Sprig of Acacia

The Acacia is symbolic in Freemasonry of the immortality of the soul. It is intended to remind us, by its evergreen and unchanging nature, of that better, spiritual part within all of us - a part which, coming from the Great Architect of the Universe, can never die.

W.Bro Roly Fairbrass, PPGReg ... 1976

11th May 1935 - 26th July 2007

Those we have loved do not go away, 
they walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near, 
still loved, still missed, still very dear

Service conducted by Reverend Jenny Manners on Friday 10th August 2007 at the "Holy Cross Church"
Bearsted ... 

Reading Michael Fairbrass

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still

Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity

What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.

Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral

Via E-Mail from Geoff Coomes

Thula and I (Geoff Coomes) have just had a little drive round to the crematorium (Sunday 12th August 2007) to see Roly's flowers and they were a tremendous tribute to him. They almost filled two of the flower alcoves and were a delightful blend of colour and fragrance.

Guess what ...

It's member's like Geoff who make this lodge special ... many thanks Geoff for the thought !