Temple Island Masonic Lodge

THE lodge has a new master. Shahid Butt, 60, succeeds Ian Ford-Batey for the lodge’s 50th anniversary year. His chosen charity for the year will be Henley YMCA.

Mr Butt, chief financial officer at Zeropex Group in Marlow, has lived in Deanfield Road, Henley, since 1997 with his wife Yasmin and has twin sons, Shiraz and Ahmer, 19, who are studying computer sciences at Imperial College and Bristol University respectively. He became a freemason in 2008 and joined Temple Island Lodge in 2011.

Mr Butt said: “I feel especially privileged and honoured to have been installed as master of the lodge in the 50th anniversary year of its consecration.

“During my year I shall endeavour to continue the excellent work of Mr Ford-Batey, who worked so hard in promoting charitable aims of the lodge in the local community and raising money for various noble causes.”

Temple Island is one of seven masonic lodges in Henley. It was founded in 1965 and raises thousands of pounds for local charities every year.



Mr Butt was installed at a 50th anniversary meeting. At the same time, the lodge welcomed a new member, Chris Wagstaff, who turned 50 on the day.

Mr Wagstaff lives in Sonning Common with his wife and three children. He moved to the area as a child in the Seventies and grew up at the Stonor Arms, now the Quince Tree, which his family owned until the late Eighties. 

He works as an IT consultant and runs Wacky Wheelers, a jeep-driving company for children’s parties, as well as coaching three under-13s teams for Rotherfield United FC.

Mr Wagstaff said: “I had been planning on joining Temple Island lodge for a couple of years but saved the date because I wanted to mark the occasion of our joint 50th.”