THIRTY years ago, Robin Wilson admits, our conversation would probably never have been able to happen.
But the most senior Freemason in Notts is open to the slow shift taking place within his centuries-old organisation.
Seen by many as members of a secret society with quirky rituals that looks only after its own, Freemasons across Britain are slowly coming out of the shadows some believe were cast on them by society.
The truth behind the long-standing mythical reputation has nothing to do with hiding sinister secrets, Robin says.
"During the Second World War, Masonic Halls in Jersey and Guernsey were ransacked by the Nazis," he says.
"Freemasons on the islands went in to hiding and some were sent to POW camps. They contacted other membership and the message spread to the mainland."
What followed was a turning point which would create stereotypes lasting more than half a century.
With Hitler knocking on the door of Britain, the country's Freemasons went partially underground to avoid the movement being wiped out in the event of a land invasion.
"They still had some of their meetings. Some were curtailed, but it wasn't public in the way it was before," Robin, the provincial grand master for Notts, adds.
Today, the head office of the Notts Provincial Grand Lodge, in Goldsmith Street, has a library exhibiting regalia made by Freemasons in wartime POW camps – a reminder of the persecution that first drove the secrecy.
"Talking about membership used to be frowned upon," Robin explains. "There was no reason to keep it quiet but that was the tradition.
"We have nothing to hide – there's so much on our website now and we get a significant number of enquiries through it.
"I'm confident and comfortable about talking freely about Freemasonry."
Robin and Roger Garrett, the provincial grand charity steward for the organisation, are happy to debunk a few myths.
You do not have to wait for a tap on the shoulder to join – anyone can put themselves forward.
But you do need a member to back your application – although Robin and Roger say the chances are that most people will have connections with existing Freemasons without knowing it. There are 3,000 in Notts alone.
Membership is for men only – but there is a thriving female Freemasonry movement with similar customs.
Freemasonry is also not a religion, Robin explains, although members are required to believe in a higher being – which can be applied to almost any belief. As such, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs are among the ranks of Notts Freemasons.
The regular ceremonies that underpin membership are the modern equivalent of a morality play from the Middle Ages.
Integrity is probably the most important pillar of three which also include the social and charitable aspect of Freemasonry.
Robin explains it as "taking good men and making them better".
Those who break the law won't get a let-off through shady connections – but face being thrown out of the group.
Another surprise is the extraordinary level of fundraising for good causes Freemasons are responsible for.
Notts Freemasons are currently taking part in a bid to raise £3m by 2018.
This is a regional goal towards the national Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, which aims to relieve poverty and advance education for children and young people.
In Notts, they began in April and have already raised £1m.
Locally, the group hands out hundreds of thousands of pounds every year – recently sharing out £113,000 across 38 local organisations.
A few days after our meeting, Roger calls me and we go through some follow-up details. I decide to ask him the question spanning the ages.
Is there a secret handshake?
Roger laughs – I think at my bluntness. "There is a secret handshake," he says.
So what's it for? "The words that are used in the ceremony are 'to identify a brother by night or by day'."
"We are certainly not a secret society – but we do hold certain secrets in our ritual."
There are 90 Masonic Lodges and eight Masonic centres across Notts. To find out more, visit www.nottinghamshiremasons.co.uk.
