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CelebrationsMilestones reached by members in Craft & other Orders in our wider Masonic Family
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John Terrence (Terry) Hobson was initiated into Hillsborough Lodge No. 5444 on 8th March 1960, having been proposed by his father, W Bro A.E. (Jack) Hobson who was himself initiated into Hillsborough Lodge in 1944. Terry was passed in the May and raised in October of 1960 making steady progress through the long ladder of offices to be installed as WM in January 1975. He was appointed as PPDeputy Grand Sword Bearer in 1984, with promotion to PPJGW in 1993. Terry had been exalted into Hillsborough Royal Arch Chapter No.5444 in March 1973, installed as Z in 1980, appointed as PPAssistant Grand Scribe E in 1987 and promoted to PPGrand Scribe N in 1995, a reflection of his commitment to Sheffield Freemasonry which, has included him holding the position of President of Sheffield Royal Arch Council.
During his time in masonry Terry realised that he had made many early connections in life, having attended Oakwood prep school alongside W Bro Venon Outram, late of Royal Brunswick, before moving on to Ecclesfield Grammar School (which the late R W Bro JK Clayton also attended) – gaining his School Certificate and Higher School Certificate. Terry then went into the RAF on national service and then on to RAF signals working mainly on V.H.F. D/F (Radar was not in general use at that time). Demob was delayed for 6 months owing to the start of the Korean War, but on his discharge, Terry followed his father into the butchery business. A career he continued through to his retirement on age 71. Terry was married in 1960 to Shirley, who sadly passed away suddenly in 2011. They have two daughters and four grand-children. Unfortunately for Terry, Hillsborough Lodge handed back its warrant at the end of 2019, but to allow him to continue to enjoy his freemasonry and provide an outlet for his experience he joined Royal Brunswick Lodge No. 296 which meets in Sheffield and preparations had been made for everyone to celebrate his being presented with his 60th Jubilee Certificate. As we are all too aware those celebrations had to be postponed, but the lodge does intend to honour W Bro Hobson when ‘normality’ is resumed in order that we can hear more of his adventures.
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 W. Bro Kenneth G. Ogden PPJGW C.Chem, M.R.S.C., M.I.Mech E., F InstGas Eng., F. Inst. W. Bro Ken Ogden was educated at Doncaster Grammar School where he passed 9 School Certificate examinations. Not satisfied with these he went on to become qualified as a Chartered Chemist, Chartered Mechanical Engineer, Chartered Gas Engineer, Chartered Enery Engineer , Government Senior Scientific Intelligence Officer and a Civil Defence Rescue Instructor. Still not satisfied Ken went on to become President of the Yorkshire Gas Managers Assoc in 1968, Honorary Member of the Yorkshire Gas Managers Assoc. in 1985 (and still retains his membership), National Chairman of the Gas Managers Assoc of Great Britain 1974-6, he was also a Council Member of Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers 1973-6.
His career with British Gas spanned 48 years which gave him responsibilities all over our area covering Nottinghamshire, South & West Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. W. Bro Ken began his masonic career on the 3rd May 1960 when he was initiated into Abbey Lodge No. 624 Burton upon Trent. During this time he was a visitor to Rotherwood Lodge 4392 on many occasions. After spending 12 years at Abbey Lodge progressing up the ladder he eventually joined Rotherwood Lodge 4392 occupying all offices before becoming Master of the Lodge in 1980. Following his time in the chair W. Bro Ken occupied most of the senior positions within the lodge : - Treasurer for 7 years - Director of Ceremonies for 2 years - Almoner for 7 years He has presented the 2nd Degree Tracing Board on more than 15 occasions and has represented the lodge as VP of the Rotherham Installed Master’s Association in 1994 then becoming President in 1997. Ken is a stalwart of our Lodge and can be relied on to fill any office when required. His commitment is second to none whether it be at a regular lodge meeting or a practice which he very rarely misses. W. Ken received his just rewards by being promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1996. Of course his masonic work isn’t limited to the Craft. In 1988 he was exalted into Phoenix Chapter 904. After again occupying all offices he was installed as 1st Principal in 1999 and achieved Provincial Honours as Past Provincial Grand Scribe N in 2010. He became a founder member of the South Yorkshire Chapter of Installed Principals No 9633 in 2003, president of S.R.R.A.C. 2009-10. In his “spare” time he became chairman of Rotherham 41 Club, Chairman Rotherham Probus Club, Chairman Wickersley, Probus Club. If that’s not enough W. Bro Ken is a keen gardener (his plumbs are ledgendry) and at one time was the keeper of 50 Australian Parakeets. Once again Ken we congratulate and thank you for 60 years of work, commitment and support not only to Rotherwood but to the whole masonic community. You have been and continue to be a fine example of all that the masonic movement stands for and you are the best of role models for any “junior” brother.  Somewhat to my surprise, and to that of many others I suspect, Ian was born and bred in Macclesfield but, sadly his Father died when he was six and the family moved to Glasgow whence his Mother hailed. He completed his schooling and took up an apprenticeship at a Steelworks, which then enabled him to train as an Engineer with British Bakeries where his whole working life was spent, but in numerous locations, finally West Yorkshire in 1989.
