Canon Sharp Memorial Lecture

W. Bro Reverend Canon Neville Maurice Granville Sharp, known by us all as Maurice, was the Vicar of St Mary’s, Ashford for many years, and this, coupled with his somewhat extrovert character, gave him a very high profile within the community. He was equally well known within masonic circles having been Initiated in the Brothers of Birchington Lodge No 5226 in 1936, a joining member of Stour Lodge No 2305, here in Ashford in 1959, a founder of Ashford Lodge No 8945 in 1980 and a member or founder of three Chapters, two of which are in Ashford.

W. Bro. Maurice had completed 57 years in Freemasonry when he passed to the Grand Lodge above in 1994 aged 92. He was quite a remarkable man, in that he followed all his interests with real passion, whether that be following Kent County Cricket Club, raising money for restoration work in St Mary’s church or activities within the Ashford Lodges or within the Province of East Kent. Those of us that remember him know that he always proposed the toast to an Initiate, and left him, and all those present, in no doubt what our responsibilities are as Freemasons.

After W. Bro Maurice had passed to the Grand Lodge above it was agreed that one of the Ashford Lodges would host a meeting each year, on a rotation basis, to try to bring as many members of the individual Lodges together, to remember him, and do all we could to meet his long held wish that individual members of Lodges meeting in Ashford should visit other Ashford Lodges as much as possible.