The lodge was a fine spirits this evening as it celebrated our Worshipful Master Shaun Finn and Bob Stacey’s birthdays, but more importantly Phillip Allen’s 60 years in Freemasonry.
For many of the brethren present it is a milestone we will not likely reach, and it was great to have the Assistant Provincial Grand Master Mark Steventon-Smith present the award.
The APGM adopting the role of Eamon Andrews or Michael Aspel (depending on your age) from the TV series “This is Your Life”, guided the lodge through Phillips life from family to work and what Freemasonry has given him during his membership.
Born in 1937 Phillip faced like many of that generation several years of hardshiop during the second world war, living in both London & York while they were being bombed, but thankfully he along with his family all survived. After school he attended Kings College and graduated civil engineering and also met his future wife.
He married Mary in 1960 and they have two children, his family have always supported him throughout his career and again when he decided to follow in his fathers footsteps and become a Freemason.
Although Phillip joined our lodge in May 1968, he became a mason in 1963 being initiated at Aretas Lodge in London having been proposed by his father.
His working career what brought him to Bristol and as a engineer he has been involved in many large projects in the area not least the first multistorey office block and the Cumberland Basin and Ashton Gate Road systems. It was during this time while living in Downend he turned up one Wednesday evening and the rest as they say his history.
Keeping with the tradition of the “This is Your Life” the APGM even had a video message from the Provincial Grand Master who had originally intended to come this evening but was called away with work.
We would like to congratulate Worship Brother Phillip Allen on this achievement and we are very grateful that you chose the 4th Weds to knock on the door of the masonic hall and become a member of our lodge.
Staple Hill Lodge 6043 