Brethren of Bryn Lodge No 6553 were proud to host the celebration to commemorate the outstanding contribution to Masonry of one of its elder statesmen, Martin Starkey, who was initiated 50 years ago. Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Ogden was delighted to attend the meeting at Bryn Masonic Hall to celebrate with Martin his achievement of 50 years’ service in Masonry.
It was unusual in a number of ways. Firstly, it would be normal for a current Assistant Provincial Grand Master to conduct proceedings, but on this occasion, Martin had indicated that he preferred a low-key affair, and in any event, the date coincided with the Quarterly Communication in London. David, being a member of the lodge, volunteered to conduct proceedings in the lodge and after speaking again to Martin, thought it was appropriate to approach it in a format way, something similar to the accustomed manner. With the lodge having five grand officers attending as members, (David himself, fellow PAProvGMs Stanley Oldfield and Tony Bent, former group chairman Malcolm Taylor, ProvGComms Barry Dickinson, David thought it would be a nice touch for them to parade into the lodge accompanied by current Wigan Group Chairman John Selley.
The lodge was opened for business, following which the master of the lodge Stuart Crook, invited David to occupy the chair on this very special occasion to conduct the proceedings. David stated that he was both delighted and honoured to be at his own lodge to celebrate a very special occasion, the 50th jubilee of a very well-respected Mason. David then proceeded a celebration of Martin’s 50 years, better presented in David’s own words.
“Good evening, brethren,
First may I thank the WM for allowing me to take his chair on this very special occasion as we celebrate the jubilee of Martin Starkey PPDGSuptWks. Brother inner guard, please ask the tyler to join us. Brethren I have said on many occasions when I was your AProvGM that the privilege of presiding over a brother’s 50th celebration was one of the highlights of my duties. So, I am sure you will understand how privileged I feel being yet again given that opportunity, especially for a brother in my own lodge. I trust that you all, especially this evening’s celebrant, enjoy the occasion as much as I know I will. Brother DC, be pleased to place Martin Starkey in a convenient seat in front of the pedestal.
Well, where and when did the story begin. You were born in April 1946, although your parents lived in Wigan, you were born in Liverpool Maternity Hospital, does that make you a scouser!? Your parents were James William Starkey and Dorothy, and your father was Headmaster of St John’s Primary School Pemberton, the school that you also attended, and you say in your own words; “Seemed to be treated with little leniency.” I suppose that was inevitable. You later attended Bickerton House School, Birkdale, and Wigan Technical College. As a young boy you were in the boy scouts where you enjoyed camping, and all the outdoor activities associated with it. You also enjoyed fishing, swimming and making and flying model aircraft.
From the age of 11 years, you were an alter server at St John’s Church Pemberton, a position you held for 49 years. Church has obviously played an important role in your life. In your teens you attended the church youth group, as did a certain Pauline, who eventually you married at St John’s on 5 April 1969. When you first married you lived for a few years in Shevington, but then returned to Orrell where both of you had been brought up and is where you have lived ever since. You now attend St Thomas the Martyr Church Up Holland. You are a member of the PLC, Deputy Church Warden and regularly act as the Vicar’s assistant. You have been a church bell ringer for 10 years and are a member of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers. You have also enjoyed tours of other churches bell ringing. Your commitment to your church is emphasised by the fact that in the course of another of your hobbies, walking, you have been on numerous Pilgrim Walks, and in 2007 completed a sponsored walk on the Pilgrims Way from London to Canterbury.
Your education at Wigan Technical College led you to becoming a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and of course your employment reflected this distinguished qualification. Your career in engineering started in 1962 with an apprenticeship at Worsley Mesnes Engineering, working on design and manufacture of mining machinery for the coal industry. John Parrott was involved running that company, fortunately just after you left! Heard he was a terrible Boss!! You then moved to Walmsley’s Wigan as a design draughtsman for 12 months before joining Pelkington’s R&D Laboratories, as a design draughtsman in 1969. You were promoted to a Design Project Engineer in the Group Engineering Department working on mechanical and environmental projects worldwide, a position that took you to many European countries. In addition to places further afield, such as China, Chile, and the US.
You retired in 2006, and say that Pauline and yourself have enjoyed many cruising holidays, 26 up to now! in addition to many land-based holidays, must say I was very disappointed to learn that you had not yet been on any of David Ogden Holidays, but there’s time.!! Your pastimes now include bowling, both in church and Masonic leagues, and for many years you were a volunteer driver on the Wigan and Leigh Hospice, Patients and Ambulance.