His Masonic journey began when he was, on the 9th October 1969, Initiated into Lodge Tollcross No 1194, Glasgow. Advancement into the Mark lodge then followed on 4th June 1970 hence his fifty years is now complete. Work took him to Kirkcaldy where he was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry at Kirkcaldy Chapter No 97. He also joined Oswald of Dunnikier Lodge No. 468 where he became Master in 1987 and at the same time 1st Principal at Kirkcaldy Chapter and under this banner he was Installed as the W.M. of the Mark Lodge. In March 1991 he became a member of Horsford Lodge No. 5339 having established his move to West Yorkshire, subsequently taking early retirement in 2006, and became the W.M. in April 2000, later becoming the Lodge Secretary in 2002, a post he still holds. Very sadly his wife, Iris, died in 2013, but after a period of reflection he was prevailed upon by long-time friend Barry Massam to join Wharfedale Mark Lodge in April 2015 where he was subsequently Installed as WM in 2018. Shortly after that both Barry, and sadly missed friend Graham Cooper, proposed him into White Rose Lodge No. 77, Allied Masonic Degree. In March 2017 his good friend John Clough supported by R.W.Bro. Jim Steggles “persuaded” him that he really wanted to join Claro Lodge of Royal Ark Mariner No. 525, he enjoyed it so much he became a founder member of the Rugby Football Lodge of RAM No. 1965 the following year. By now he had lost the ability to say no and the late David Cordell, District Grand Master for RSM, asked him if he would be his next District Recorder for West Yorkshire. When it was pointed out that he was not a member, the reply was “Oh that’s not a problem” and neither was it as by the following meeting in August of 2018 he was appointed and invested as District Grand Recorder. This was just before he was appointed and Invested in November 2018 as Provincial Assistant Grand Scribe E, an office he still holds. By January 2019 Cloughie, once again, convinced him to join Secret Monitor and introduced him into Claro True Friendship Secret Monitor No.4. Ian is a very enthusiastic and committed Freemason, a jovial, friendly character welcomed wherever he goes, long may it continue, Congratulations on achieving this superb milestone.  A short history of the foundation of Beacon Lodge by W Bro. Malcolm Priestley PPGReg, mostly taken from an article written in 1960 by the late W Bro. Cyril Sunderland PPJGD. Beacon Lodge is the daughter Lodge of De Warren No. 1302 and was consecrated at St. John’s Place, Halifax on the 4th June 1920 by Sir William Raynor JP PGM with 11 PMs 12 Brethren and 13 additional Brethren present (all former members of De Warren Lodge), as well as many other Brethren and visitors.  De Warren Lodge had been constituted in 1870, sponsored by its mother Lodge St. James’s No. 448. In the early 1900s De Warren joined St. John’s as joint owners of the Masonic Hall at Blackwall. By 1919 De Warren had 132 members. De Warren had applied for Beacon Lodge to be accommodated at Blackwall, but permission was refused by the joint owner Lodges of Blackwall, and preliminary arrangements were made for Beacon to meet in premises belonging to South Ward Liberal Club in Brunswick Street and Hopwood Lane, Halifax “on the 4th Friday of the month”. But these premises were sold for a tramway club and Beacon never did meet there and agreement was reached for the use of a room at St. John’s Place. An exceptionally large influx of members into De Warren 1302 during the period at the end of the first World War (one WM initiated no fewer than 24 Brethren during his year of office in 1918-19, giving 78 obligations at 41 Lodges) increased the membership of De Warren Lodge to 132 by the end of 1919. The formation of a daughter Lodge therefore became almost inevitable. A petition for a Warrant was applied for on the 8th December 1919, with 23 petitioning Founders, all members of De Warren Lodge. Fortunately agreement was reached for the use of the Lodge and practice room at St. John’s Place by the new Beacon Lodge. Beacon Lodge was consecrated in this Lodge Room on Friday, 4th June 1920 by Sir William Rayner PGM. From De Warren there were present 11 Past Masters and 12 Brethren as Founders and 13 additional Brethren, being Master Masons of less than 3 years standing and consequently unqualified as founders, but proposed at the time of the Consecration for Membership as "Founding Members' and elected at the subsequent Lodge. All these 36 Brethren were members of De Warren Lodge and Beacon Lodge must remain forever indebted to its Mother Lodge for the sure foundation laid by these numerous Foundation Members.  