HAMPSHIRE Freemasons have formed a new lodge for those involved or interested in air travel as it attempts to attract members.

It is the latest specialist lodge in the province following the creation of a scouting lodge, football lodge, rugby lodge, sailing lodge and two motorsports lodges.

They are proving highly popular and have been credited in a rise in interest in freemasonry.

The Samuel Cody Aviation Lodge is named after the early 19th century flying pioneer.

Among its number are members and former members of the RAF, members and former members of civil flight and ground crew, those from air traffic control as well as aeroplane enthusiasts.

It is run in the same way as any other lodge and its first master is Roger Bricknell who spent 25 years as a Concorde flight engineer – clocking up 14,000 flying hours.

He said: “After the success of the other specialist lodges it became clear that there was enough interest to form a ‘flying’ lodge.

“There were many Freemasons from Hampshire and further afield who were keen to help.

“We do the same things as in other lodges, but just have a shared interest which makes meetings even more enjoyable.”

Mike Wilks, the Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, added: “We are using various methods to increase membership in the province and specialist lodges have proved a great way of doing it.

“Samuel Cody was a Wild West showman who became a flying pioneer and made the first ever flight in the UK in Farnborough in 1908.

“His name was a great choice and the lodge has got off to a flying start with interest from around the province and beyond.

“Freemasonry is something that aims to make good men better.”

One of the new members of the lodge, which meets in Bordon, is Bernard Brown, well into his 90s, a world renowned air traffic controller who is credited with the requirement that all pilots must be able to converse in English.