...…and what a celebration it was!
RW ProvGM, James Newman, joined us for the evening along with other distinguished guests, including the ProvGM from the Province of Yorkshire North and East Riding. RW Bro. Newman and Paul moved to the centre of the room, wherein a delightful 'This is your Life' half-hour took place between them. We learnt of Paul's very distinguished legal career, which culminated in him being appointed a Queen's Counsellor in 1990 and taking a position at the Old Bailey in 2007. One of W Bro. Worsley's most interesting cases was as prosecutor of the Yorkshire Ripper hoaxer in Leeds Crown Court. Paul's career in Freemasonry is equally impressive. In 2020 as acting SGD in Grand Lodge, he was asked to propose the re-election of the Grand Master, the Duke of Kent! W Bro. Worsley also sits on the Appeals Commission at UGLE. The presentation was further enhanced by Paul's sharp wit and delightfully placed humour which kept us all enthralled and amused. After the presentation of his Jubilee Certificate, the ProvGM had great pleasure in promoting him on the floor to the rank of PPSGW.
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Picture by Rae Graham shows RW Bro Newman and W Bro Silvester Earnshaw PPJGW There was a unique triple celebration for W Bro. Silvester Earnshaw at Lodge of Prince George 308 on Saturday, 18 June.
Remarkably, it was Silvester’s 100th birthday and the Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro James H Newman, was delighted to present him with a much coveted 60-year Craft jubilee certificate. The icing on the cake for Silvester came when a packed Bottoms Lodge Room at Todmorden burst into rapturous applause when R W Bro Newman promoted Silvester from Past Provincial Deputy Grand Sword Bearer to PP Junior Grand Warden. Silvester, a retired funeral director in Hebden Bridge, now lives at Thornton Cleveleys and his son Paul regularly transports him to Bottoms for Prince George meetings where he can still deliver ritual if called upon. • Life and times of Silvester in the next issue of White Rose Masonic News. The achievements of long time Thorpe Hesley resident Wallace were honoured by his Brothers of St. Philips Lodge No. 7116. Wallace was joined by his family and friends and our Provincial Grand Master David Pratt presented Wallace with his 50 year certificate.
Wallace was born on the 15th of December 1928 to Walter and Emma Hible at 46 Wortley Rd, High Green, Sheffield an only child, he moved with his family to Thorpe Hesley aged three. He attended the new Thorpe Hesley school and then Rotherham Technical college at age 14 to study accountancy and maths, an indication of where his future career lay. His working life began at the Grange Colliery at Droppingwell as a junior wages clerk, eventually becoming the manager’s clerk in 1946. He remembers the time well as he received and extra 3 shillings a week for being on the production committee and another 5 shillings a month for dishing out the soap rations to the miners. Another sign of his involvement and energy at work. In 1947 he was drafted into the RAF for his National Service with the Bomber Command at RAF Wyton. He was promoted to corporal and worked in pay and accounts. He played football and cricket and boxed for his station, including a match with Sgt Paddy Collins, the Northern Ireland Welterweight champion which Wallace age 19 won on points. After demobilisation in 1949 he returned to work for the National Coal Board at Grange Colliery and then to the North East Division Headquarters in 1952. After that he moved to work in the steel industry for Samuel Osbourne’s in Sheffield and then to Eaton & Booth where in 1964 he became Group Financial Director. His career as an accountant had flourished and he became joint Managing Director of three of their subsidiaries. It developed further when he received the silver medal of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants for his outstanding service to accountancy in the UK and the Commonwealth. He went on to work for many other Sheffield companies and finally set up his own consultancy in 1992. British Rail was one of his major clients. At age 90 in his retirement he was again honoured with by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants as the oldest member to receive their silver medal. Wallace had married in 1953 and was for 72 years until his wife Alma’s death in 2018. He has two sons, five grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. Wallace had wanted to join Freemasonry for some time having applied to join a Sheffield Lodge and been waiting for over a year a pal suggested joining St. Philips. Wallace was amused as his interview was done in Hulley’s ice cream factory at Ecclesfield, very