On Thursday 23rd April, brethren, family, and friends gathered at Egerton Lodge No.1392 to celebrate an exceptional and rare milestone — the 100th birthday of WBro Alan Botteley.
The evening was honoured by the presence of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Robert Ian Frankl, accompanied by the Very Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master, John Griffin, and Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Dr Simon Archer. Their attendance, together with a strong gathering of brethren, family, and friends, reflected the high regard in which Alan is held throughout the Province and beyond.
A number of tributes were delivered during the evening, each reflecting on Alan’s extraordinary Masonic journey, his character, and his long-standing contribution to the Craft.
Alan was initiated into Wilton Lodge No.1077 in Manchester on the 5th October 1959, at Freemasons’ Hall. A particularly notable feature of this occasion was that the ceremony was conducted by his father, WBro J I Botteley — a rare and deeply significant moment in any Mason’s journey, marking the beginning of Alan’s life in the Craft in the most personal of circumstances.
He was passed to the Second Degree on the 4th April 1960 and raised on the 5th December 1960, progressing steadily through the Lodge during a period when Freemasonry and society were very different from today. Alan later achieved one of the most significant milestones in any Mason’s career when he was installed as the 104th Master of Wilton Lodge in 1969, taking on the leadership of the Lodge he had joined a decade earlier.
Wilton Lodge itself sadly closed in 2007, however, through research and correspondence with the Museum of Freemasonry in London, original minutes from Alan’s key ceremonies were recovered. These records preserve not only his Masonic progression but also the atmosphere and membership of the Lodge during that period, providing a lasting record of his early journey in the Craft.
Throughout those early years, Alan was part of a vibrant Masonic environment, with strong friendships formed, including with WBro Arthur Murray of Egerton Lodge, connections which would continue to span many decades.
Beyond the historical detail of his progression, tributes during the evening rightly focused on Alan’s character and the lasting impression he has made on those around him. He has been consistently recognised for his kindness, integrity, and quiet leadership, as well as his natural ability to form friendships across generations. His long association with Egerton Lodge has seen him present at many key moments in the lives of brethren, offering support, encouragement, and guidance in his own understated way.
Alan’s life within Freemasonry has always been closely connected to his wider values. He is a deeply family-oriented man, and this has been evident throughout the evening, with his family present to share in the celebration of his 100th birthday. That sense of family continuity, combined with his Masonic journey — initiated by his father and celebrated now across generations — forms a particularly fitting narrative for such a milestone occasion.
The evening concluded with warm congratulations and heartfelt appreciation for Alan’s remarkable life, both within Freemasonry and beyond it.
On behalf of the Western Area and the Province, we extend our sincere congratulations to WBro Alan Botteley on reaching his 100th birthday and pay tribute to a lifetime of dedication, friendship, and service that has left a lasting legacy within the Craft.
