Chingford Area Masonic Social Group

Sir Alf Ramsey - Freemason from 1953 to 1981

The most famous line in sports commentating, "Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over.  It is now" as Geoff Hurst (now Sir Geoff Hurst) scored England's fourth goal, were made by BBC sports commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme, when England won the World Cup in 1966 under Sir Alf Ramsey, the England football team manager.
Sir Alf Ramsey was born in Dagenham, Essex 22 January 1920 and made his football league debut as a player on 26 October 1946, playing for Southampton against Plymouth Argyle. After a spell at Southampton, he transferred to Tottenham Hotspur where he achieved success by being the victorious side that won both the Second and First Division championships in the 1950/51 seasons. In 1955 he became Manager of Ipswich Town when the club had been relegated to the Third Division. He got Ipswich back in the Second Division in 1957. The Ipswich squad won the Second Division championship in 1961 and the First Division the following year. The way he developed his players at Ipswich made him an obvious successor the England job, which he took in 1963, and by 1966 he had assembled an England team comprising of some of the best players this country has ever seen.
Sir Alf Ramsey was knighted for his services to football in 1967, and remains the only England Manager to win for England the prestigious football World Cup. Unfortunately, after England lost to Poland, a defeat which cost them qualification for the 1974 World Cup, he was sacked, and effectively it was the end of his working life, although he acted as a consultant for a time and briefly managed Birmingham City, where he had been made a director in 1977, and just after a short period of time subsequently resigned.
Sir Alf Ramsey was a member of the Waltham Abbey Lodge 2750, and he was initiated on Monday the 25th October 1953, Passed on Monday 16th November 1953 and Raised on Monday 4th October 1954. Sir Alf was never installed as Master of the Waltham Abbey Lodge.
Sir Alf resigned from the Lodge in 1981, and sadly died on 28th April 1999 in Ipswich, Suffolk
Sir Alf Ramsey’s widow Victoria Ramsey (Vickie) donated his Master Masons apron and Grand Lodge Certificate, and two Summonses showing details of the date of his Initiation and Passing, to the members of the Waltham Abbey Lodge 2750, and soon will be displayed in a special cabinet for all the Brethren to view when they visit the Chingford Masonic Hall.
From the Lodge History, Waltham Abbey Lodge No.2750 was consecrated on Wednesday 21st June 1899 in the Lady Chapel of Waltham Abbey by kind consent of the Vicar of Waltham, the Reverend F.B. Johnston, who was not a Freemason. There is legend to the effect that while the ceremony was in progress the Vicar, anxious for the comfort of his guests, tried to gain admission, and found he was unable to enter his own church, much to his dismay and probably annoyance. It is fairly certain that the Brethren had no legal right to close the Abbey - but they did. (reproduced from the centenary souvenir book “The History of the First One Hundred Years of the Waltham Abbey Lodge No.2750 - 1899-1999” - held at the library at Freemasons Hall)

The Lodge has met at Chingford Masonic Hall since 1931, where it still remains the Lodge’s home.

Article by W Bro Allan de Luca - Fiducial Lodge No: 8753