Warrington lodge reaches 250th anniversary
Lodge of Lights, No. 148, the oldest lodge in the Warrington Group in the West Lancashire Province, has celebrated its 250th anniversary. Among the 150-strong gathering were Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison and Deputy Grand Master Jonathan Spence. During the evening WM Stanley Jackson presented Tony with charity donations of £14,800.
Teddies to the rescue
All three of Berwick-upon-Tweed’s lodges were represented at the Berwick Infirmary to promote the TLC (Teddies for Loving Care) Appeal, which provides soft toys for children in A&E units all over the UK. ‘The staff at Berwick Infirmary do a fantastic job and we feel this helps both them and the children,’ said Colin Fuller, chaplain of St David’s Lodge, No. 393, who organised the scheme.
Nurse Kirsten Burn said, ‘We are really grateful to the Freemasons. If a child is in a great deal of stress we can give them a teddy to make them feel better.’
Funding from Somerset masons meant that Clevedon Minor Injury Unit received its 2,500th bear. Ian Strickland, TLC area coordinator, said: ‘We’re pleased to offer such valued assistance to our local community. The money for these bears has come from Clevedon, Nailsea and Yatton Freemasons, whose contributions enable this scheme to continue.’
Dorset help for Thai school
When Tony Birch married his wife Anan he did not imagine that he would end up adopting a failing school in Thailand, or that friends and members of Amphibious Lodge, No. 9050, in Dorset would help restore and support that school.
Anan comes from a remote village called Todnoy, near the Cambodian border. Seven years ago its village school was in disrepair and close to shutting down.
With masonic help, Tony has protected the education of these children, and what began as a rundown one-room shack is now a three-classroom school with a canteen, kitchen and washing facilities.
Healthy partnership
Devonshire’s Philammon Lodge, No. 3226, and Pelican Lodge, No. 7878, raised £10,800 at a charity sportsman dinner in memory of two of their brethren, one from each lodge, who died of pancreatic cancer. As part of the Santander Foundation, the bank’s Plymouth branch match-funded the total being donated to three charities – Pancreatic Cancer UK, the Mustard Tree Macmillan Centre, and the Wooden Spoon charity for disadvantaged and disabled children.
Last night at the Rochdale Proms
Lodge of Harmony, No. 298, in East Lancashire hosted a Last Night of the Proms-style concert in Rochdale and raised more than £1,500 for St Aidan’s Church, Wardle Academy Youth Brass Band and the East Lancashire Masonic Charity. The event, held at St Aidan’s, featured performances by the Wardle Academy band, soloist Freda Farnworth and the Rochdale Retirement Choir.
Peter’s long march
It was a solo march for Cheshire mason Peter Lindsay as he walked from Land’s End to John O’Groats, covering a distance of more than 1,000 miles in 80 days. This tremendous feat by Peter, 57, was in memory of his late wife Anita and in aid of Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention.
Peter, of Cheadle Hulme Lodge, No. 4697, and Lord Stanley Chapter, No. 2891, raised almost £12,000, having covered the distance entirely on foot in 64 days, with 16 rest days.
His children Richard and Jenny surprised him by meeting him at the finish point.
Freemasons help their local junior football club purchase much needed kit
Staplehurst Monarchs youth football club are sporting smart new soccer kit, after netting a donation of over £1,000 from a local masonic lodge.
The club, which helps around 140 local boys participate in soccer, had been looking for support and funding to provide essential kit. Members of Staplehurst Lodge No. 8145, which meets at the Masonic Hall in Hartley, stepped in to help.
David Noble, Master of the lodge said, 'The boys have been doing so well recently, with the under-9s winning two autumn trophies in successive years and we felt they really deserved our support. We were able to provide home kit and tracksuits for the under-10s team, as well as new jackets for the under-9s. Helping young people build and maintain a healthy interest in sport is so important and we were delighted to help.'
There was a pleasant surprise for David and the lodge when he went to see the team in action this week. He was presented with handwritten thank you letters from the boys, along with a signed team photograph.
Team manager Dan Monahan commented, 'This generous donation from Staplehurst Lodge has made a significant difference to the club. It helps us to keep local children involved in sport by enabling us to provide essential playing kit and equipment. The club is at the heart of sport within our community and we look forward to continuing to work with the lodge in the future by providing access to football for all.'
