The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro John Anthony Griffin, accompanied by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master responsible for the Southern Area, WBro Wes Marchant, the Southern Area Chairman, WBro Nigel Johnson, and members of Trinity Lodge; WBro Norman Clarke, WBro Allan Bennion, and WBro Keith Mayne; met at the home of WBro Graham Inskip to celebrate the landmark event of his 60 years in Freemasonry.

Graham, a long-time resident of the Manchester area and a Freemason for six decades, was born on July 28, 1931, to parents Reginald and Marion Inskip. His father, Reginald, was an engineer at Fairy Aviation, contributing to aircraft design for the Fleet Air Arm. Graham’s mother, Marion, was a teacher who dedicated her time to raising her son before returning to her profession after the early passing of her husband. She continued teaching until her retirement, and Graham was their only child.

Born at Dennison House in Victoria Park, Graham spent his early years in Levenshulme. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 led to the closure of schools and widespread evacuations. However, Graham and two friends remained in the area and were educated at home by his mother, demonstrating her commitment to his early learning. He later attended the prestigious Manchester Grammar School, a testament to the strong foundation provided by his mother’s homeschooling.

In his professional life, Graham initially worked as an administrative assistant at the College of Technology, which later evolved into the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). His career was briefly interrupted when he was called up for National Service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1949. After completing his service, he returned to his former position at the college.

Graham later transitioned to the role of Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, serving in both Manchester and Birmingham. After approximately a decade in this position, he returned to Manchester and took on office manager responsibilities for several city solicitor firms.

Beyond his professional life, Graham was deeply involved in Freemasonry. He was initiated into the Lodge of Reverence in 1965 and subsequently occupied the chair of King Solomon twice, in 1981 and again in 1995. His dedication to the Lodge was evident through his tenure in various offices, including DC and Secretary. Following the closure of the Lodge of Reverence in 2006, Graham became a member of Brittania Lodge and, more recently, Trinity Lodge, a daytime lodge that meets in Audenshaw.

Graham’s commitment to Freemasonry has been recognized with appointments and promotions within the Provincial Grand Lodge. He currently holds the esteemed rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden.