Scouting Freemasons make Poacher jamboree debut
Freemasons visit pop-up town of more than 10,000
August 4, 2026
Lincolnshire Freemasons have a specialist Scouting Lodge, which made a visit to the Poacher jamboree and absolute no brainer.
Ryan Dolby is a Lodge member. He writes: “It was fantastic day for the Lodge as we headed to Poacher International Jamboree at the Lincolnshire Showground.
“In a first of its kind, Rudyard Kipling Lodge and the Order of Womens Freemason were invited to showcase Freemasonry to Scouts and Guides from across the globe.
“For our lodge, the aim was to show how closely the values of Scouting link with Freemasonry, to adults or young people, male or female alike. We Let people know how we support local scouting by the volunteering we do, how we help Scouts and Guides in Lincolnshire through charitable giving, and answer any questions that they may have about our organisation.
”Working alongside the lady Freemasons worked so well because we could guide those who are interested from the opposite sex straight to the appropriate channel.
“We had interest all day from people of all ages and backgrounds. There were those who had no idea what Freemasons were, those who wanted to know what the funny aprons were, those who were already Freemasons but didn’t realise there was a Scouting Lodge and many others who just had a very little knowlege but were keen to learn more.
“I think we can safely say that everyone we spoke to went away knowing at least a little more about Freemasonry and the links it has to Scouting. The most enjoyable thing was the young people who came up to tell us that their grandads, dads and uncles were Freemasons and the enthusiasm they had to take on any infomation we could tell them.
“We’d like to thank you to Jason Fitzgerald and Mike Clay from the Lincolnshire Freemasons Mentoring Team for assisting us. It was great to see Jason with his old Scout uniform on. Those who know Jason will be as surprised as we were to learn he once made it to the dizzy heights of Patrol Leader – though he said it was a small troop.
”The team at Poacher really looked after us very well, and we would certainly love to be part of it, in an even bigger way, at the next one in four years’ time.”
Jason Fitzgerald (almost) in his old scout uniform.
