On Thursday, 2nd of February 2023, Albatross Lodge `NO.6164 celebrated 50 years in Freemasonry for WBro. Henry Roy Wilson PProvSGW.
WBro Hilton took the chair for the evening and opened the Lodge in due form. Following a report, WBro Lee Grindley, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, entered the Lodge and announced that WBro Peter Hegarty, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master for the City West Area, was outside the Lodge and that he demanded admission.
Once the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, accompanied by a City West Area Delegation, was seated, WBro Hilton offered him the gavel, which he was delighted to accept on this occasion.
WBro Hegarty introduced the members of the City West Area delegation, which included WBro Mo Afsa, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, WBro Steve Wallace, Area Deputy Chairman, WBro Andrew Foster, Area Mentor; WBro Peter Tonge, Area Treasurer, WBro Ben Davies, Area Communications Officer, WBro John Roberts, Royal Arch Area Officer, and Bro Eric Baker Area Deputy Charity Steward.
WBro Hegarty asked the Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies to place Henry in the centre of the Lodge. Once, he was seated comfortably, where the Lodge gave a personal tribute to the celebrant.
Lodge Tribute,
“Roy Joined the RAF in July 1950 and served for 2 years when he joined Albatross Lodge in 1973. He became Worshipful Master in 1979 and 2001. Roy has been our director of ceremonies for many years, and his attention to detail is second to none. It has been a great honour and privilege to work with Roy, and we know we all wish him well”
WBro Hegarty then paid his own tribute to Henry, looking back to the year Henry was born.
You were born on Friday, the 25th of March 1932. This was the Chinese year of the monkey. Famous people born in this year were Elizabeth Taylor, Peter O’Toole and Bill Roach, better known as Ken Barlow in Coronation Street and of course, most famous of them all, Des O’Connor.
This year The BBC World Service began. Ramsay MacDonald was Prime Minister, no, he did not invent the beef burger, and Herbert Hoover was the president of the USA, and no, he did not invent the vacuum cleaner.
Your youth was interrupted by the Second World War, at the end of which you were called up to serve your country. You went into the RAF and were sent into flight training command, where you worked in warehousing and logistics.
It seemed natural to you to seek similar employment when you returned to civvy street, where you went into warehousing and transport, which became your lifetime career finishing up as a shipping agent dealing with customers mainly in Liverpool. The constant striking by the Liverpool dockers eventually got you down, and you decided to work from home for the rest of your career.
It was a chance conversation at the bar of Swinton park Golf Club where your friends were talking about going to lodges, and they said you’re not a Mason, are you?
Naturally, you were invited to join and were initiated into Albatross lodge 6164 on the 4th of May 1972. You went on to take the chair for the first time in 1979 and again in 2001. In 1986 you were appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, and again in 1993, you were further promoted to the very high rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
You were exalted into the Holy Royal Arch on the 22nd of January 1974 in Constitution Chapter 3392, becoming the First Principle in 1993 and again in 2001.
You were recognised by the province in 1990 and appointed Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer. You were again recognised in 1997 and promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sojourner.
In 2003 you were further promoted in the Holy Royal Arch to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer, the rank you hold today.
Your talents as a director of ceremonies are well known, having served in my office for many, many, years and still going. As a reward for your hard work and dedication, you were promoted in 2009 to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in the craft, the most prestigious rank the Provincial Grandmaster can bestow on any of his brethren.
WBro Hegarty then presented the letter and certificate celebrating 50 years in Freemasonry. Afterwards, WBro Steve Wallace, City West Deputy Area Chairman, presented Henry with his 50th Pin and conducted WBro Wilson around the Lodge to receive the acclaim of the brethren he justly deserves.
Then there was a convivial social board where further toasts were given to Henry.
Recent Comments