Do you know what you were doing on the 13^th April 1976?  Two of the brethren attending the recent meeting of Greville Lodge did.  Bro Roger Parker, a newly invested Inner Guard in his own lodge, was visiting Greville to witness an initiation.  It was to be special as the Master was the initiate’s father.  History has smiled on both as Bro Roger has gone on to have an illustrious Masonic career and, yes, the initiate that night went on to greater things too as he was none other than Mr, now VWBro, David Anthony Butcher.

50 years later and Alderson House was packed to the gunnels with brethren who had come from near and far to support Bro David on his special evening.  The RW ProvGM had brought with him the whole Provincial Executive and a plethora of the wider Provincial team, all looking forward to a memorable evening.  The ProvGM opened the lodge, most ably assisted by his Provincial Wardens, before inviting VWBro David to resume his rightful place as Worshipful Master.  He immediately proceeded to the main item of business and noted that it was most unusual for a Master to announce his own long-service presentation!  As with such occasions, the recipient had been asked to provide the Presiding Officer with a CV to help with the usual, delightful Warwickshire ‘chat’.  The ProvGM began by saying how much he had enjoyed reading about the life and times of VWBro David.  He was extraordinarily proud to be presenting this certificate and, looking round the room, observed the serious amount of gold braid!

As always, the ProvGM took VWBro David back to the beginning – Blackpool, 1948.  Bro David explained that his father joined the RAF at the outset of WW2 and was sent to Canada to learn to fly.  He returned, completed his 30 missions flying Lancasters over enemy territory  and was posted to another base as an instructor.  Here, he took a shine to one of the map clerks.  So much so that they married a week after he was de-mobbed and they moved to her childhood home of Blackpool where he worked for the Pearl Assurance Company.  Bro David’s father didn’t speak about his wartime experiences much, that is until Bro David’s son John, when he was himself an instructor in the RAF, persuaded his grandfather to come to give a talk to his students.

His father’s work meant that the family moved quite a bit.  Initially to Wigan but soon they moved to the Isle of Man.  Bro David, now around 5, loved his time there.  Yes, the island was somewhat busy during the TT but was quiet the rest of the year.  He enjoyed his junior school in Douglas and it was here when he had his first brush with fame as Barry Gibb was in the year above him and twins Maurice & Robin were in the year below.  The Butcher family then moved to Southport where Bro David attended a local grammar school.  He enjoyed everything about his time there and excelled at swimming, even representing West Lancashire!  He even dabbled with the French horn, playing it in the school orchestra.  Sadly, another move was on the cards and this time it was to his father’s home town of Leamington Spa.  He had to hand back his horn and, at the age of 14, transferred to Leamington College, which he felt was not quite as good as the school in Southport.  However, not wishing to give up on music, declared that he wanted to learn the guitar.  This he did and began playing mainly covers in a band called the Vendettas.  At this juncture, everyone in the room at Alderson House tried to imagine a young Bro David with hair!

His father’s view had always been to get solid GCEs and then get a solid job.  It was therefore at the tender age of 17 when he entered the scary world and began his long career in banking with Midland Bank.  He started at the bottom and learnt the basics of banking at a time when there was very little computerisation – regardless, he loved it.  Realising that prospects of promotion were poor, he moved to a subsidiary of NatWest.  It was then in 1975 that his life was turned upside down when he met Val.  She was working for Britannia Airways having been in the Police for 5 years.  7 months later they were wed and initially settled in Meriden before moving to Coventry.  He was then offered promotion to manage the branch in Central London.  The growing family moved to Surrey with Bro David commuting everyday leaving a very busy Val looking after their newborn son!