strange. Shortly after Wallace was initiated into Freemasonry on the 9th September 1971 and it was 50 years to the day holding his celebration. Wallace said he took to Freemasonry and Freemasonry certainly took to him, he progressed up the ladder and through the Wardens chairs becoming Master of the Lodge in 1981. Wallace as an accountant being an obvious choice served as treasurer of the St. Phillips Lodge in Sheffield, a post which he held for 19 years until 2003 with a reputation for diligence and accuracy. Discussing diligence and accuracy caused a smile turning Wallace to the lighter moments in Freemasonry. One night as treasurer Wallace stood up to announce the night’s Raffle takings and then asked who had put 67p in Almoners purse, our festive board erupted in laughter. From then on small change and foreign coins have always been added to the purse and Wallace bless him has never failed us with his comments. Wallace has done many pieces of ritual in Lodge but for several years he has done his favourite, Eclesiates for our 3rd degree and with great feeling but it's the lighter things like the 67p we all remember. Wallace fondly remembers a Masonic trip to Birmingham. On 10th November 2010 we all went on a visit to Stirling Road, Birmingham for St Philip’s Lodge No. 5580 to enact a 1st degree. Wallace played the part of Junior Deacon leading Bro. Paul Turton as Candidate and on the second walk round the Lodge Wallace’s apron fell around his ankles, three more steps in a tangle all concentration was lost as the laughter erupted. As a new Mason Wallace and his pal Alwyn took it in turns to drive me to Lodge. Every month I want you to imagine on alternate weeks being driven there by Bro. Alwyn an Octogenarian who recovered Tanks with the eighth army in the desert in W.W.II . Being driven in his little automatic left the impression of dodging bullets in a tank recovery vehicle. Our septuagenarian Wallace was in the RAF, drove a slightly bigger car like a fighter plane and at every amber traffic light we lifted off to beat the red light. Sitting in the back seat listening to the non stop banter you realised you were being driven by two 19 year olds still in the forces. Alwyn has sadly gone to the Grand Lodge above, Wallace at 92 still loves swapping tales and telling the wonderful camaraderie he has enjoyed through life and the warmth of being amongst his Brothers in Freemasonry. Wallace for all his service to Masonry and his community was honoured in 2019 as Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden of the Province. Wallace’s long service was commended by David Pratt our Provincial Grand Master he pointed out there is no precedent for recognising 50 years service as a mason but customary to honour members like Wallace in this unique achievement. He asked Wallace what he considered had changed in his time as a mason. Wallace replied that the movement had become more open and inclusive and stressed the importance of our charitable activities. He hoped that would continue. Wallace has had a long history of involvement in charity and community activities from his earliest years in Thorpe Hesley. He joined the Scout movement in 1936 as a cub becoming a King’s scout in 1944. On leaving the RAF he returned to the movement, working on the Hesley Wood Scout Camp which is still enjoyed by hundreds of children today and the conversion of the Primitive Methodist Chapel into the local Scout HQ . Wallace had joined the British Legion in Chapeltown in 1949 after leaving the RAF becoming its president in 1965, a post he held for 14 years and still meets there every Sunday. Wallace had been a choir boy at Thorpe Hesley Church in 1937 and rejoined the new Thorpe Hesley Choir in 1984 He always enjoyed singing and was a member until its closure in 2019. For 20 years he served as Chair of the Trustees of Thorpe Hesley OAP and Community Centre on Brook Hill until its closure in 2017. At the same time he was a committee member and treasurer of Scholes and Thorpe Action Group (STAG) which had been formed to prevent the development of 2000 houses on land between Thorpe Hesley and Scholes and Wentworth Park, the area known as The Shortlands. In 2018 Rotherham Council made this area Green Belt. Even at 90 years old Wallace did not give up and helped out at the Thorpe Hesley Junior and Infant School listening to children read. All in all Wallace has contributed much to both Freemasonry and his community in Thorpe Hesley. Wallace enjoyed a wonderful 50 year celebration surrounded by his family, friends, Masonic pals and the Brethren of his Lodge. Ex Comp. Barry S. Whitehead was Initiated into Royal Forest 401 craft Lodge in 1969 2 years later encouraged by his proposer he joined Limestone Rock 369 Chapter.
