white rose 44:white rose 43 - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West ...

JUBILEEPRESENTATIONSHOMELY FEEL FORERIC'S 50-YEARPRESENTATION!MEMBERS of Shrewsbury Lodge 7211met at the home of W Bro EricBillington, senior past master of theLodge, for the presentation of a 50-yearCraft jubilee certificate by V W Bro JackPigott, Deputy Provincial Grand Master.Eric, a retired solicitor, is not in thebest of health and can no longer attendLodge, but has retained his sharp mindand is a close follower of Lodge affairsand the Craft in general.During the presentation, W BroBillington was handed a bookletcontaining copies of the minutes andsummonses for the Lodge meetings atwhich he undertook his threeceremonies. These were at the old PortMahon rooms on St Philips Road,Sheffield before the Lodge moved toTapton Hall.Most interestingly, Eric has a smalloffice devoted to all things Masonic. Inpride of place hangs a photograph ofhis great grandfather, a past master ofWharncliffe Lodge No 1873, who wasinstalled as Master just 100 years ago.Coincidentally, Wharncliffe meets onShrewsbury Road in Penistone!Mrs Billington, who provided a smallbuffet, was presented with a bouquet offlowers in appreciation.The Brethren,who greatly enjoyed this memorableoccasion, also presented Eric with anindustrial sized box of ThorntonsContinentals which were sure to godown really well!!EXTRAORDINARYMAN AND MASONASSISTANT PGM Anthony B Brailsfordwas pleased to acknowledge thecontribution of an extraordinary man andmason when he presented a 50-yearjubilee certificate to cleric David EdwardBennett, PPGChap, at Victory Lodge No3922 earlier this year.Initiated into Victory Lodge in 1961, hewas master during the Lodge’s 50thanniversary in 1969. After moving toNottinghamshire with his wife, Margaret, hebecame master of NottinghamshireInstalled Masters and was appointedProvincial Grand Chaplain, a position heheld for 31 years.In Royal Arch Masonry he is a past firstprincipal and a grand officer in Mark, RoyalArk Mariners, Red Cross of Constantine,Knights Templar (including Malta GrandRank) and the Allied Masonic Degrees.David was born and raised in Londonand after being awarded an MA atCambridge he carried out his NationalService where he was a Sergeant in theRoyal Army Service Corps. After NationalService he studied at Wells TheologicalCollege and was ordained in WakefieldCathedral. He completed a Post GraduateCertificate in Education at LondonUniversity and was awarded a Diploma inYouth work by Leicester University.His working life was a fusion of serviceto the church and education. He wascurate of Lightcliffe Parish Church and ofHalifax Parish Church, as well as Priest inCharge of St John the Baptist in theWilderness, Cragg Vale.David Bennett receives his certificate from APGMTony BrailsfordHe also taught at two primary schoolsand a secondary school, was a youthofficer for West Riding County Council andadvisory teacher for schools of all ages,covering the north of England. It was at thistime that he started a 25-year workingrelationship with Sir Jimmy Savile in youthsupport and development.David became an Educational Inspectorfor Nottinghamshire County Council, wherehe worked for 23 years looking after 650schools for pupils of all ages. He wasinvited to be Priest in Charge of HolmePierrepont, the National Water-sportsCentre, a position he held for 29years,working mainly in the evenings andat weekends. In 1988 he was Chaplain tothe Lord Mayor of Nottingham.This has been a third successive year ofcommemoration for him. In 2009 hecelebrated his golden weddinganniversary, 2010 was the 50th anniversaryof his ordination and 2011 marks his 50thyear in Freemasonry.The meeting was followed by atraditional festive board where W BroBennett talked further of his distinguishedMasonic career.THE LODGE OF St. PETER & HARMONY No. 600 IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS PAGE OF THE WHITE ROSE MASONICNEWS Meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of every month except August at Hoyle Court, Otley Road, Baildon. Bradford. BD17 6JS18