The Emulation Lodge of Improvement Annual Festival, held at Freemasons’ Hall on Friday 26th February 2016, is the high point of the lodge’s calendar
The Festival, attended by over 200 brethren, was presided over by the President, RW Bro David Macey, Provincial Grand Master for Warwickshire and the senior members of the Emulation Committee, and provided a superb showcase for a demonstration of four sections from the Lectures of the Three Degrees.
The Lectures take the form of a Preceptor asking questions of an Assistant, the Preceptor being a senior member of the Emulation Committee and the Assistant being a junior member of the lodge, but be under no illusion, standing on a blue dial next to the Senior Warden. It is the Assistant who is under the spotlight.
The programme of work comprised:
2nd lecture 2nd section: Preceptor W Bro Gerald Goodall, Assistant Bro Stephen Widdop
2nd lecture 3rd section: Preceptor W Bro Gerald Goodall, Assistant Bro Alexis Petrou
2nd lecture 4th section: Preceptor W Bro Graham Redman, Assistant W Bro John Lovett
2nd lecture 5th section: Preceptor W Bro Graham Redman, Assistant W Bro Mark Graham
Both Preceptors and Assistants delivered their sections with passion and conviction before a full temple and to a truly exemplary standard. I’m sure that for the Assistants this wasn’t just a daily advancement but an advancement they’ll remember for the rest of their lives and I congratulate them.
Worthy of note is the role of the Senior Warden (this year in the capable hands of W Bro Steve Turner) who must be prepared to prompt each of the Assistants from memory (and thereby must be word perfect in all four sections even if never called upon).
Afterwards the brethren retired to the Connaught Rooms for an excellent Festive Board.
Chainmail marathon
Shortly after the purchase of a London Freemasons’ lapel pin in support of the London's Air Ambulance appeal, Bro David Cooke of Westminster City Council Lodge No. 2882 started to think of how he could increase his £5.00 donation to something a little bigger.
Bro Cooke has already run six marathons in support of various charities and is therefore no stranger to the hard work and dedication required to complete the gruelling course around the streets of London. On the 24th April 2016 he will attempt a Guinness World Record by running the London Marathon wearing full upper body, hood and glove chainmail attempting to beat the current world record of 5:49:07 set in 2014.
The suit of armour weighs just under 20kg and has restricted movement. This has forced him to review and change his plans on how to tackle the challenge. 'Running is just not the same, for starters the tunic comes down just above my knees restricting your normal stride. Your body is enclosed in heavy chains and my first runs just felt so strange.'
A number of lodges and Orders with which he has connections have made pledges of support and his own mother lodge, Westminster City Council Lodge No. 2882, have supported him with additional collections at meetings.
At a meeting held in January 2016, Bro Cooke’s running identity was born following a speech at the Festive Board. 'I was asked by our Charity Steward to say a few words about the challenge I had embarked on. Some brethren cheered at the end with the name Chainmail Dave, which has now stuck and I use to help promote my challenge.'
ChainmailDave16 along with the lapel pin design that started this challenge is now emblazoned on his running kit and race day costume. He is hoping to raise as much money as possible for the LAA appeal and has a target of £3,000. 'This would be an amazing achievement for me but just completing the challenge would be great.'
To follow Bro Cooke in his marathon journey find him on Facebook and Twitter.
You can personally sponsor Bro Cooke on his Just Giving page which can be found here.
Paras initiate at the double!
On Saturday, 5th March 2016, Parachute Regiment Lodge No. 9315 initiated four candidates – this being the second time in two meetings that the lodge has carried out such a double double initiation.
This is a rare achievement in its own right but was made even more special because one of the initiations was that of the Worshipful Master initiating his 18-year-old son, possibly the youngest Lewis currently in London.
The ceremony began with the lodge Secretary reading out two dispensations, one for Harry Conner Hickey, the Worshipful Master’s son, and the other for John Riches.
The first double initiation ceremony was that of Bros Hickey and Riches, and was conducted by the Worshipful Master, W Bro Ed Hickey. The second double ceremony was that of Bro Robert Bert and Bro Jordan Campbell, and was undertaken by W Bro Mike Palmer, the Assistant Secretary who thanked the Worshipful Master for allowing him to initiate his own son-in-law.