He was appointed to PPGstB East Lancs in 1986. In 1991 He was Founder 3rd Principal of Royal Forest Chapter 401 at its Consecration 2nd December 1991 and was installed as MEZ in November 1993. In 1998 He was appointed PPGSoj. Having been Exalted in 1971 he now celebrates his 50 years in The Royal Arch. Which we hope to celebrate with him at our next convocation when rules allow W Bro Danny Kleinman celebrated his 100th birthday on 25th March 2021. Loyalty Lodge 4971 made sure such an occasion was not missed and joined in to mark this milestone to one of their most senior and respected brethren. On the 24th March, a special Zoom meeting was arranged to mark the eve of this very special day. This was well attended by the brethren of Loyalty Lodge who enjoyed memories, stories, and jokes from their beloved birthday boy. WB Kleinman showed us his birthday card from the Queen and read the message, which was of course extremely special. The following day several members of the Lodge presented him with a hamper of all his favourite ‘goodies’, a stunning chocolate birthday/masonic arrangement and a card personalised from the Lodge. The presentation was conducted outside WB Kleinman’s house on a backdrop of celebratory balloons. All in all, this very special day was marked and celebrated in the best way possible under the circumstances. WB Kleinman had a most enjoyable time as did his wife Gilda. W Bro Daniel (Danny) Kleinman was born on the 25th March 1921. A keen athlete as well as a scholar, he suffered a badly broken leg playing rugby and was unable to join the West Yorkshire Regiment into which he was enlisted, and by the time his leg had healed, the “West Yorkshire’s” had already left without him. Sadly, many of the soldiers in that regiment never returned. Once fully fit, he went to a War Office Selection Board in Edinburgh and having passed he was given a commission and joined the Pioneer Corps (soon thereafter renamed the Royal Pioneer Corps). The Royal Pioneer Corps was a British Army combatant corps used for light engineering tasks. It was formed in 1939. Pioneer units performed a wide variety of tasks in all theatres of war, including full infantry, mine clearance, guarding bases, laying prefabricated track on beaches, and effecting various logistical operations. Danny remembers that when they were sent from Newhaven to Dieppe, the boat crossing was particularly rough. On arrival at the quay, as he and his adjutant were so violently seasick during the journey, all they could do was disembark and lie on the quayside. Whilst lying down they spotted a troop of 30 German soldiers marching towards them. In his own words ‘he thought they were done for’, but as they approached, a British Sergeant, the only one with a gun, announced that he was escorting 30 captured German prisoners and was instructed to hand them over to Captain Kleinman. Straight back to the boat and another stormy Channel crossing! On another occasion, he was returning to the base along with his driver. At a T-Junction he thought they ought to turn right, but the driver, who said he knew the area well, said they needed to turn left. After a couple of unfamiliar miles, they were heading straight towards a formidable German Panzer tank. He said the staff car turned around so quickly ‘on one wheel’ and they were gone before the German tank had chance to load its gun! Having assisted the Royal Engineers with the crossing of the Rhine, he was de-commissioned in 1946 with the honorary rank of Captain, which he can use to this day - see attached letter from the War Office. Danny studied law at Leeds University and graduated with an LLB. Although a distinguished career in the legal profession beckoned, Danny put family first and decided his father needed help with the family Fabric & Haberdashery post War business. He opened several shops under the name of Daniel John in Hull, Beverley, Otley, Morley, Horsforth, Armley, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. In 1964 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace (JP) becoming a familiar face and Chairman of the Bench for many years He gave distinguished service as a magistrate until the maximum age of 70. Since retiring from business, Danny became a member of the Leeds Luncheon Club, which met at the University site at Devonshire