On Tuesday this week, Buckinghamshire Freemasons were asked to assist at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Flame Lighting Ceremony, providing car park marshals and general assistance to all those attending the event.  

Our Provincial Grand Master and his lovely wife along with 20 brethren from the Province answered the call, attending site early for the preparations and remaining until the last person had left.  Another act of Freemasonry in The Community, that we as a Province are proud to be part of week in - week out.

Letter from Wheel Power:

"Thank you for everything you and Buckinghamshire Freemasons contributed to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Flame Lighting Ceremony yesterday. Your coordination of the volunteer team made an enormous difference, and it was clear throughout the day just how much care and commitment everyone brought to the event.
 
Please pass on my gratitude to all the volunteers involved. p

Their willingness to give their time, and to do so with such positivity helped create an atmosphere that made the ceremony both smooth‑running and truly memorable. We’re incredibly fortunate to have your continued support, not just for major events like this one, but throughout the year.
 
Thank you again, for everything you’ve done and continue to do. I am immensely grateful, and I hope the whole team enjoyed being part of such a significant moment for Stoke Mandeville and the Paralympic Movement."
 
From all of Buckinghamshire Freemasons - "GOOD LUCK TEAM GB"

If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join

On a wet Saturday morning, the luminaries of the Paralympics and the world's media descended on humble Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympics, for a far-from-humble event: the lighting of the Paralympic Flame.

Buckinghamshire Freemasons were asked to volunteer to aid in the organisation and running of the event; taking up positions as marshals, traffic wardens, stewards and even diplomats.

We're very proud to have been in attendance of this ceremony of global significance and of the praise received from those in attendance, with one member of the press remarking "I've completely changed my mind about what you are!" In a world of scepticism and cynicism, this is among the finest of compliments a Freemason can receive from their community.

But the day was not one for sceptics nor cynics; even as the rain lashed and the winds howled, the spirit of hope, togetherness, and strength extolled by the Paralympics could not be extinguished. The flame was lit to rapturous applause, the torch carried with due reverence, beginning its journey to Paris and drawing onlookers and excitement from every quarter.

The Paralympic flames will make their final appearance during the Opening Ceremony, where they will be used to light the cauldron to symbolise the start of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games tomorrow, 28th August.

Aylesbury played its part well, and the Buckinghamshire Freemasons will forever be proud to have helped it in doing so.

Why Stoke Mandeville?

The small village on the edge of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. It is where Dr Ludwig Guttmann first dreamt of a sporting event for World War II veterans with disabilities to aid in their physical and mental rehabilitation in a fun, but competitive way. A mindset & idea to push the recovery process.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
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