Few Lodges can have had for its first WM a finer Freemason than WBro Arthur Alderson. Initiated in De Warren Lodge in Dec.1889, he occupied the Chair in 1895 and during his year as WM initiated Sam Naylor who became the first IPM of Beacon Lodge. He served Beacon Lodge as WM for 17 months to bring the Installation date to November. When he relinquished office the Lodge presented him with silver Fruit Stand in appreciation of his services. His 14 Candidates also presented him with a silver Salver, engraved with their signatures, amongst them two Past Masters and that of the celebrated tenor Walter Widdop. The details of W Bro Alderson’s cabinet making business are recorded in Malcolm Bull’s Calderdale Companion. The Consecration procedure of the new Lodge by the PGM and his team and the Festive Board thereafter are recorded in the Consecration/Banquet booklet, copies of which are still in the Lodge archives. The Festive Board was indeed a banquet with 6 courses including soup, fish, and steak jardinière, roast lamb/roast beef/beacon pudding with custard, cheese and biscuits! And a hundred Brethren! Beacon Lodge moved to Southwood in Halifax in the early 1990s, where we had hoped to celebrate our Centenary on Thursday the 4th June this year, exactly 100 years since our foundation. Many more facts relating to the history of the Lodge remain to be formally recorded. Under the present emergency a proper celebration of the Centenary event has been postponed, however at a “Zoom” virtual meeting of the Lodge on 4th June 2020 it was possible to remind ourselves of the event 100 years ago of the original consecration. Much water has passed under the bridge since 1920 and there is much to relate from the history of the Lodge during the years 1920 to 2020, which I hope someday to record in an appropriate manner. In spite of the tragic consequences of the conflict of WW1, the influenza epidemics of 1918-19, the Second World War, other economic downturns and health issues, Beacon rose to a membership of 75 at its height in the 1950s and 1960s. Membership is not so numerous now, but as the past shows, the future can bring upturns and reward unknown to those who steadfastly carry the banner through hardship and distress. MI Priestley, in grateful acknowledgment to Cyril Sunderland.  My first introduction to Freemasonry was being co-opted by my Dad to help clearing up Fitzwilliam Street Masonic Hall after Installations, Cinderella Dances, Ladies Nights & Childrens’ Christmas Parties gradually attending all those events as I grew up. This meant that I became familiar not just with the premises but the many men involved in the Craft with my Dad, Trevor Smith who had joined the Lodge of Truth No 521 in the 1960s whilst I was still in education.
I was educated at Mirfield Grammar School & proudly graduated from Leeds University in 1967 with a BSc Hons in Agriculture. Later that year I started work with an Agricultural Company in Lincolnshire, as a Technical Adviser. Weekdays in Lincolnshire & weekends in Huddersfield was the result. It was 1969 when I expressed an interest in joining the Lodge so my Dad started the application process. When I reflect on why my interest was aroused I believe that I had seen nothing but good being demonstrated. On Friday 1st May 1970 I was initiated into the Lodge of Truth, No 521. It was an exciting event, but I know I was anxious. However, I can still clearly remember things that happened that night. My Dad proposed me. Brother Richard Hollas was my seconder & I am delighted to say that we have remained friends throughout the years. I am immensely proud that on that evening there were 3 generations of Smiths present, my Grandfather, my Dad & myself - a unique occasion in the history of the Lodge, as far as we can trace. Over the years, I made steady progress through the various offices & on the 1st December 1978, having driven through freezing fog from Lincolnshire, I was honoured to be installed into the Masters’ Chair by the late Worshipful Brother Fred Broadbent. This was followed by many enjoyable years rolling by & eventually I was privileged to be appointed Acting Provincial Grand Standard Bearer. Subsequently I was awarded the rank of Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed all the time I have been in the Craft, having met countless numbers of people with whom I have enjoyed the best of Fellowship. Over the years I have seen many changes both within the Craft but also in life in general. I believe that one important principle I always try to practice is that of tolerance & to accept the maxim that ‘Nothing is Forever’. I am really proud to have reached the landmark of fifty years in Freemasonry & wish to record my sincere thanks to everyone who shared & helped me on my journey, especially Margaret, my wife of 43 years  On the 21st April 1920, shortly after the end of hostilities of the Great War, R.W. Bro Sir William Raynor, Provincial Grand Master, ably assisted by W. Bro Richard Gill, Senior Grand Deacon and Deputy Provincial Grand Master and a full team of Consecrating Officers, came
