On Thursday, 8th January, WBro Peter Gichero, PProvGSwdB, Worshipful Master of the Milton Lodge No. 1144, received the RW Provincial Grand Master, Robert I Frankl, accompanied by a Provincial Deputation.
The delegation included the Assistant Provincial Grand Master: WBro Wesley Marchant, PSGD, and Grand Officers:
WBro. Mark Davies, PSGD, PAProvGM,
WBro. Peter Hegarty, PSGD, PAProvGM,
WBro. John Lees, PAGDC,
WBro. Peter Douthwaite, PAGDC,
WBro. Nigel Johnson, PAGDC.
The occasion celebrated the Personal 50 years in the Craft enjoyed by WBro William (Bill) Waite, PSGD, PAProvGM. The Provincial DC, John Lees, placed two chairs in the middle of the Lodge, one for the celebrant and one for the Provincial Grand Master, both of whom had known each other for many years. Aside from personal recollections, their conversation covered WBro William’s long career.
The personal recollections covered Bill’s introduction to Freemasonry, which came through a close friend who was a former Lancaster bomber pilot. He went on to mention how fifty years in Masonry had been life-defining, had taught him the enduring value of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, and how he gave thanks for the deep friendships and fellowship he had received. He pointed out that the most important person in his life had been his wife, Jead, who had been the “unshakable foundation of his entire life”.
At the ensuing Social Board, the conversation continued, and the celebrant took the opportunity to mention that his proposer, Tom Green, had presented him with some writings on the History of Freemasonry by Robert Freke Gould. Robert Gould, a Freemason born in 1836 and dying in 1887, is acknowledged as one of the first scientific histories of the Craft, derived from research into historical documents and records. He was a friend of the Grand Master at the time of writing, who was then the Prince of Wales and subsequently became King Edward VII. WBro Waite then addressed the RWPGM in his capacity as the “Boss” of his wish that these special volumes be donated to the East Lancashire Museum and informed him that he was presenting him with the Three Volumes. The presentation was undertaken by the WM, WBro Peter Gichero; the Lodge Secretary, WBro Alex Miller; and the Lodge DC, WBro Peter Cole. It took three members of the Lodge to present the works, as each leather-bound volume is substantial.
