When do I speak? What do I say? When do I proceed? Where do I go? When do I stand still? When do I knock? How many knocks? Whom do I salute?
February 2024 saw the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of Corinthian Lodge No.4917’s ‘Over the Wall’ (OTW) rehearsal group. This is, was and shall forever be, open to all Members from all Lodges.
OTW was founded informally by Tim Douglas-Jones, Dr Rod Morgan and Dudley Rees who found themselves woefully unprepared to be fast-tracked from Initiation to the Chair of King Solomon. At the time, Tim just managed to acquit himself of the task in hand, but realising the enormous value of mutual rehearsals and having gone through the Chair himself, quietly continued helping others on the same rapid path. He was shortly joined by a number of like-thinking Brethren, many of whom still attend after all these years.
OTW is very much a ‘pay it forward’ club. Many graduated Past Masters have stuck with it, attending week after week in order to fill some of the posts and offer friendly guidance to fresh faces.
Some of the Brethren have made a massive commitment to OTW:
Norman England, Rod Morgan, Wadham Pritchard, Ron Harvey, Chalkie White, Eddie Gough, Huw Parry-Evans, Bert James, Derryl Rees, to name but a few. Anyone who wishes to learn or just brush up his Craft ritual, please contact Norman, Tim or any of the regular experts.
Norman England: n.england@nullntlworld.com. Tel: +44 7817 567 413
Tim Douglas-Jones: tnd-j@nulloutlook.com. Tel: +44 7747 654 413
You will then be entered into the OTW WhatsApp circulation group, and you may attend as often or as infrequently as you like.
OTW convenes roughly 40 times a year. Most meetings are held at 19.00hrs on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evening at Swansea Centre for Deaf People, 57a Neath Rd, Hafod, Swansea SA1 2HW (two doorsup from the Smiths Arms).
Anyone interested in benefitting the Swansea Centre for Deaf People by way of volunteering, gifting, legacy or learning to sign, please contact:
mcbookings1.1@nullgmail.com. Tel: 01792 641786
Pictured top: Regulars of the OTW Rehersal Group.
Inset: R.W.Bro. D. Gerald Rowbottom with OTW Founder W.Bro. Tim Douglas-Jones.