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Kudu Lodge No 8662, Province of Hertfordshire
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Background:
Kudu Lodge was founded by a number of Scouters from South West Hertfordshire. Some were members of Venturer Lodge in Essex, based around the Gilwell Park area, whilst others were individual masons in the Scout County of Hertfordshire, all of whom wanted their own "Scout  Lodge in the County (and Province). With this in mind, the founders hoped that so long as there was a need, membership of the lodge should be restricted to those with Scouting connections.   Recently however, this rule has had to be relaxed to admit men who are sympathetic to the ideals and aims of Scouting.
The Kudu is a species of antelope found in southern Africa, and is noted for having magnificent spiral horns.   The founder of the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell captured such a horn from the Matebele tribe, who had been using it to sound muster of their warriors.   At his experimental
camp on Brownsea Island in 1907, Baden-Powell followed this habit by
using the horn to sound reveille and call people together. Subsequently other kudu horns were acquired and used in a similar manner on adult training courses, especially at the then International Training Centre at Gilwell Park.   The founders of the lodge felt that the name Kudu would serve a similar rallying point for Scouters in the County who wished to join the craft.   A kudu horn is now blown prior to the festive board at each meeting, to announce the arrival of the Master and distinguished guests.
Meeting place: Rose Walk Masonic Centre in Radlett, Hertfordshire

Meeting dates:
Second Wednesday in February and November,
Third Wednesday in May (Uniform) and September (Installation).
The lodge, with 23 founder members, was consecrated by the then Provincial Grand Master, RW Brother Guy M. Halsey, at the Red Lion Hotel in Hatfield on the 21st January 1975. The Lodge has acted as host for meetings of the Kindred Lodges Association on two occasions, the first in 1979 and the second in 1991. The first saw a demonstration of eighteenth century workings. The second was a performance of a concert version of Mozart’s opera "The Magic Flute", complete with orchestra, soloists and chorus. This was staged with the help of many masonic musical friends and a number of their ladies.