Hall, Leeds and the 52 Club which met at Wike Ridge Golf Club, Leeds. Danny has always been a keen golfer who loved ‘picking up his sticks’ and having a round with friends. He was Captain of Moor Allerton Golf Club in 1968 where he played for 58 years and is their oldest living Past Captain. He was appointed to the prestigious position of ‘Captain of Captains’ for the Leeds & District Union of Golf Clubs in 1976 and again is their oldest living Past Captain. He always looked forward to the annual dinners where he wore his red coat and medals. Danny is fondly regarded by both his home club and Leeds & District Union. He has been made an honorary member of both establishments. Danny married his wife Gilda in 1950 and in 2020 they celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary. They have 2 daughters Stephanie and Janet. Danny joined Loyalty Lodge 4971 in 1963. He was initiated on 20th February 1963, passed on 17th April 1963 and raised on 26th September 1963. He was WM in 1977/78. He received his first honours on 15th May 1987 PPJGD and promotion to PPJGW on 7th May 1996. He was made an honorary member of the Lodge on 21st December 2016. Danny has a detailed knowledge of our Masonic rules and regulations and his sound judgement and wise counsel has been sought on technical matters numerous times over the years. Danny is a much loved, admired, and respected senior member of Loyalty Lodge and an inspiration to us all.
We congratulate him on his centenary and wish Danny and Gilda health and happiness for the future. Loyalty Lodge 4971 W Bro. Leslie Marten PPGReg was initiated in Hadassah Lodge no. 4871 in Sheffield on the 24th February 1971.
He was installed as WM in 1988, and is still a member of a very active Master’s Circle. He became a joining member of the Lodge of Dawn no. 6511 in 1973, and is a regular attender. Leslie was presented with his 50 year certificate at the regular weekly zoom meeting of the Lodge of Dawn on the 2nd March 2021 by his good friend W Bro. Jeffrey Hillman PAGDC. Two senior brethren of The Lodge of Peace No 149 both recently attained 50 years of continuous service in Freemasonry, receiving their respective Jubilee Certificates virtually in Zoom meetings, held on what would normally have been their Lodge Nights.
The first of these was Bro. Bryan H Jones, PPGSuptWks on the 12th December 2020. Although Bryan has never been through the chair, he received Provincial Honours and a promotion for his work in the Lodge, especially with the more Junior brethren. The Zoom meeting was very well attended, with VW Bro Jack Pigott, PDPGM presenting the certificate and three other PAPGMs and W Bro Robert I G Cole, APGM also in attendance, along with the majority of the brethren of the Lodge. The second Zoom meeting was for W Bro. Malcolm McMath, PPGReg on the 13th February 2021. Again very well attended. W Bro. Robert I G Cole presented Malcolm with his certificate, whilst W Bro. Allan Swift, PPGSuptWks spoke of times in the Lodge, and W Bro, John Briggs, PJGD chatted with Malcolm recalling their long association via work. All in all, two excellent evenings marking the outstanding achievement of these two well-respected brethren. Only the cricket score can spoil this day! On Wednesday, 24th February 2021, Eric Gosnay celebrated his 100th birthday quietly with his family. He was absolutely overwhelmed with the cards from the numerous Orders he is in and from individual Masons, which took him several days to open. I have been asked by the Gosnay family in general and by Eric, in particular, to write and thank you for the tremendous kindness you have shown him in celebrating his 100th birthday. I have spoken with his son this evening, who informs me his dad has retired to bed because he is exhausted and disappointed with England's first innings test score in India. If you are the secretary/recorder of an Order, please convey Erics thanks to your rulers, and if you are an individual secretaryrecorder, please thank all your members for taking the time to make Eric's day so special for him. I appreciate that some of your members may receive this notification from several sources but hopefully not 100. Best Wishes and Stay Safe Derek Smart Lodge of Unanimity No 154 Eric, surrounded by his 108 cards, including a much prized one from Her Majesty the Queen.
