Southgate Masonic Centre

Oakwood Lodge was the brainchild of two members of Pari Passu Lodge , W Bro Vic Craig and W Bro Brian Swann, who both realised that because of the number of brethren in the Lodge, it would take 18 years before a new candidate would reach the Master’s chair. By forming a new Lodge, their period of advancement through the offices could be significantly shortened. The Consecration of Oakwood Lodge took place at the Red Lion Hotel, High Barnet on Saturday 17th February 1962. The first master was W Bro George Awford, and W Bros Swann and Craig became Senior and Junior Wardens respectively. The new Lodge took its name from the venue of the LOI which met at the Merryhills Hotel, Oakwood. As the Lodge continued to meet in High Barnet in Hertfordshire, it had to obtain a dispensation from Provincial Grand Lodge to meet in Hertfordshire - for every meeting! This changed in March 1969 when the Lodge moved to its present venue, the Southgate Masonic Centre. Oakwood was in fact one of the first Lodges to move to Southgate and its first meetings were held amidst building rubble, heat supplied by portable heaters and members wearing overcoats! Some of the Lodge’s members were involved in the building and furnishings of the present downstairs bar