Bros Jason Hurd and Matthew Gray delivered the Working Tools to the Candidates and the First Degree Charge was delivered by W Bro Peter Digby. The ceremonies were conducted in a very sincere manor by all the officers and particular mention should be made of the Junior Deacon, the acting IPM’s son, whose work was excellent and whose workload was considerable.
W Bro Richard Powis, LGR, LGCR, the lodge Mentor welcomed the brethren and presented them with their welcome packs. The brethren afterwards retired to Parkers for the Festive Board.
50 years strong
At the regular meeting held on Tuesday 23rd February 2016 of the Westminster City School Lodge No. 4305 at the Civil Service Club, Westminster, W Bro Bob Lacey, OBE, PPSGW (Sussex), PPSGW (Surrey), PPADC (Middx), Provincial Grand Orator (Sussex) was presented with a 50-year Long Service Certificate by Metropolitan Grand Inspector W Bro Robert Grant, PSGD.
Bro Robert MacLeod Lacey was born on 8th December 1943 and evacuated to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides. He is the grandson of a Scottish crofter and spent much of his early life on the Isle of Lewis. The family relocated following his father’s move to Whitehall in London and Bro Lacey went to Westminster City School in 1955. He was initiated into the Westminster City School Lodge in 1965 and installed as Worshipful Master of the Kenelm Lodge No. 8255 at Harrow, Middlesex in 1979 and, two years later, became Worshipful Master of Westminster City School Lodge No. 4305.
Bro Lacey was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in HM The Queen’s Birthday honours in 1993.
Retiring to Sussex in 1996, Bro Lacey joined Hartington Lodge No. 916 and became Worshipful Master in 2008, Worshipful Master of East Sussex Masters’ Lodge No. 8449 in 2013, MEZ of Tyrian Chapter No. 1110 in 2012 and is a member of East Sussex First Principals No. 8449. In 2005 he was promoted to PPSGW in Sussex and is currently the Provincial Grand Orator of Sussex. He is also a member of the Red Cross of Constantine and Rose Croix.
Since 1997 he has compiled a number of lectures of which the most popular and enduring are Cowboy Freemasons (delivered to Carmel Lodge No. 680, in Carmel, California and to more than 60 lodges in the UK) and Masonic Heroes. By donating his lecture fees he has contributed many thousands of pounds to charity.
A true inspiration
To celebrate his 80th birthday on 6th May 2016, totally blind Bro Tommy Mulholland is cycling on a tandem with his pilot, 70-year-old Bob Harber all the way from Brighton to Paris to raise funds for a very worthy cause, the Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice.
The Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice care for 300 children and young adults from 0-19 years of age with progressive life-shortening conditions and their goal is to provide the best quality of life for children, young people and their families, and to offer a total package of practical, social and spiritual support throughout each child's life, however short it may be. It currently costs well over £3.5m each year to provide all the care services provided by Chestnut Tree House.
Bro Mulholland was attacked at a wages snatch at his company and left blind in one eye. Years later at the age of 47 a blood clot caused by the injury haemorrhaged to cause him to lose his sight in the other eye.
Bro Mulholland is such an inspiration to all of his family and friends and has achieved so much since he lost his sight. These include being an honorary member of the English and Welsh Blind Golf Association having been the Captain and raising money for them. He is a founder member of Bromley Lions raising thousands of pounds for them over the years, raises funds for the Greater London Fund for the Blind and organises an annual charity event for the ex-Boxers' Association raising money for boxers suffering hardship. He was honoured with the Freedom of the City of London in November 2015.
Chestnut Tree House is run by St Barnabas Hospice, which is the adult hospice and the overarching hospice but all donations via Bro Mulholland’s Just Giving page (which can be found here) will go to Chestnut Tree House.
If you would prefer to make a donation by sending a cheque, please make the cheque out to Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice and send it to:
Mr T. Mulholland
22 Treewall Gardens
Bromley
BR1 5BT
Welsh Guardsman, Freemason and fundraiser extraordinaire Clive Jones of St Mary's Lodge No. 8373 in the Province of Shropshire recently received a national community award for his charitable work. Blind Veterans UK honoured Clive at a ceremony at Brighton, in recognition of his non-stop work for the benefit of others.
