On June 22nd 2018,  the William Tilley Lodge Nº 2371 of the Gibraltar Province G.L.E. celebrated its 100th Birthday! The Lodge was opened on 24 June 1918 when WW1 was in full swing.

 

On that day Royal Navy submarine HMS D6 was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by German Submarine SM UB-73 with the loss of 24 of her 26 crew. The newly formed Royal Air Force used a new 748kg bomb in combat for the first time when a Handley Page bomber with No. 216 Squadron dropped one on Middelkerke, Belgium. Postage went up to 1½ d & rationing was introduced a few weeks later. It was a very different world.

 

Would those brethren have imagined that 100 years later we would still be here - still Buffing & supporting local worthy causes? Since then we have held 5126 meetings!

 

We pay tribute to all those brethren who have formed part of our success over the years, many of whom are no longer with us. We can take pride in having continued their legacy as we move into the next 100 years. The Brethren of the Lodge past and present can take pride in the tremendous work that has been done & the many thousands of pounds that have been raised for worthy causes.

 

It was a moment of personal satisfaction for me - I was privileged to be Worthy Primo at our 4000th meeting back in 1996, again at our 5000th meeting in 2016, and again at our Centenary Meeting.

 

Our next event: Charity Cardboard Boat Race in August - watch this space!