Scunthorpe’s Lodge of St John 7840 has marked its 60th birthday by installing Andy Towers as its Master in the presence of a strong turnout from the Provincial team led by PGM Dave Wheeler.
The evening marked two special milestones, with the retirement of Lodge Secretary Trevor Leedell and the presentation of a 50-year certificate to Dr John Pemberton.
Trevor had been the Lodge secretary for 26 years, and handed that role to David Jackson – though won’t be leaving the secretary’s table just yet; he was appointed as Assistant Secretary.
Dr Pemberton said he had been rendered speechless by being presented to the PGM to receive his certificate. He had recovered himself at the Festive Board and was able to share with the members how he had first encountered Freemasonry whilst at school, illicitly exploring the contents of a box of items belonging to a Lodge, and then discovering friends and family members who were on the square.
He also recalled how he’d travelled to London with two dozen north Lincolnshire Freemasons for a meeting of his Zenith London lodge; for a year his wife had been collecting coupons offered with Persil washing powder, and as he prepared to leave the house she gave him enough coupons for the whole party to upgrade to First Class rail tickets.
The Lodge of St John was consecrated on October 30th 1962, and takes its name from the former Scunthorpe St John’s parish church, which is now part of the town’s 20-21 Arts Centre.