together to consecrate the newly founded Nevil Talbot Lodge. One of many Lodges which came into being following the war, Nevil Talbot’s original membership was drawn from that of the then highly successful Furnival Lodge No 2558 who had realised that their growing list of candidates would have to wait many, many years before attaining the Chair unless another Lodge was formed. Nevil Talbot Lodge was the solution to that problem. So what of their name? Well, the founders determined to follow the history of the distinguished Furnivall family but that the Lodge name could not directly involve the name to avoid confusion. Charting the family history back through the 14th and 15th century showed the line of Furnivall merged through marriage first to the Nevill family, through the union of Baroness Furnivall to Sir Thomas Nevill and subsequently through their daughter’s marriage to General Sir John Talbot. From that point forward descendants would be of the line of Nevil-Talbot, and the Lodge banner proudly displays the Coats of Arms of the Furnival, Nevil and Talbot families. Much of the Lodges history is, like many other Lodges, relatively uneventful with members quietly enjoying their opportunity to dwell together in unity and the companionship which that brought. Of interest to our current situation was a communication received from UGLE on 4th September 1939 suspending all Masonic meetings until further notice following the issue of emergency orders from H.M. Government following the outbreak of the Second World War on 1st September. That suspension was however lifted just 21 days later with permission granted for the resumption of Masonic activities which then continued throughout the war. Unfortunately, our current suspension has already lasted twice as long! However, the war was not without its effects not least the cancellation of a meeting immediately after the Sheffield Blitz in December 1940. There was also a request from Provincial Grand Lodge for brethren to surrender their jewels to be melted down to assist with the war effort. There is no information as to the extent with which this request was complied! In the 1960s the Lodge began to develop a reputation as a musical Lodge with various members who were local singers of repute. This tradition continued for many years. There was also an association with The Boys Brigade with many members sharing that interest as current or former members. In 1982 the then President of the Sheffield Battalion, Roland Hare was to be initiated and this led to an invitation being issued to the National President, The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Unfortunately the Earl was delayed in responding to the invitation as he was required to attend a meeting abroad about the now renowned Elgin Marbles. Nevertheless, two days before the Initiation, he accepted the invitation. His acceptance lead to a flurry of activity. He being such a distinguished visitor, the list of those due to attend rapidly rising from 30 to 80! Over recent years the Lodge has suffered a decline in fortunes with now only 13 members, not all of whom are still active. However behind the small number hide some great if now ageing characters of Sheffield Freemasonry like Terry Hoyland, Philip Kirkup and Roy Yates not to mention the current Secretary, Richard Drury-Smith just one of several members of that well-known family to have graced the Lodge. Although small in number the Lodge is big in heart and has been holding on for the past couple of years to be able to celebrate this wonderful milestone. We all offer our hearty congratulations to everyone at Nevil-Talbot Lodge and hope that we will be able to join them in person when our suspension finishes to celebrate properly what this proud Lodge has achieved over the past 100 years. I am most grateful to W. Bro’s Terry Hoyland and Philip Kirkup for the work put into the Lodge Centenary booklet from which this article was drawn. V.W. Bro John Boyington Deputy Provincial Grand Master We are delighted to welcome two new Heads of Orders to our Masonic family in Yorkshire, West Riding. Following the sad death of David Cordell, earlier this year vacancies were created to the local leadership for The Allied Masonic Degrees and the Order of Royal and Select Masters, both of which David held previously. Right Illustrious District Grand Master for West Yorkshire, Order of Royal and Select Masters, Right Illustrious Companion Fraser McPherson  Fraser McPherson is a 3rd generation on his Fathers’ side and at least 5th generation on his Mothers’ so there is no doubting his Masonic pedigree. His parents actually met at a Masonic dance! Fraser was Initiated as a ‘Lewis’, aged 19 years, into Lodge Possilpark, Glasgow, No. 1330 on 24th April 1980, soon after completing his other Craft degrees including, under the Scottish Constitution, his Mark Degree. After moving to Yorkshire in 1984 he joined Trafalgar Lodge No. 971, Batley, in August 1991. Fraser joined Prince Edward Mark Lodge No. 14 in 1995, Royal Ark Mariners in 2002, Secret Monitor in 2003, the Royal Arch in 2004, Royal & Select Masters in 2007 and the Royal Order of Scotland in 2015. WM of Trafalgar Lodge during 2009, Craft Provincial Rank came in 2015 as an Acting Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies before being promoted to Past