On 10 February 2025, at Bn Brierley Lodge 3317 it was a very special night. WBro Thomas Walker PProvSGD celebrated 50 years in freemasonry. Tom was joined by APGM John Curry, representing the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, a provincial delegation and closest to his heart, his 2 sons.

The lodge was opened in due by WM Willis, shortly followed the welcoming of the representative of our RW ProvGM. Then was down to the business of celebrating Tom’s life and masonic career. The lodge was called off and Tom’s sons joined the brethren in the lodge room. APGM John Curry led the celebrations giving an account of the time when Tom was born and when Tom joined the lodge in 1974.

A more personal tribute was given to Tom.

IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOUR TO SPEAK THIS EVENING ABOUT MY BROTHER, FRIEND AND MENTOR, WORSHIPFUL BROTHER, THOMAS JACKSON WALKER, ON THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION, OF 50 YEARS IN FREEMASONRY.

NOT ONLY ARE CONGRATULATIONS IN ORDER BUT MANY THANKYOUS FROM ALL OF US IN BEN BRIERLEY, FOR THE HELP AND GUIDANCE HE HAS GIVEN TO EVERYONE IN OUR LODGE OVER THE YEARS AND CONTINUES TO DO SO TO THIS DAY.

TOM WAS BORN ON THE 20TH FEBRUARY 1952 IN GOSFORTH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.HE WAS A CUP FINAL BABY, THE REASON BEING THAT HIS FATHER TOMMY SNR PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL NEWCASTLE UNITED IN THE 1950’S, AND WON THE FA CUP IN 1951.NINE MONTHS LATER TOMMY JNR WAS BORN.A VERY PROUD YEAR FOR THE WALKER FAMILY.

IN 1953 THE FAMILY MOVED TO OLDHAM.TOM WAS EDUCATED AT MILLS HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL, WHERE AT THE AGE OF 5 HE MET HIS WIFE TO BE, JOANNA.HE THEN MOVED ON THE CHADDERTON GRAMMAR FOR BOYS.TOM WAS TO FOLLOW IN HIS FATHERS FOOTSTEPS PLAYING FOOTBALL REPRESENTING BOTH CHADDERTON AND LANCASHIRE BOYS.ON LEAVING SCHOOL HE WAS SIGNED BY FIRST DIVISION STOKE CITY WHERE HE PLAYED WITH SOME OF THE GREATS OF THE TIME, GEORGE EASTHAM, DENNIS SMITH AND THE LEGEND THAT WAS GORDON BANKS.HE MADE HIS DEBUT AT STAMFORD BRIDGE AGAINST CHELSEA AND HIS SECOND GAME WAS AT OLD TRAFFORD, VERSUS MANCHESTER UNITED.STANDING ON THE TERRACES I WAS UNAWARE THAT I WAS WATCHING A FUTURE FRIEND.I OFTEN REMIND HIM ABOUT MISSING A SITTER AT THE STRETFORD END.HIS REPLY IS ALWAYS THE SAME, BUT YOU PAID TO WATCH ME MISS.HE THEN SMILES AND LAUGHS.

ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE MEMORIES WAS A PRE-SEASON TOUR GAME IN ATHENS AGAINST OLYMPIAKOS WITH 35,000 SCREAMING GREEKS BAYING FOR BLOOD.I DONT THINK HE MISSED ANY CHANCES IN THAT GAME, BUT I WASNT THERE.

HE WAS RELEASED BY STOKE IN 1973 AND PLAYED FOR A SHORT TIME FOR YEOVIL AND MACCLESFIELD, BUT DECIDED HE NEEDED A MORE STABLE CAREER, AS FOOTBALLERSDIDNT EARN THE MONEY THAT IS AROUND NOW.HE JOINED SHELL CHEMICALS CARRINGTON IN LOGISTICS.HE WORKED HIS WAY UP TO MANAGER WITH RESPONSIBILITIES NOT ONLY IN CARRINGTON, BUT IN MILTON KEYNES, WILTON AND ROSENBERG, HOLLAND.HE RETIRED AT CHRISTMAS 2004.

TOM IS VERY MUCH A FAMILY MAN.AFTER PARTING WAYS TO SEPARATE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS, TOM AND HIS FORMER CHILDHOOD SWEATHEART, JOANNA, MET UP AT A LOCAL YOUTH CLUB AT THE AGE OF 15.TOM WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPRESS AND PICKED UP HER AND A FRIEND IN HIS NEW CAR.SHE WAS IMPRESSED UNTIL THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND SHE AND HER FRIEND HAD TO PUSH HIS PRIDE AND JOY BACK TO THE GARAGE.THEY DATED FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS, TOM STARTED AS AN APPRENTICE AT STOKE, JOANNA GOING TO EDGE HILL TO TRAIN AS A TEACHER.THEY MARRIED IN AUGUST 1974 AFTER TOM HAD JOINED SHELL CHEMICALS. LAST YEAR THEY CELEBRATED THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSERY.

THEY HAVE 2 SONS, RICHARD AND ANDREW, AND 6 GRANDCHILDREN OF WHOM HE IS EXTREMELY PROUD AND ARE A HUGE PART OF HIS LIFE.HE CLIMBED SNOWDEN WITH HIS ELDEST GRANDSON, JOSEPH.HE CAN BE SEEN CHEERING FOR HANNAH, AT NETBALL.CHARLIE AT FOOTBALL AND ISABEL RUNNING CROSS COUNTRY.CALLUM AND HARRY ARE A SOURCE OF GREAT JOY KEEP GRANDAD SMILING.

LIVING UP TO HIS NAME, TOM IS A KEEN WALKER AND ENJOYS, ALONG WITH JOANNA, EXPLORING THE NATIONAL WALKING TRAILS, OF WHICH THEY HAVE COMPLETED 4, EACH ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES.

TOM IS AN AVID GOLFER AND IS A LIFE MEMBER AT PGC.HE HAS BEEN CAPTIN, PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY, SEEING THE CLUB THOUGH SOME TESTING TIMES.HE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM BEING SECRETARY AND WAS HONOURED WITH NOT ONLY A LIFE MEMBERSHIP BUT A BOARD PRIZE IN HIS NAME.HE WAS ALSO NWMGA PRESIDENT.

I WILL BRIEFLY SPEAK ABOUT HIS MASONIC LIFE, AS I KNOW WORSHIPFUL BROTHER WELLENS KNOWS FAR MORE THAN I DO AND WILL NO DOUBT ENLIGHTEN YOU DOWNSTAIRS.WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT TOMS DAD INSTALLED HIM INTO THE MASTERS CHAIR WHICH MEANT THE WORLD TO HIM, AND HE SPEAKS FONDLY OF THE TIMES SPENT IN THE LODGE ROOM TOGETHER.

HE INTRODUCED MYSELF AND THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER INTO FREEMASONRY FOR WHICH WE BOTH WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL, AND STILL GUIDES US ON OUR MASONIC JOURNEY.

I HAVE TRIED TO COMPRESS TOMS VERY FULL LIFE INTO A FEW MINUTES, WHICH DOESN’T ALWAYS TELL THE FULL STORY, BUT GIVES A LITTLE INSIGHT ABOUT THE MAN BEFORE US.SUFFICE TO SAY, AND I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE IN BB AND ALL THE BRETHREN HERE TONIGHT.

TOM, MANY CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPETING 50 YEARS IN THE CRAFT, THIS EVENING BEING A TRUE RECOGNITION OF A WONDERFUL MAN AND A GREAT FREEMASON.

Afterwards all brethren retired to the social board where a fantastic meal was served and a good time was had by all.