Clive lost his sight in 2000 whilst serving on duty, and yet those who know him well can attest that this has barely slowed him at all – curry nights, quiz nights and Provincial perambulations all with but one thought in mind – to relieve his friends (and anyone else, for that matter) of their hard-earned cash so that it can go to charity!
Freemasonry Today recently carried a story and picture showing Clive taking part in a sponsored walk to raise funds for Shropshire’s 2019 Festival. This particular yomp of 11 miles counted as one of his tougher assignments, but, as ever, Clive came through it with a smile.
Clive received his prestigious award from Maj Gen (Rtd) Nick Caplin, CEO of the charity, on 31st March. Clive is not just a charitable man, but also a massive inspiration to those who suffer from similar disabilities, who take from Clive the simple message that they can still be positive and make a big difference in the world.
Masonry, Migrants and Mariners
At the meeting of the Lodge of Research No. 2429, held on 25th January 2016 at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester, the lodge welcomed the Prestonian Lecturer for 2015, W Bro Roger Burt, who delivered his lecture Masonry, Migrants and Mariners in the 19th Century.
This lecture was a further development of his original lecture, Wherever Dispersed: The Travelling Mason in the 19th Century, showing that historical knowledge never stands still.
W Bro Burt based his findings on lodges in Canada and America, as well as England and Scotland, and showed how men were able to move around and benefit from Freemasonry Universal. He also showed how the less scrupulous abused the brotherly generosity. It also showed the pride that brothers had in masonry, and from slides showing the development of towns, the importance placed on the citing of the Masonic Hall. This talk, delivered without notes, was well received by all those present.
At the end of the lecture W Bro Burt was thanked by the Master, W Bro David Sharpe, and presented with copies of the last two editions of the lodge’s Transactions. Those present then showed their hearty appreciation for enabling everyone to make a great advancement in their masonic knowledge.
W Bro Burt has kindly agreed that the lodge can publish his paper in the next edition of the Transactions, which will be issued in October 2016.
Och Aye the Blue
The Leicestershire and Rutland Light Blue Club started their 2016 with a visit to Scotland and to two of the oldest masonic lodges in the world and to top it all off a visit to the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel.
On Tuesday 26th January 2016 the group left Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester by bus to travel to Kilwinning in Ayrshire to visit the Lodge Mother Kilwinning. The lodge is said to date back to the building of the abbey in 1140 and up until the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736 Kilwinning Lodge was in itself a grand lodge, issuing warrants and charters and is the reason that many Scottish lodges still hold the name Kilwinning in their name.
The Light Blue Club were warmly welcomed by the brethren and had a look around their fascinating museum, followed by an excellent Passing ceremony. Once the lodge had closed, they were treated to an informal festive board, known as a harmony, of pie and beans in the bar and finally a talk about the history of the lodge which is something that is usually incorporated into their first degree ceremony for all new Initiates.
The next day, the group left for Edinburgh to visit Canongate Kilwinning Lodge No. 2. After a short ceremony to confer Honorary Membership on Bro David Begg, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland the annual banquette to Burns and Hogg was held. In attendance was the Grand Master Mason Bro Charles IR Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont, who was very welcoming of the Light Blue Club and even joined them for a late night selfie!
The banquette itself was excellent from an initial parading and address to the haggis, complete with piper, to some wonderful singing and fiddling of traditional Scottish songs from Jess Conway as well as an entertaining and humorous talk from Bro David Venard entitled ‘The Immortal memories of Robert Burns and James Hogg’.
The final part of the Scottish tour was a visit to Rosslyn Chapel where the Light Blue Club enjoyed a talk on the history of the chapel followed by a masonic tour that pointed out all its masonic references, which was described by Bro Bob Reay as, 'a fascinating experience'.
Silver service
Holmes Lodge No. 4656, which meets at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester, has been most fortunate to acquire two beautiful silver coffee pots which form a lost part of the lodge's history but they could not have done it without the aid of other brethren in the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland.
Initially the items were spotted by W Bro Andy Green who keeps an eye on internet auction sites for items of masonic interest which might be purchased for the Museum. He contacted W Bro Don Peacock who leads the Library and Museum team, and it was then decided to contact Holmes Lodge to see whether they might be interested in making the purchase as the coffee pots were beautifully engraved with the lodge crest.