Provincial Deputy Grand Registrar in 2017. In the qualifying Orders for R&SM, Royal Arch and Mark, Fraser became MEZ of Scarborough Chapter in 2012, was appointed as an Acting Provincial Grand Steward in 2018 and promoted to Acting Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2019, a role he currently holds. In Mark, Fraser was WM of Prince Edward in 2002, soon after becoming Lodge Secretary, a role he relinquished in 2019 to become their current WM for the second time. In 2006 he was appointed as Acting Provincial Grand Steward and was honoured to be appointed as Grand Standard Bearer in Mark where in November 2017 became Provincial Grand Secretary for the Province of West Yorkshire. In R&SM Fraser was appointed in 2013 by the then District Grand Master for Yorkshire, Right Illustrious Companion David S. Pratt, as Assistant District Grand Recorder, and when the District of Yorkshire was divided into West and N&E Yorkshire in July 2014, became District Grand Recorder for West Yorks under David M. Cordell. Fraser received his Silver Trowel Degree in 2014, was promoted to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Council in 2016 and received his Excellent Masters Degree in 2018. After 41 years working in the NHS, Fraser retired from Leeds Teaching Hospitals in July 2019 as a Senior HR Business Partner. He now spends his time focussing on his Masonry, a huge list of accumulated d.i.y. jobs, reading scientific publications, his garden (especially recently!) and maintaining his wife’s Land Rover! Fraser has been married to Tina for 32 years, and they have two sons, Benjamin and Lewis and a daughter, Hope. The Masonic suspension permitting, Fraser will be installed as Right Illustrious District Grand Master for West Yorkshire on 1st August 2020, otherwise, he will assume the position from that date and take responsibility for overseeing the 8 Councils in the District. Right Worshipful District Grand Prefect for The Allied masonic Degrees in Yorkshire Right Worshipful Bro. Graham Bailey.  Born and bred in Doncaster Graham first became a Mason in December 2000 when he was initiated into De Maulay Lodge No 6358. He became WM of the Lodge in
2010 before later serving as both Secretary and Treasurer. Graham is a member of two other Lodges in Doncaster, Danecastre No 4843 and St Georges No 242 and also holds subscribing memberships of a Lodge in Warwickshire, Thomas Harper No 9612 and one in the German Constitution, Lodge Niederrhein No 892. Graham was appointed Acting Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2017 and promoted to Past Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2018. He was Exalted into the Royal Arch in Magdalen Chapter No 242 and after serving as MEZ was subsequently appointed as Acting Provincial Grand Standard Bearer and now holds the rank of Past Provincial Deputy Grand Registrar. Graham is also a member of 2 other Chapters meeting in the Doncaster area. A keen member of many other Masonic Orders including Mark, Royal Ark Mariners, Royal and Select Masters, Red Cross of Constantine, Order of the Secret Monitor, Scarlet Cord and Rose Croix. In the Allied Masonic Degrees Graham joined South Riding Council No 243, became Master in 2019 and is currently IPM. While serving as Master Graham was appointed as Deputy District Grand Prefect and as Past Grand Standard Bearer in Grand Council in 2019. Graham was appointed as District Grand Prefect by Patent on 2nd May 2020 and will be installed when the current Masonic suspension ends. Graham attended schools in Doncaster. Always a keen golfer Graham started work as an Assistant Professional in 1976 becoming fully qualified in 1982. He then held appointments as Head Professional at three clubs before retiring in March this year. During his career, Graham taught seven young men to become professional golfers and coached the Doncaster Junior Team to winning the Junior Championship in 2015. Graham and wife Karen have been married for 36 years and have a daughter who now lives and works in London. Welcoming both Graham and Fraser into their new roles, Provincial Grand Master David Pratt said: “We pride ourselves in West Yorkshire on being part of a large and varied Masonic family, and I am delighted that two such keen Craft and Royal Arch Masons have been appointed to these important roles. I wish them well in their work over the coming years and look forward to working with them in their new positions.”  