Early morning on Monday 22nd April nine brethren of St. Paul’s lodge no.43 travelled down to Southampton to meet up with W. Bro  John Wood on the occasion of celebrating his 60 years in masonry. The delegation was led by the Worshipful Master, W. Bro Philip Gough and we all arrived late morning at Botley Masonic Centre where we were greeted by W Bro John’s family and a few of his local Masonic friends. Although John had retired to live near Southampton in his latter years he still drove up to lodge at Severn Street every meeting until his health started to fail.

The presentation of the 60 year certificate was carried out in an informal meeting in the familiar ‘This is your Life’ manner by W. Bro Nigel Hawkins. W Bro Nigel chatted to John about his long and successful business career in engineering, his long family links to St. Paul’s lodge going back to the late 1800s and also about the wonderful work he did with his family establishing Hampton Manor as a care complex for adults with Down’s syndrome.

W bro John seemed to thoroughly enjoy the occasion and regaled us all with amusing tales of his life and career. After the presentation of the certificate we were provided with a splendid buffet lunch and a chance to chat with John’s family before our journey back home to Birmingham.

David Richards
Secretary of St. Paul’s lodge no. 43