Festival 2025
The Pharos Lodge No. 6967 in the Register of the United Grand Lodge of England On its 75th Anniversary is proud to host The Federation of School Lodges 77th Annual Festival, on Saturday 16th August 2025 in Dover.
Main Programme
From 12.00 pm Tea / Coffee & biscuits in the Grand Marquee, Holiday Inn, Whitfield
12:00 pm – 1.45 pm Registration at the Holiday Inn
From 1.30 pm – Transfer to Dover Grammar School for Boys
2.15 - 3.00 pm FSL Annual Business Meeting – Dover Grammar School for Boys School Hall.
3.15 - 4.45 pm Lodge Meeting – the School Hall
Featuring a talk by WBro Mike Webb (former Town Centre Manager and former Town Clerk). He will be taking a quirky look at the history of Dover and the town’s Mayors since the 11th century, plus outlining the connections between the Lodge and the Grammar School.
4.45 - 5.30 pm Return to Holiday Inn, Whitfield. A self-paying bar will be open. (Time for Ladies to change at hotel or Holiday Inn, if required)
5:30 - 6:30 pm Reception – pre-prandial drinks in the Grand Marquee, Holiday Inn,
6:30 pm Festival Banquet
9:00 pm “Happy have we met”
The History of The Pharos Lodge
The Pharos in Dover Castle dates from the second Roman Invasion of Britain and was erected about A. D. 43, which establishes it as the oldest existing building in the country. It served as a beacon or lighthouse for Roman shipping entering Dover from the Continent as Dover was then, as now, the most convenient port in Britain for that purpose.
Two of these structures were built by the Romans to mark the entrance to the harbour at Dover, which was at the mouth of the River Dour, situated roughly where the Market Square now stands and where the public house known as The Roman Quay is situated.
The Pharos in Dover Castle was the eastern beacon and the other was situated on the Western Heights to the west of the harbour. This latter building no longer exists but traces of it remain and are known as the Bredenstone.
All the Founders of the Lodge were either Old Boys or past and present members of the staff of Dover Grammar School for Boys. For many years The Pharos has been the name used for the School magazine and an artist's impression of the building has been incorporated on the front cover since 1913. The Old Boy's Association has been known for many years as the "Old Pharosians".
The original function of the Pharos and the School motto Fiat Lux and all that both imply have a significant Masonic meaning and the Founders of the Lodge felt justified in adopting both for the Lodge.
The membership of the Lodge was restricted to former pupils or staff of the Dover Grammar for Boys until 1993 when it was decided that in order to safeguard the future of the Lodge membership would be opened to everyone who met the high standards of moral conduct laid down by the Founders.
The Dover County School, as it was originally known, was established in 1905 as part of the development of state secondary education initiated by the Education Act 1902 (the 'Balfour Act'). It operated from premises in Ladywell under its first headteacher, Mr Fred Whitehouse. He also had oversight of what was initially the Girls' Department of the school at nearby premises on Priory Hill. His aspiration was to create a co-educational school but the Kent Education Committee (KEC) insisted on separate County Schools for Girls and Boys and the last girl left the co-educational sixth form in 1912. The County School for Boys moved into new buildings on Frith Road in October 1916 but soon outgrew the site, so junior boys had to be educated at Priory Hill . The inconvenience of operating over split sites persuaded KEC to agree to building new premises on an elevated site with plenty of land for playing fields at Astor Avenue. The first sod was cut in March 1924 and the school moved to the new buildings on 17 September 1931. The Duke of Kent formally opened the buildings on 9 December that year.
2005 - New Millennium
In the first 98 years of the school it had had five headteachers. In the following 15, four. The present head, Phil Horstrup, took up post in September 2018 .
2022 - DGSB Today
In July 2022, DGSB moved to a brand new school building, built on what was the old top field. The new building boasts excellent facilities, more space and lots of light. After 90 years of serving Dover, the old building was demolished and made into landscaped gardens for the students to learn in and enjoy.
Why so much information you ask?
For many years the only remaining link to the School was the annual donation made by the Lodge. This changed several years ago when Phil Horstrup became the Head. It is thanks to his continued support that the Business Meeting and Lodge Meeting will be held in this superb new building.
Accompanying Persons’ Afternoon Programme
2.00 pm Assemble at Holiday Inn, Whitfield for transport to Crabble Corn Mill, River.
2.30 pm (Cream Tea and Live Music).
2.45 – 4.45pm Presentation and optional guided Tour of Mill, followed by light refreshments with entertainment from the Dover Ukulele Players.
5.00 pm Return to Holiday Inn,
5.30 pm Join main programme (time for changing at hotel if required - alternatively, a room for changing, etc., will be available at Holiday Inn.
Crabble Corn Mill
Owned, operated and maintained by Crabble Corn Mill Trust, the mill was rescued from demolition and opened to the public in 1990. It can now boast to be one of the most complete and working examples of a Georgian watermill in Europe.
All the staff at Crabble Corn Mill are volunteers and take no wages; they do this simply to keep the Mill going. Our only income is from visitors, special events and occasional donations. Crabble Corn Mill receives no financial aid from the state and all monies raised go to the upkeep of Mill and its estate.
The current structure was built in 1812 alongside an existing mill which was later demolished to allow for additional storage space - what is now the exhibition area on the ground floor and the tea rooms. However, records show that there has been a mill on this site since at least 1227 when Henry III granted a Charter of Confirmation to St. Radigund's Abbey, the ruins of which can still be seen today on the hill above the village.
What We Have To Offer
The Mill is a working museum and as such shows Georgian and Victorian engineering excellence at work using one of nature's most powerful forces - water.
In 1999 the Mill won the prestigious Presidents Award from the Association for Industrial Archaeology.
Six floors of exhibits and milling machinery describe the process of turning wheat into flour, and this wholemeal flour is available for sale at the Mill.
The café, which is also available for private functions, serves a variety of snacks and has a fully licensed bar serving a variety of beers, cider, wines and spirits. There is no admission charge to the café, although we hope you will take a tour of the Mill while you are here.
The D U C K s
The Pharos Lodge is pleased to announce that as part of the visit to Crabble Corn Mill, the Ukulele players will be there to entertain. As one of Kents top Ukulele groups, we are grateful for their contribution to this special event! so, feel free just to listen, sing along or stamp your feet, as you enjoy the performance.