Thursday 7th May should have seen a ceremony to mark the centenary of Fellowship Lodge No. 4069 at Tapton Hall, Sheffield. Unfortunately this could not be celebrated in the usual way with a very well-attended lodge meeting, which would have included the presentation of centenary jewels to the lodge members by V.W. Bro. John Boyington, PGSwdB, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, and the delivery of a short history of the lodge by the Master, W. Bro. Dr John Wade, PAGDC, before adjourning to the special festive board. At the four or five-course meal there would have been speeches, including a toast to the future of the lodge, a souvenir engraved glass tankard, and a jubilee booklet containing the full history of the lodge over the last hundred years. Owing to the lockdown enforced on the population by the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus this was of course impossible. However, through the marvels of modern technology an informal ‘virtual’ meeting was held just after 8 pm on that very Thursday using an internet application called ‘Zoom’. This meant that fourteen brethren were able to greet each other from their computers and tablets, seeing in small frames their colleagues spread across the screen. W. Bro. Wade, after a short introduction in which he included some apologies from brethren who for either technical reasons or illness (not the virus) were unable to join in and a report from the lodge Almoner, went on to deliver a PowerPoint presentation entitled ‘The Founders and Early Members of Fellowship Lodge’. He explained that the title reflected the fact that, while he had gathered materials for a large part of the centenary history before the enforced lockdown in March, he had been unable to consult the remaining lodge books in the basement of Tapton Hall to complete the history.  Nevertheless, by means of sharing his own computer screen showing the PowerPoint slides with all the brethren at the Zoom meeting and each slide was accompanied by an audio recording of his text – W. Bro. Wade was able to give a detailed account of the circumstances leading to the foundation of the lodge in 1920. This included some fascinating and hitherto unpublished information, together with extracts and in some cases photographs or line drawings of these early members of the lodge. This really brought to life some of those brethren who were only known to the current lodge members by their being listed simply as names on the back of the summons. The presentation by the WM was followed by a toast to the future of the lodge by V.W. Bro. John Boyington and some closing words by W. Bro. Brian Littlejohn, PJGD, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, both of whom had been able to join in the meeting.
 John was Initiated into the Lodge of Prince George No. 308 by the Worshipful Master W. Bro. Trevor Shepherd who Passed him the following September. He was Raised in December of that year by his proposer into Freemasonry W. Bro. Frederick L. Halstead.
He was Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1985, a year he Initiated, Passed and Raised three candidates. Also that year, along with his Officers, He performed a demonstration Raising ceremony at the Lodge of Fort William No. 43 (Scottish Constitution) John was Master of the Lodge in 2008 when he again Initiated, Passed and Raised three candidates. John occupied the Chair again in 2013 for a First and Second Degree ceremonies. In 1994 he was appointed Director of Ceremonies of the Lodge. He held this office for 9 years which included officiating at the Lodge Bicentenary in 1996. He took the office again in 2018 and still holds it today. John's first Provincial Rank was Provincial Senior Grand Deacon. In this capacity, he officiated at the Installation of R.W. Bro. J. Trevor Broadley as Provincial Grand Master. W. Bro. Pickles is the fourth generation of his family to be a member of the lodge. He was preceded by his Father George Ronald, his Grandfather Hiram and his Great Grandfather George. Other members of his family were Past Masters of the Lodge too. Once social distancing restrictions are lifted, his son W. Bro. Howard Pickles is looking forward to presenting his father with his Certificate marking 5O years in the Craft and a member of the Lodge of Prince George No. 308.  W Bro. David Simpson joined Freemasonry in Scotland in April 1960. His Mother Lodge is Cambuslang Royal Arch, Lodge No 114, where he became a life member in 1970.
Sadly, due to working and travelling extensively all over the UK, he never attained the Chair in his Mother Lodge. David is married to Nan, his wife of 47 years, and they have two children - Alan and Audra, and a grandson, Alexander. David worked in the steel industry. In 1976 the family moved to Yorkshire, due to his work commitments. Once settled in this Province, David joined The Lodge of Amity 4148. In 1983, David quit the steel industry and became involved in the fire surround market, in which he still has involvement. David has served every "floor office" in his Lodge, culminating in becoming its Worshipful Master in 1988 and again in 1991. He was made an Acting Provincial Officer in 1996. Over the years David has been involved in visiting other Lodges and supplying furniture to quite a few of them. He has provided an Honours Board for his own Lodge, which will take the names of at least 100 future WMs. And, thanks to his Scottish heritage, he organises "Burns Suppers" for his own and other Lodges. |
Adrian CollinsProvincial Communications Team Archives
February 2021
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