Moving on to your Masonic career, which we all know started 50 years ago. When I was asked to officiate at this celebration a few weeks ago, due to the AProvGM not being available. I looked back at the year 1974. Brethren, it read like yesterday’s newspaper. Here’s just a few items of news from 1974: Turmoil in America between President Nixon and Ford (Watergate), Israel at war and negotiations for ceasefire, Pakistan President resigns, inflation hit record high 11%, worst ever floods, record number of tornados across the world, global recession looms, Northern Ireland power sharing restarts, famine threatens Africa, new moon landing, Liverpool manager announces his retirement
I suppose it was almost inevitable that you would end up becoming a Mason when you look at your family involvement. Your family and your own Masonry began in Lindsay Lodge No 1335. A very good old Lodge, which sadly closed in 2007, when it was incorporated into Bryn Lodge, hence the reason for being held here tonight. Before we continue, our assistant secretary has managed to find the minutes of Lindsay Lodge from 50 years ago when you were initiated and I will now ask him to read an extract from these minutes.
It’s rather sad that although you may remember some of those names, as no one else here were members of Lindsay Lodge, the memories and reflections are just for you. As mentioned earlier it was your family’s involvement that surely led to you becoming a Mason. Your grandfather, John James Bradley was a Provincial officer and WM of Lindsay Lodge in 1922. Your uncle Eric Orlando Bradley was a Provincial officer and WM of Lindsay Lodge in 1949. Your father James William Starkey PJGD was WM of Lindsay Lodge in 1959 Your father-in-law was also in Lindsay Lodge, but sadly passed away before reaching the chair. You also had another uncle, Joseph Thomas Starkey, who was a Provincial officer and member of Borough Lodge No 3996 and WM in 1953.
And then there was you! You were initiated into Lindsay Lodge, on 6 February 1974, at the age of 27 years. You were passed on 1 April 1974 and you were raised on 6 November 1974. You were installed as WM in January 1984. In 1992 you received your first appointment in Provincial Grand Lodge when you were appointed PPAGDC. In 1995 you were appointed Chaplin of Lindsay Lodge, an office you continued in up to Lindsay Lodge joining Bryn Lodge in 2007, an obvious choice considering your involvement with your church, a position that meant a lot to you, especially reciting the passage from Ecclesiastes during the third degree, the words of which have stayed with you ever since. In 1992 you were promoted to the Provincial Rank of PPGSuptWks.
Brethren, 50 years membership and commitment of anything is an outstanding achievement. Our celebrant, this evening, Martin Starkey, has already celebrated 55 years of marriage and now we celebrate with him 50 years as a Mason. We have learned tonight of a brother who has been dedicated to his work, his church and his family, and we congratulate you. Brethren, to mark this important occasion, our Provincial Grand Master has caused a commemorative certificate to be produced, to record his best wishes.”
David was absolutely delighted at the chance to honour such a worthy Mason, and invited John Selley to read out the certificate from the Provincial Grand Master which David subsequently presented to Martin. At the end of the proceedings, David invited Martin to retire with him after the first rising and they joined together in saluting the WM as they left the lodge.
There was also a surprise appearance in the form of the Bible which was displayed on the pedestal in front of the Master’s chair during the meeting. It belonged to the former Lindsay Lodge, consecrated in 1870, amalgamated with Bryn Lodge in 2007. The former lodge was originally named after Lord Lindsay, the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, who held an estate in the town, and their family Bible, dated 1640, was donated to, and regularly used by the lodge for over 130 years. It is a type of Bible known commonly as a Breeches Bible, a name derived from an extract in Genesis, Chapter 3, Verse 7, which says: “They sewed leaves together and made themselves breeches.” They are more correctly known as Geneva Bibles, as they were translated by a group of scholars who fled from England to Geneva in Switzerland to escape persecution from Queen Mary, who upon her accession to the throne banned the printing of English scriptures. The Bibles were printed between 1560 and 1640 and pre-date the official King James version. Now too delicate for regular use, it may make an appearance only on special occasions.
A fine festive board followed, and a special visitor to the lodge, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Peter Littlehales, proposed the toast to the celebrant. Peter has known Martin for many years, they having worked together at the Pilkington R&D Laboratories for many years, and he gave a moving and heartfelt toast to his long-time colleague and friend. Martin responded, voicing his appreciation for the honour paid to him, in a quiet and gentlemanly way that typified this wonderful man and Mason.