On 28th January Cambodunum Lodge No 3953 opened their monthly Zoom meeting with 16 Brethren present including our Liaison Officer. But this was no ordinary meeting as W Bro. John Warden was celebrating his 50th Masonic Birthday. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions caused by the Covid Virus John’s certificate from the Provincial Grand Master had to be sent to him by post. John was delighted to receive this and told all the Brethren how pleased he was, mentioning a lovely letter, also received, from W Bro. Robert Cole, APGM for Area 2, in which the APGM promises to visit the Lodge to meet John when circumstances are permitted. John was initiated into Cambodunum Lodge on 28th January 1971 and was Passed and Raised the same year. Due to work commitments, John had to move away from Huddersfield first to Keighley then to County Durham where he joined The Rose of Raby Lodge No 1650. Eventually, in 1977 John re-joined Cambodunum and progressed through various Offices to be Worshipful Master in 1985. John is not one to relax, and after going through the Chair, he continued to take offices within the Lodge and is currently the Lodge Chaplain. We also had two other Brethren celebrating a Masonic Birthday on 28th January - W. Bro. Howard Habron, IPM - 22 years and Bro Arthur Wainwright, SW - seven years - raising a glass for Brother Warden
From W. Bro David Walker, On January 22nd 2021, my blood Brother, W. Bro. H.B. Walker (Brian), will have been a member of Kirklees Lodge for 70 years. His 21st birthday was on January 6th, 1951. Our father, W. Bro. Herbert H. Walker was a founder member of Clifton Lodge at Brighouse and a very enthusiastic Mason, also a member of The Royal Arch and The Knights Templars. He was in the Chair as Master, and he Initiated Brian (a Lewis) on the January 26th 1951. Brian was Passed on February 23rd, Raised on March 30th and Exalted into the Holy Royal Arch on January 1st 1954. Brian took to his Freemasonry with great enthusiasm and joined Mirfield Chapter. Becoming Z in Mirfield Chapter No.1102 in 1995. He has now attained the Provincial Rank of PPGSN. He was a founder member of Woodsmoke Lodge, also meeting in King Street, Mirfield. He was Master of Kirklees Lodge 4710 twice, firstly in 1985-86 and secondly 1989-90, He has been Director of Ceremonies for 2 years and Master of Woodsmoke Lodge 9317 in 1985. He donated to the Lodge a large handmade wooden banner which is mounted on the wall behind the Worshipful Master's Chair in the dining room and is shown behind Brian in the photograph below. THEN and NOW - from 70 years ago, to the present day a member of Kirklees Lodge.
There was a 'live in' Steward and his wife at the Lodge rooms at King Street. Only Past Masters were allowed in the Bar Lounge, Junior Brethren had to consume their drinks in the entrance Lobby. If any Junior Brethren set foot in the Past Masters' Room, it was extremely frowned upon and robustly challenged. There was a full-size Snooker table in the Dining Room. The WM had his own private reserved Car Parking Space. At the Children's Christmas Party, which was free to attend, 30 to 40 children would be present, the WM provided all the savoury food with the sweet course donated by the Lodge Wives. All the Christmas presents were paid for by the W. M., a costly affair. Ritual books were not allowed in the Temple even on Practice nights. You were expected to learn the ritual. The Master Elect was never allowed to sit in the Master's chair until the day of their Installation. A chair was placed on the floor of the Lodge where the incoming Master could practice. As a mark of his outstanding achievement of 70 years in Freemasonry, Brian has been promoted to PPSGW. This is no more than he deserves. As your Brother, and on behalf of the Brethren of Kirklees Lodge, I congratulate you on a remarkable Masonic career. |
Adrian CollinsProvincial Communications Team Archives
September 2021
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