In the second half of the CP article about the Isle of Wight members’ register, membership of Freemasonry comes up.
Two councillors – Cllr Arthur Taylor and the unrelated Cllr Gary Taylor – freely self-declared themselves as Freemasons, in line with the Standards Board for England guidance.
Ross Findon at the CP then had the great idea of writing to all of the male councillors, asking if they were Freemasons.
Upon asking, two further names popped up
As a result of this, two further names popped up – those of Cabinet members, Cllr Edward Giles and Cllr George Brown.
Cllr Giles is quoted as saying that he has “never hidden it from anyone who asked …”
George Brown “waiting to hear from his London lodge”
Cllr Brown’s response to the CP is a little less clear. He told them that he “was waiting to hear from his London lodge whether he was a member of the Grand Charity and would register his membership accordingly.”
The article on page 8 of this week’s CP says, “he said he was largely inactive and had no intention of participating in freemasonry on the Island.”
Source: County Press – 12, November, 2010 Page 8
