HERE!
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.
BBW – A Talk at Cambrian Meridian Lodge of IM
Today I, along with Nev and Hugh attended the Cambrian Meridian Lodge of Installed Masters to give a talk on Blood Bikes Wales.
This was my first time visiting what is basically a dining lodge, and the talk went down extremely well. The people there must have really enjoyed it, and appreciated what we at Blood Bikes Wales do because and at the end of the day they favoured us with a donation of £1,110.
We were also treated to a gourmet 7 course meal, unlimited wine and port, Now I should point out that Nev was the designated driver for the event, and Hugh had brought along a Blood Bike, which left me to drink all the wine.
You gave to hand it to the North Wales Masons, they really do their bit to keep the blood bikes running.
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.
BBW – A Talk at Old Ruthanian Lodge
This evening several of us visited Old Ruthinian Lodge to give a presentation on Blood Bikes Wales.
We took Buster the Blood Bike with us as he’s the only bike that could make it up the steep stairs to the cloisters. And as always he was a huge hit.
The Lodge gave us a donation of £250 towards Blood Bikes.
Even better, they let me win a bottle of Bourbon in the raffle
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.
Sitting in a New Chair of King Solomon
This evening I was Installed into the Chair of King Solomon.
I am now the Worshipful Master of Wrexhamian Lodge No 6715.
Due to the long shutdown we had during Covid, neither the Senior nor Junior Wardens felt like they were ready to go into the Masters Chair of Wrexhamian Lodge. And since the current master had to do two years due to the Lockdown, he did not really fancy doing a third so the Lodge asked would I be happy to go into the chair to fill a year.
After the fun I had with my two years in the chair of Llannerch Lodge, I jumped at the chance. Plus as an egomaniac the fact I would get my name on the wall’s of two Masonic Halls was an added bonus. The only downside was that I missed out on being the Master for the 75th anniversary by a year. But we can not have everything.
On a weird twist of fate, I did go into the Chair of Wrexhamian Lodge 10 years (almost to the day) that I went into the Chair of Llannerch for the first time. What are the odds of that? I think my next opportunity to go into the chair will be in the Installed Masters Lodge, I wonder if that will be in another 10 years?
I am looking forward to my year in the Chair. Wrexhamian is a lovely lodge with a great history,
When God created Wales
In the beginning the Lord God Almighty turned to the Archangel Gabriel, and said:
“Today I am going to create a beautiful part of the Earth and I will call it Wales. I will make a country of breathtaking blue lakes, rich green forests and dark beautiful mountains from which from time to
time will be snow-covered. I will give it clear, swift rivers that will overflow with salmon and trout.
The land shall be lush and fertile on which the people can raise cattle and grow their food, as well as being rich with precious metals and stones that will be sought after, the World over.
Underneath the land I shall lay rich seams of coal for the inhabitants to mine. Around the coast I will make some of the most beautiful areas in the World. White sandy beaches and cliffs that will attract all manner of wildlife, and lots of islands that will be paradise to all who visit them. In the waters around the shores there will be abundance of sea-life.
The people who will live there will be called the Welsh, and they will be the friendliest people on my Earth. They will have magic in their blood, and songs in their souls. Their Voices when raised in song shall challenge the choir of angels.”
“Excuse me, sire” interrupted the Archangel Gabriel, “don’t you think that you are being a bit generous to these Welsh?”
The lord just smiled and replied “You have not seen the neighbours I’m giving them!”
Article: Square Magazine – THE WIDOWS SONS UK
Raise a glass and give huge congratulations to the UK Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association as they celebrate 15 years of riding and raising funds for charity! You guys rock!
…And we have a fantastic article – ‘Brethren, Bikers and Brothers’ – in the June issue of the Square by Widows Sons member Wayne Owens.
Widows Sons
The Widows Sons are quite simply a motorcycle-riding club. We are a non-brand specific riding Association so no matter what brand of motorcycle you ride, so long as you are a Master Mason in good standing you are welcome as a member.
We also have associate membership open to non-riding Masons. We are an internationally based group of independent Masons who have joined together to simply share the thrill of riding with other members of our fraternity.
We are not a 1% club. We are just a social riding club, which happens to have set one of its membership requirements to include being a Master Mason in good standing.
BBW – Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Blood Bikes Wales have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.
This year a special designation is being given to QAVS awardees that provided impactful support to the community in response to the pandemic last year – either by managing a significant increase in their usual work or providing extra support in other ways. Based on the information gathered at the local assessment, Blood Bikes Wales has been selected for this designation and will receive a special thank you. The group will receive a slightly modified crystal with the words:
‘with special recognition – Covid 19’ included in the engraving.
Representatives of Blood Bikes Wales will receive the award crystal and certificate from Morfudd Meredith, Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers from Blood Bikes Wales will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 (depending on restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Nigel Ward, Chairman says: “2020 was an awful year for everyone and for charities, it’s been very challenging. As a charity, we are fortunate that not only have we managed to keep going but the goals of this charity to help our NHS aptly fitted the circumstances we found ourselves in. I am absolutely delighted that the hard work and commitment of our volunteers over many years has been recognised with this award.”
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.