The Founders at the Consecration of the Lodge 15th March 2018
Here are a few of our members:
Roger Bricknell
The Primus Master of Samuel Cody Aviation Lodge No. 9953 was Roger Bricknell, a retired British Airways (BA) Senior Flight Engineer who spent 25 years as a Concorde flight engineer – clocking up 14,000 flying hours.
Andy Black
Andy is an A320 captain working for British Airways. He passed his PPL when he was 17 because flying was in his blood. His Grandmother was in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whilst his Mum was the first ever female station manager in the UK, for Skyways Coach Air at Lympne and Lydd. His Dad served with 9 Squadron Royal Engineers and founded the Royal Engineers parachute team: The Eagles.
Nigel Wilson
Nigel was commissioned into the RAF in 1981 where he flew the Phantom FG1, serving in 43 Sqn and 111 Sqn. In 1989 he retired from the RAF and joined British Airways, where he flew 747s and then the Advanced Turbo Prop. The latter took him to the Scottish Highlands and Islands. He went back to a co-pilot on the 747/400, then took the command on the B757/767 before going back to the 747 as commander in 2005.
John Bradstreet
Full 22-year Army career as an Aircraft Engineer 1975-1997 (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) Worked on Bell 47 Sioux, de-Haviland Beaver, Westlands Scout, Aerospatiale Gazelle, Westlands Lynx, Norman Britten Islander. Served in Germany, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland.
Finishing up as WO1(ASM) – chief engineer at the Army’s Aircraft Development and Trials Squadron, Middle Wallop.
Maurice Little
Maurice took flying lessons on a ski plane at Maple Airport, Toronto, Canada in 1958. On returning to UK he gained his PPL in 1968 and later went to Biggin Hill to obtain a twin engine rating. His flying became useful as flew himself and his company employees back and forth – Scotland and the Channel Islands. Maurice joined a group share for a twin engined Piper Turbo Seneca and then went to Bournemouth to renew his twin rating. He and a masonic friend, Nigel Wilson had shares in the Piper Seneca which was based at Thruxton Airport.
Doug Fowler
Doug is a serving officer in the RAF. Joining in 1988 as an Air Loadmaster (crewman), he spent over 20 years on Chinook helicopters, spending time on Nos.7, 18(B) and 27 Squadrons, deploying multiple times to operations in the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Beirut, Iraq and Afghanistan. During this time he qualified as an instructor in core crewman operating skills, air to ground gunnery and operational tactics, amassing over 6000 hours and culminating as Wing Crewman Examiner. After commissioning in 2010, he commanded A Flight, 33 Squadron (Pumas) 2017-19, before being promoted Wing Commander in 2022.
Clive Handy
RAF Aircraft Tech, worked on: Harrier GR1 with postings to Wildenrath, Germany and Wittering. Vulcan bombers at Waddington. Westland Wessex at Odiham with roulement tours to Aldergrove NI. Andovers (HS748) at Northolt and St Athan. Finally, Chinooks at Odiham. As a civvy worked on Harriers again at British Aerospace, Farnborough. (Clive is currently the Lodge Organist)
Tony Poulsom
Tony owned this Stearman biplane for over 40 years flying from his farm air strip. The plane was the love of his life – it was a beautiful machine with its Continental W670 seven cylinder air-cooled radial engine. However, it was thirsty burning 12 gallons of fuel per hour. Its cruise speed was slow (90 MPH) and took forever to get anywhere and ‘my goodness it was cold in midwinter….’
Dave Dennis
An RAF instrument fitter at Boscombe Down from 1955-59. Worked on a wide variety of aircraft such as all the three ‘V’ bombers, Javelin, Gannet, Seamew, Hunters, Swift, Beverley, Jet Provost, Twin Pioneer, Canberra, Chipmunk to name but a few. Nearly everything that had two seats I was lucky to be able to fly in as well as the trusty Anson and Meteor T7. When the Comet had its sides strengthened it was given to the RAF so we had one for a while.
I learned to fly later, first solo in a Beagle Pup at Shoreham. As Engineering Personnel Manager in IBM, I frequently flew to RAF and RN bases mainly flying from Denham. I went to Kinloss and Lossiemouth and Laarbruch and Bruggen as well as local stations using Piper Cherokee or Beech Musketeer. My last log entry is 17-6-1971.
Acknowledgements and thanks to Douglas Marlow, Mercury Lodge No 4581 for extracts and photos from his excellent book ‘Freemasonry & Aviation’.