Squarely Speaking

Guy Smith joins Squarely Speaking to tell the full story of the Temple Run: his ten-day journey from Gosforth to Freemasons’ Hall in London in support of the Northumberland 2031 Festival.Guy set out intending to cover more than 400 miles on foot. Severe weather and mounting injuries changed the challenge dramatically, culminating in a hospital visit and what Guy describes as a stress fracture in his left shin. He was told to stop. Instead, with the help of Freemasons along the route, he found

Guy Smith joins Squarely Speaking to tell the full story of the Temple Run: his ten-day journey from Gosforth to Freemasons’ Hall in London in support of the Northumberland 2031 Festival.Guy set out intending to cover more than 400 miles on foot. Severe weather and mounting injuries changed the challenge dramatically, culminating in a hospital visit and what Guy describes as a stress fracture in his left shin. He was told to stop. Instead, with the help of Freemasons along the route, he found

Episode 4 | John Bruce on Charity, Legacy and the Purpose of Freemasonry John Bruce, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland, joins Squarely Speaking for a wide-ranging conversation about his Masonic journey, charitable giving and what Freemasonry means to him. John reflects on a family connection to the Craft stretching across generations and continents, and on the childhood memories that first sparked his interest in Freemasonry. He discusses the impact of Teddies for Loving Care and

Episode 3 | Kevin Stannard on Charity, Community and the Future of Freemasonry Kevin Stannard, Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland, joins Squarely Speaking for a wide-ranging conversation about his Masonic journey and the future of Freemasonry across the Province. Kevin discusses the misconception that Masonic charity mainly supports Freemasons, the need to make Masonic Halls visible and useful within their local communities, and why sustainable membership growth must be matched by proper

Episode 2, Paul Winship: Festival 2031 Special Edition £2.5 million over five years. Paul Winship, Provincial Grand Charity Steward, joins Squarely Speaking for this Festival 2031 Special Edition to set out what Festival 2031 is, why it matters, and how every Lodge and Chapter can play a part. Covers the £2.5m target, regular giving, Festival Steward jewels, and the major fundraising activities already in motion: Guy’s Temple Run, Terry’s Roman Wall Walk, the Dragon Boat Race, the Travelling Gavel

In the first episode of Squarely Speaking, the official podcast from Northumberland Freemasons, we are joined by Tony Harvey for an open and thoughtful conversation on the future of Freemasonry.Together, we explore what helps Lodges thrive, why retention matters as much as recruitment, the importance of supporting newer members, and how Freemasonry can remain relevant and meaningful in modern society.Squarely Speaking is an interview-led podcast exploring Freemasonry, leadership, community, and