Bill Kermode will remember for many years to come, the evening he celebrated 60 years in Freemasonry with the brethren of Wavertree Gateacre Queensway Lodge No 2294, with distinguished guests and his many friends at Liverpool Masonic Hall, Hope Street.
Pictured from left to right, are: Steve Crane, Robb Fitzsimmons, Steve Walls, Bill Kermode, Stuart Virgo, John James, Bill Gaywood and Dave Boyes.
The lodge was opened by the WM, Stuart Virgo and following the completion of the lodge business, the lodge was opened in the third degree. David Boyes, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, entered the lodge and announced that John James, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, stands without and demands admission. John James entered the lodge and was accompanied by Neil Francis, Liverpool Group Vice Chairman and other distinguished brethren. Stuart Virgo formally welcomed John James and offered him the gavel which on this occasion he gratefully accepted. John closed the lodge in the third degree and resumed labour in the first degree after receiving the appropriate salutations.
John asked that Bill should be seated comfortably in the body of lodge and John sat alongside him to begin a resume of Bill’s life and times. Bill was born in April 1943 in Sefton General Hospital, the first of two sons to William Kermode senior and his wife Mary Kermode. His brother, Micheal, was born five years later. The family home was in Oak Street, Wavertree, and he attended St. Bridget’s Primary School and later the Liverpool Institute High School. He left school in 1961 after obtaining seven ‘O’ levels and four ‘A’ levels.
Bill then attended the Liverpool School of Pharmacy and in 1964, he obtained a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and an Associate of the College of Technology which equated to a First in Degree terms. He later registered to become a Pharmaceutical Chemist, and a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
In his early years, Bill was a member of the 11th Wavertree Cub and Scout Groups and later, he became very active in long distance cycling. One of his achievements was cycling from Liverpool to Land’s End, via Norfolk! Bill’s association with scouting groups led him to attend a square dance in 1960, and that is where he met his wife to be, Eileen, who was involved in the Girl Guides. They were married in September 1966 and moved to Eileen’s family home since birth in the north of Liverpool.
In 1965 Bill started work at S B Woods (Chemist) Ltd, as a pharmacist and eventually purchased the company from his uncle and sold the business when he retired in 1999. He continued to work as a locum, but health issues eventually caused Bill to retire completely.
In the 1970s, Bill became heavily involved in supporting charitable causes in Tanzania by exporting books, medical supplies and agricultural machinery in containers to prevent theft and became a registered shipping agent. One of Bill’s great achievements was the arrangement and production of 50,000 lifesaving re-hydration spoons in Liverpool which were sent to Tanzania, where ultimately, these spoons saved many lives.
Both Eileen and Bill were very involved in their local community, supporting the preservation of Maghull Chapel. Eileen maintained her association with Girl Guiding and they both travelled to international meetings of the Internet Guide and Scouting community in Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
Sadly, Eileen died in 2022, but Bill carries on her legacy by assisting in the running of ‘Focus’ which is a drop-in centre for the elderly and unemployed at Maghull Baptist Church.
Bill was initiated into Freemasonry in Lombardian Lodge No. 4887 on 27 April 1966 and became WM on 24 March 1976. In 1981, Bill’s contribution to Freemasonry and charitable causes was recognised by the Province with appointment as Provincial Grand Steward and followed by promotions to his present rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden. He is a member of the Royal Arch in which he held a senior rank. Bill is a permanently invited guest at Euxton Lodge No 7192, where he has made many friendships over the years.
At the end of the resume, John James asked Neil Francis, Liverpool Group Vice Chairman, to read the certificate from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. John James had the greatest of pleasure in presenting Bill Kermode with his certificate on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master. On behalf of the lodge, Oliver Griffiths, the latest master Mason in the Lodge, presented Bill with a gold Masonic pocket watch and chain.
At the festive board, Dave Colquhoun proposed a toast to the health of Bill in which he stated that Bill was a well-respected Freemason and a true friend to all. He mentioned that one of the guests, Bill Lewtas, had interrupted his holiday in the south of France and had flown back to be with Bill on his very special evening. Dave added that such was the high esteem in which Bill was held by his many friends.
In response Bill thanked everyone for attending his special celebration and for his gifts. Bill added that he had made personal donations to the following charities: Maghull Baptist Church, Crisis, the Trussell Foundation, Woodlands Hospice, Rufiji Leprosy Trust and Derian House Children’s Hospice. The raffle raised £290.00 and a signed LFC ball raised £235 with the monies going to the lodge benevolent fund.
Report by Neil Francis.