No time was lost in contacting the vendor who, most fortunately, turned out to be the daughter of a mason and who was most happy to pass the items into the keeping of the lodge for a very reasonable price. The items had come into the vendor's possession via an auction sale, but she had paperwork to show that in the 1980s they had been sold through the London Silver Vaults for a much higher price, and that they had then become the property of a gentleman who lived in Kensington.
The question then arose of how the silver had found its way from Leicester to London. The hallmarks and maker's marks indicated that the silver had been made in 1924, and the original sellers were Pearces who had a very exclusive jewellery shop in Leicester, latterly in the Market Place, but before then in Gallowtree Gate. It was thus clear that the silver had a connection to the early years of the lodge.
At this point W Bro Don Peacock rode to the rescue once more by discovering in the lodge archives a letter from RW Bro Edward Holmes, the then Provincial Grand Master, to W Bro GW Hunt, the founding Master of the lodge. This letter congratulated W Bro Hunt on his year as founding Master. There were further archive references to silver coffee pots and an inscribed salver being given to W Bro Hunt from the Lodge to mark the appreciation felt for all he had done.
W Bro Hunt went on to become Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent in and over Leicestershire and Rutland, and it must have gratified him greatly when he was able to consecrate Holmes Chapter in 1945, the only Royal Arch Chapter to be consecrated in the Province during the Second World War.
The silver would have formed part of his estate on his death in 1954, and it is now down to 'Lodge Sleuth' W Bro David Hughes to obtain testamentary evidence to cast light on the fate of the coffee pots between the 1950s and the 1980s. The fate of the salver is unknown, however the silver pots are now safely back at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester where they will be displayed on Holmes Lodge nights at the Festive Board.
This sporting life
At the Installation Meeting of the Leicestershire and Rutland Lodge of Installed Masters No. 7896 on the 8th April 2016 the members and visitors were treated to an informative lecture on Freemasonry and Sport by W Bro Rex Hazeldine of the Lodge of Science and Art No. 8429
W Bro Rex, who trained as a Physical Education teacher and taught, coached, lectured in sport, health and exercise science for many years, highlighted the connections between his two great passions: Freemasonry and sport. He began with the comparisons between the two including the closeness, friendship, reliance on one another as part of a team and are guided, coached, taught by knowledgeable, experienced tutors.
The significant contribution made by Freemasons in establishing historic sports organisation such as the Football Association, Middlesex Cricket Club, Amateur Athletic Association and the Modern Olympic Games. There was also the critical contribution of the Reform Bill of 1832 in expanding schools which lead to 'games' being part of their ethos which was lead by Sir John George Lambton, Pro Grand Master.
W Bro Rex recounted the reasons why Manchester City adopted the light blue colour worn by a Master Mason, when the club, which was founded in 1880, was rescued from bankruptcy in 1894 by local Freemasons who requested the playing strip to be changed from red and black to the colour of a Master Mason.
He also mentioned a range of sports-based lodges including, the Sportsman’s Lodge No. 9440, British Sub-Aqua Lodge No. 8997, Flyfishers’ Lodge No. 9347, Silverstone Lodge No. 9877, Lodge of the Chevaliers de Fer No. 9732, Mike Hailwood Lodge No. 9839, Graham Milton Lodge No. 9796 and the Shotokan Karate Lodge No. 9752.
Special mention was made for lodges meeting in the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland: the Reynard Lodge No. 9285, which was formed by members of Stoneygate and Westleigh Rugby Football Clubs, and the Joey Dunlop Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 1081 which meets in Lutterworth and was founded for those who are motorcycling enthusiasts.
The brethren were amazed by the number of high profile sportsmen who were Freemasons that had graced their respective sports: football (Alf Ramsey, Stanley Matthews, Jackie Milburn, Don Revie, Ron Greenwood, Sir Stanley Rous) rugby (Don White, Ron Jacobs, Eric Evans, Cliff Morgan), cricket (Len Hutton, Colin Cowdrey, Brian Statham, Clive Lloyd), motorsport (Donald Campbell, Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood), martial arts, boxing (Daniel Mendoza, James Figg, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey), and golf (Arnold Palmer).
W Bro Rex said, 'I know from my research that there are few sports in which masonic athletes, coaches and administrators have not made their mark. Freemasonry has contributed to and influenced sport in so many ways and at all levels of participation and performance. In many cases, as I have tried to show, Freemasonry has provided an environment, a value system, a culture which has links and similarities with the world of sport.'
