In order to prepare for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the lodge, a committee was formed in June 2011, to co-ordinate the celebrations, giving regular reports to the lodge committee and to the assembled lodge at its regular meetings.

To mark the 50th Anniversary of the lodge it was decided to purchase a piece of lodge furniture.

As a Sword is clearly displayed on the banner of the lodge and as it was at the time of the death of Mrs Jackie Moles in October 2011, who made the banner as well as the Alms cushions, W. Bro Moles offered to provide a suitable sword in her memory.

It should also be noted that whilst Jackie was not a Lady Freemason she was, as described by a brother of the lodge, ‘A great ambassador for Freemasonry’

The Lodge being named after Walter De Ashley, whom received land a Charlton Kings in 1143 for his part in supporting Matilda as Queen of England, it was decide that a replica of a sword from that period would be appropriate, this Bro Moles purchased and presented to the lodge.

Following the generous support of members of the lodge the sword was engraved on one face, with the name of the lodge, the occasion and Jackie’s name.  In addition the sweet refrain ‘Happy have we met, Happy did we part, For happy shall we meet again’ was engraved on the same face.

This most positive version of the refrain was chosen, because it demonstrated the very positive attitude that Mrs Moles had adopted towards her death. The other face of the sword is engraved with the date 1143 AD.

Wishing to include the sweet refrain on this face Bro Moles contacted The University of Cambridge, where a team of Pro Simon Keynes and Dr Richard Dance translated the refrain into 12th Century English and Dr Ruth Burn, also of Cambridge University, instructed Bro Moles in the pronunciation of the refrain so that it may be delivered at an appropriate time during or after the ceremony in the Lodge Room.

12th Century version of the refrain as engraved on the sword:
Selie We Unc Imetten, Selie We Unc Idelden, For Selie Sculen We Eft Unc Imeten

It will be noted that this translation includes the dual pronoun Unc, meaning ‘we two’ as in people.

This dual pronoun may be applied by brethren whom knew Jackie as a contract between them and her, or for newer brethren as between themselves and the sword.

It was tradition in early English times to give a personality to a weapon.