Hear, hear! Smyth Lodge sounds much better now John’s turned on the tech

What started as a chat at a Smyth Lodge social event last year has resulted in Lodge member John Armstrong creating what’s been hailed as the ‘best upgrade the Lodge has ever made’.

The start point was a conversation about the clarity of sound at Chelsea Lodge in London, explained Lodge Secretary Barry Kendall. He said: “Everyone agreed our Lodge room was too big to hear clearly, with a number of older Brethren finding it particularly difficult, and from that the idea of getting a PA system took root.

“John Armstrong brought it to life. He invested countless hours wiring, testing, and perfecting a very sophisticated system, facing every challenge head-on. He built the cabinet, installed the speakers, and made sure, after numerous testing sessions, that the setup was seamless. He’s also the Smyth sound man on our Lodge nights, keeping everything running perfectly. The system was paid for by donations from Lodge members Chris Miller and David Brason, to whom we’re very grateful.”

The system has a professional sound desk, a dozen clip-on Lavalier microphones, two mobile microphones to switch on and off, and several static desk microphones. Another feature is its ability to play music for ceremonies when required, including recordings of the Lodge’s own electronic organ thank to Bro Jon Fletcher.

John Armstrong said: “The result is crystal-clear sound across all 17 metres of the room. Even the quietest speakers can now be heard with ease, and that’s been a revelation for many members. One member, quietly spoken and brilliant at ritual, says that he now feels relaxed as he was always trying to speak up so everyone could hear. Now anyone with a microphone can be heard at 17 metres away, the full length of Grimsby’s lodge room.”

The system’s use is restricted to Smyth Lodge as its complexities make it too difficult to lend out, and John keeps the microphones at home so he can be certain the batteries are always sufficiently charged.

Barry added: “The system is now a proud feature of the Smyth Lodge, built with dedication, expertise, and a whole lot of heart from John.”