The newly installed Master, W Bro John Peberdy, thanked W Bro Rex on behalf of the brethren, for a very interesting, entertaining and informative talk.
Foxes never quit
Bro Monty Katchick, Junior Warden of the Wayfarer Lodge No. 8679 which meets in Coalville, Leicestershire, is one of the singers appearing on a charity song Foxes Never Quit (Glory Glory Leicester City) in aid of Prostate Cancer UK
Bro Monty was selected to add his vocals to the song after Leighton Morrell, music producer, made an appeal for local talent to appear on the charity single. Leighton was originally approached by his close friend Peter Bullard, who is suffering from prostate cancer, with the idea of making a record to celebrate the fairytale season of Leicester City Football Club who recently won the English Premier League.
The collaboration, called the Foxee Singers of Leicester, consists of over 25 local singers and musicians from Leicestershire who have subsequently recorded the charity song based on the Battle Hymn of the Republic in a reggae style. It was released for download on iTunes and Amazon on the 15th April 2016 and and is currently at No. 6 on the UK reggae charts as well as No. 90 on the Worldwide Amazon Singles Chart.
Bro Monty said: 'I was approached to appear on the song as I was a singer in Leicester during the 1970s and they were looking for singers from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and today. When Leighton told me it was all for prostate cancer I was very interested, so we all got together in the recording studio and recorded Foxes Never Quit. Approximately 33p from each download will go to Prostate Cancer UK.
Leighton said: 'We want to let as many people know about the song as possible to try and make Leicester City top of the music charts as well as top of the Premier League. We also want to raise as much money as possible for this worthwhile cause.'
Channel hopping
On the 3rd May 2016, three members of the Beacon Lodge No. 5208 travelled to France to accompany Bro Joshua Symonds to a meeting of La Loge Ad Augusta, Per Angusta No. 617
Bro Joshua Symonds was initiated, on his 18th birthday in May 2015, into the Beacon Lodge No. 5208 in Loughborough. Joshua, who is a gamekeeper, subsequently gained a position as under-keeper on a large estate at the Chateau de La Verrerie in Aubigny-sur-Nere in France. This meant that, as Joshua was working abroad, he was unable to regularly attend his Mother Lodge. His father, W Bro Garry Symonds and other brethren, therefore decided to arrange a visit to a French lodge in Bourges, near to where Joshua works.
W Bro Garry Symonds said: 'The lodge is a small Provincial Lodge way off the beaten track and had never received foreign visitors before; we received a very warm and generous welcome.'
At the Festive Board, the hand of friendship was further extended to Bro Joshua when the Master, W Bro Frédéric Heurtebise, invited him to attend the lodge at their next meeting and for him to continue this practice through the next season.
The brethren from the Beacon Lodge kindly presented an engraved silver loving cup to the lodge, to mark their visit and to be used in ceremonial form at the Installation meetings.
Shining example to us all
Not many lodges can boast that amongst their membership they have the second oldest subscribing Freemason in England
Lathom Abbey Lodge No. 6286, meeting at the Ormskirk Masonic Hall in the Province of West Lancashire, is proud to say they have just such a member, at 105 years young Richie McKay is a regular attender.
Richie celebrated 75 years as a member of the Craft in 2014 when the then Assistant Provincial Grand Master, now Deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning, presided over what was a very emotional night. Philip, who in his inimitable style, highlighted, what was a very full and rewarding life of a remarkable Freemason. At that meeting he had the privilege of bringing the congratulations of the Provincial Grand Master in the form of an illuminated certificate.
Two years on from that eventful meeting Phil Stansbie, lodge Secretary, received a communication from Grand Lodge asking for confirmation of the date of birth for said Richie McKay. Phil having duly responded to the request confirming Richie’s date of birth as being 6 November 1910, some days later he received the incredible news that Richie was indeed the second oldest subscribing member in England and if the communication is to be believed Richie is a mere baby as the oldest member is an incredible 111. Nevertheless, Richie, who recently had a short stay in hospital, is now well on the way to recovery and was looking forward to the next lodge summons.
