Freemasonry has always been a part of my family life. My father, his father, and now my brother all belong to the fraternity, which dates back centuries and describes itself as “one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations”. It has always intrigued me. I’m not sure if this was because the Masons are a largely male group so I was unable to be a part of it, or because of some desire to chip away the mystery that has historically enshrouded them.

While living in New York City I had an opportunity to photograph many of my father’s friends and “brothers” who were Freemasons as part of a personal photography series. After moving to London I decided to contact the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) to open a new chapter in my series for the UGLE’s 300th-anniversary celebrations. Here, Masons of London talk about their experiences of being a member of the organisation and some of the misconceptions they feel the wider public about Freemasonry.