Further promotions saw Bro David return to the Midlands to manage a mortgage business of the bank, and they bought a house in Kenilworth.  However, it was not too long before he was on the move yet again.  The bank was looking to set up a leasing company in Germany as a joint venture with Jaguar.  Bro David was duly dispatched with the biggest challenge of his career ahead of him – to learn the language, set up the company and, of course, move the family yet again.  He thoroughly enjoyed Germany – a lovely home in a delightful neighbourhood, joined Round Table there and ‘coped’ with a new Jag every 6 months.  However, Jaguar was then brought by Ford who decided did not need the joint venture.  The Butchers therefore moved back to Kenilworth.  Bro David’s connection with Germany was not over because he was then appointed as one of the two CEOs of  NatWest Bank AG in Frankfurt.  With his boys all at school, he decided to commute to Germany on a weekly basis.

Another takeover brought more upheaval as NatWest was purchased by the Royal Bank of Scotland.  Having spent around two years setting up the bank according to the RBS model, he was then offered and took early retirement.  He did do some consultancy work, but the banking crisis marked a major change in Bro David’s work and he moved into charitable work.  He became a trustee of Acorns before becoming the Vice-Chairman and ultimately Chairman.  As such, he faced some enormous challenges, but it was hugely rewarding.  He was also involved with Together for Short Lives, ultimately becoming their Vice-Chairman.  He also started a long association with the MCF and is Chair of the Charity Grants Committee. 

He is also a very proud father to three sons – John who, at 6 declared that he wanted to be harrier pilot, went on to achieve just that, flew in 1 Squadron and saw active service in Afghanistan, flew F18s on the Top Gun programme as part of an exchange with the USAF, has been the OC of 617 Squadron and latterly Commander of the Lightning Force; Matthew who plays in a band, works as a data manager and lives in Macclesfield; and James whose key love is  football, spent 5 years in the Navy and now works for a dental equipment manufacturer as a Sales Engineer.

Talk then moved onto why we were all there – Freemasonry.  Not long after getting married, he and Val were invited to a Greville Lodge ladies Night.  His father never really talked about his masonry so it was a couple of his friends who collared Val and told her that Butcher Snr would love it if Butcher Jnr joined!  Having been initiated by his father, Bro David’s somewhat itinerant work meant that it was 26 years later when he reached the Chair.  He obviously made a very good impression with his first Provincial appointment, that of ProvAGDC, as he progressed and eventually invested as to the ProvSGW.  The RW ProvGM felt that he’d make an excellent AsstProvGM, so much so that he promoted him to be his DepProvGM.  Bro David’s start in Freemasonry may have been a little on the slow side but he has certainly made up for it.

Perhaps his greatest legacy is the WCFC as it was Bro David who first proposed the merging of the WMBF & WMCA over four years ago, following the model of the MCF.  It took rather a long time as it proved to be more complicated than first envisaged but it is something of which we can all be truly proud.  The ProvGM then asked Bro David what advice he would give to an EA.  “Just go with it”, “get as involved as you can” was his response.  The more you put in, then the more you get out!  The RW ProvGM recognised both the length but also the depth of Bro David’s service, he praised him for always putting family first, he thanked him for his sharp mind that proved invaluable in his role as Dep ProvGM, adding that he was an exemplar of our core values.  He then took great pleasure in formally presenting VWBro David with his certificate and lapel pin before the ProvGDC, WBro Will Farrell, delivered a quite superb (and long!) proclamation.

The Master resumed his place once again and completed the business of the lodge.  Once the requisite photos had been taken, the assembled throng continued to enjoy the special evening at the Festive Board, full of chat and laughs and the occasional surprise.  It was Bro Nigel Clarke’s lot to propose the toast to the ProvGM.  As the lodge organist, he announced that this would be in the form of a piano recital of The Entertainer.  This he proceeded to do a la Les Dawson much to the great amusement of all present.

Bro Butcher Snr was undoubtedly proudly looking down, contemplating the achievements of his son who had most certainly reflected honour on his choice.  Next time you witness a young man being initiated into our fine Order, perhaps you will reflect on his potential.  With the sort of encouragement and nurturing that Bro David enjoyed, you just never know where they may end up!