As the last meeting of the lodge was to be presided over by the immediate past master Bill Dutch, due to the WM being away on holiday, and as this meeting coincided with the 70th anniversary of the presentation of the warrant of the lodge, it was decided to ask Richie with Bill’s help to occupy the chair of King Solomon in what was to be a very informal meeting to show the great affection that the membership have for this remarkable man and to allow them to enjoy his company on this special occasion.
Phil duly approached Richie with the proposition only to receive the answer: 'I would love to but can you please invite Philip Gunning.' Phil pondered this request replying that he would do his best but that Richie should not get his hopes up as the Deputy Provincial Grand Master was a very busy man. Having contacted Philip, Phil was greatly gratified to receive a heartfelt response saying that he would be delighted to attend on what was to be a private visit to celebrate and catch up with Richie once again.
On the night, the lodge was further honoured by the presence of Ormskirk Group Chairman Frank Umbers, deputy vice chairman Stephen Brereton and Grand Lodge officers Malcolm Alexander Group Secretary and Martin Walsh lodge member. There was some disappointment when the group chairman informed the lodge that Philip Gunning had been delayed and had indicated that the lodge should be duly opened and he would arrive as soon as possible. Bill opened the lodge and conducted the usual business following which there was an alarm. The usual protocols being adhered to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Keith Kemp was admitted to inform the assembled brethren than none other than the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning were without and demanded admission.
It was at this moment you could have heard a pin drop in the lodge room such was the shock of the revelation that the lodge was to receive not one but two exalted visitors. The lodge rose to receive the PGM and his deputy who were warmly welcomed by the WM. Tony was offered the gavel of the lodge as is his right but thanking Bill for the welcome he had received he declined saying that it would be better placed in his hands as WM for the duration of the meeting.
Bill then invited Richie to occupy the Master’s chair which he duly did, the lodge Secretary Phil then instructed the deacons to distribute copies to all the brethren of the summons for 25 March 1939 for the Lodge of the Holy City No. 1372 (Scottish Constitution) meeting in Jerusalem were a certain Mr Ernest Richard McKay was to be balloted and if accepted, initiated on that night and the rest as they say is history.
Philip Gunning rose to congratulate Richie recounting some of the memories that he held dear regarding their last meeting when he presided at Richie’s 75th celebration. His contribution brought a warm response from the brethren. Tony then took to the floor to bring his own greetings saying that he had not had the pleasure of meeting Richie previously but that he had read a great deal about him and his remarkable achievements over the many years that he had been a mason. He then informed Richie that Philip had a communication that he would read out to the assembled brethren on his behalf.
Philip then had the pleasure of verbally presenting to the assembled brethren the patent of appointment signed by the PGM promoting Richie from Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden to the exalted rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden of the Province of West Lancashire. A collarette of that rank was presented to Tony who with great warmth proceeded to invest Richie with his new rank. At the conclusion of this the brethren rose to give a standing ovation showing the high respect that Richie has amongst the membership of the lodge.
Later at the festive board suitably refreshed and having enjoyed a delightful meal of breaded mushrooms for starters followed by salmon with asparagus spears, broccoli, green beans and new potatoes, complete with crème brûlée for dessert. At the conclusion of the meal and following the usual toasts Philip had the honour of proposing the toast to the continued good health of the PGM; this he did in his usual eloquent unscripted manner.
During his response Tony said that he had thoroughly enjoyed himself by just ‘dropping in’ on the occasion of Lathom Abbey Lodge celebrating 70 years and apologised by saying that he hoped his appearance hadn’t upset the apple cart. (Apart from Philip, Keith and Frank who was sworn to secrecy, no one was aware of this visit). Then with a broad grin on his face Tony said: 'Brethren you should have seen your faces when we made our entrance.' Tony went on to congratulate the lodge and said that he hopes to live as long as Richie and if so he will come back for the lodge’s centenary. Tony concluded by wishing Richie good health for the future and to continue to enjoy his Freemasonry.
Bill then proposed the toast to the worshipful master and in his response Richie said: 'I stand before you very humble for all the good wishes you have shown to me and I thank you all for being here.' He went on to say that he joined the Ormskirk Group as a member of Maghull Lodge No. 7190, (no longer in existence), joining Lathom Abbey Lodge because his best friend was a member and he has enjoyed every minute.
This concluded a night of celebration with many pleasant surprises which will live long in the memories of the brethren and guests, especially Richie who is a shining example to us all.