The Grand Order of Water Rats
The Grand Order of Water Rats is a British entertainment fraternity and charitable organisation founded in 1889. Its members come from music hall, variety, theatre, broadcasting and other branches of entertainment. The Order's headquarters and museum are at 328 Gray's Inn Road, London.[1][2]
Origins
The Order grew out of a group of music-hall performers associated with Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto. According to its institutional history, the group used winnings from a trotting pony named Magpie to help entertainers in difficulty. The pony's nickname, “Water Rat”, supplied the name of their fellowship. An outing to Sunbury-on-Thames in 1889 led to the proposal for a more permanent organisation.[3]
The first formal meeting took place on 11 April 1890, under the name Select Order of Water Rats. Wal Pink recorded its rules, and Harry Freeman became the first chairman, known as the King Rat. Its motto was “Philanthropy, Conviviality and Social Intercourse”.[3]
Membership and charity
The Order publishes a numbered roll of members, with biographies for many of them. Historical members include Dan Leno, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Tommy Cooper. The roll also records the successive King Rats, whose terms form part of the Order's institutional history.[2]
The Grand Order of Water Rats Charities Fund is registered in England and Wales as charity no. 292201. Its stated work includes helping people from the theatrical profession, and their dependants, who need assistance because of age or ill health. It can also assist other charities and individuals when funds permit. The Charity Commission records grant-making to both individuals and organisations.[4]
The museum contains theatrical memorabilia, costumes and objects associated with performers. The Society for Theatre Research's account of a visit organised in 2020 also records a library and tours of the lodge room.[1]
Connections with Freemasonry
There is overlap between the membership of the Water Rats and Freemasonry. Rick Wakeman, listed as King Rat in 2014 and 2015, became a Freemason in Chelsea Lodge No. 3098 in 2007 and served as its Master in 2014. These were offices in two separate organisations.[2][5]
The Water Rats premises also have a connection with lodge meetings: the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of London lists the Water Rats public house among the venues used by its lodges.[6] Membership of the entertainment fraternity alone does not establish that an individual was a Freemason.
Lady Ratlings
The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings began in 1929 when Lillian Russell and other wives of Water Rats formed an organisation of their own. Its early membership included female performers as well as relatives of Water Rats. The Ratlings' institutional history records their return to the Water Rats lodge room for their own regular meetings in 2015.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Society for Theatre Research, “Visiting The Water Rats”, event description, 4 March 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Grand Order of Water Rats, “Roll of Honour”, membership register and list of King Rats. Accessed 1 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 André Vincent and other contributors, “Our History”, Grand Order of Water Rats.
- ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, “Grand Order of Water Rats Charities Fund”, register entry, charity no. 292201. Accessed 1 October 2026.
- ↑ Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex, “Rick Wakeman CBE: The Middlesex Connection”.
- ↑ Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of London, “Welcome to the Mark Province of London”, list of meeting venues. Accessed 1 October 2026.
- ↑ Grand Order of Lady Ratlings, “Our History”.
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