Councils of the District of Kent

Hartley Council No.74

Hartley Council was the first, in 1972, of three Masonic Units formed to meet at Wilmington on 5th Saturdays in the year. The other two units being Temple Builders Conclave OSM (1974) and Frederick William Friday Conclave No.336, Red Cross of Constantine (1979). After 1979, it was the usual practise to hold Red Cross in the morning, all travel to Orpington for lunch at the house of the well-known Brother Phil Corbett, then return to Wilmington for OSM / AMD, followed by the Festive Board held in the last Order of the day.

Most of the Founders were ‘Masonic Powerhouses’ of the time, including the Founding Secretary, James Owen Lay, who held that Secretaryship until his retirement in 1996, a total of 24 years.

It is worthy of note that in 50 years there have only been four Secretaries of Hartley Council.

In 1996, for various reasons, Hartley & Temple Builders moved to the Westwood Centre, Welling, leaving Fred Friday Conclave at Wilmington.

In 2001, both Hartley and Temple Builders moved to Sidcup, where they were re-joined by Fred Friday Conclave.

However, the format was changed to Red Cross in the morning, followed by an open, non-denominational buffet lunch, with no speeches, followed by Hartley, then Temple Builders, these two switching on the second meeting of the year. It was, and it remains, the intention to be all finished by just after 5pm, to allow members to spend the Saturday evenings with their families.

This congregation has become known as the ‘Sidcup Saturday Club’, and has resulted in all three units flourishing, each becoming the most popular and largest unit in Kent in each of the three Orders.

You can contact Hartley Council No.74 by emailing the Secretary, W.Bro. Paul Hutchinson: Click here

Meeting Dates
First (Installation), second and third fifth Saturdays in the Calendar Year, excluding July

Place of Meeting
The Masonic Hall, Church Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 6BX

Officers 2025-26
	Worshipful Master	W. Bro. Lee Curtis
	IPM	W. Bro. Phil Clare
	Senior Warden	Bro. Dennis Babbington-Callnon
	Junior Warden	Bro. Michael Gent
	Chaplain	W. Bro. Ian Tough
	Treasurer	W. Bro. Phil Clare
	Secretary	W. Bro. Paul Hutchinson
	D of C	R. W. Bro. Peter Brockbank
	Almoner	Vacant
	Senior Deacon	Bro. Russel Hughs
	Junior Deacon	Bro. John Jerome
	Asst. D of C	W. Bro. Alan Cook
	Asst. Sec	W. Bro. Tony Clayton
	Inner Guard	Bro. Simon Donovan
	Steward	W. Bro. David Bondy
	Steward	Bro. Mark Estaugh
	Steward	Bro. David Huntley
	Tyler	W. Bro. Scott Dunn

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