The brethren of Orrell Lodge No 8371 were honoured with the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Malcom Bell accompanied by Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Peter Littlehales to celebrate the 50th anniversary in Freemasonry for Michael (Mike) Hilton.
Mike was born in November 1943, to proud and loving parents Eric and Eva. Eva was a hardworking house wife, and Eric was a manager at British Insulated Callender Cables, a company that no longer exists. 1943 was of course at the height of the Second World War, with that dreadful conflict raging across Europe, many a loved one was away fighting in the war unsure when or if they would ever return home safely. Rationing was in full force with everyday goods being in short supply, life was hard and tough, and very far from what we know and take for granted today.
1943 was at a knife edge, with the outcome of the war very much in the balance. The monarch at the time was King George VI, a Freemason who held the title of Past Grand Master, with the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill being another famous Freemason. The cost of living was much different, with the average cost of a house being £620, £310 for a car, and to fill it up cost 10p a gallon. The weekly shop came to roughly 45p, with the most important pint of beer just 5p, however, the average wage was only £6 a week.
Mike enjoyed a very happy childhood growing up in the family home on Dicconson Street with his sisters Elaine, Stella, Elizabeth and Angela and of course twin brother John. Attending the Wesleyan Primary School, he passed his 11 Plus and moved on to the Wigan Grammer school, where he got into all kinds of mischief with his brother, and as the teachers couldn’t tell them apart, he often got away with it, as they didn’t know which one to punish!
On leaving school he went on to work for the North Western Gas Board which later became British Gas Northwestern, and as part of his work attended several training courses all of which were successfully passed. Mike enjoyed a very happy but busy working life, before taking well-earned and well-deserved retirement after 33 years with the company at the age of 50.
While working in the officers at Wellman House in Altrincham, he met a young lady named Barbara, they hit it off and started seeing each other on a regular basis culminating in their marriage at Saint David’s Church in Hale in 1978.
From the marriage, he gained two stepchildren; Ian and Cheryl. Ian now lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife Julie and their children Megan and Joe, with Ian working as a sales director for a national recruitment agency. Megan works for a design and events company in Newcastle while running her own graphic design business, and Joe has just graduated as a Bachelor of Business from the University of Sydney and is currently employed by a private investment bank dealing with mergers and acquisitions. Cheryl now lives close in Timperley, after running a successful business together with her husband in London.
Mike’s many hobbies and pastimes included having an allotment in Hale and being past secretary of the Hale Allotment Society, for many years being an administrator and judge at the annual vegetable and flower show. In addition, he is a very keen crown green bowler, and was the past secretary for the local bowling club which has sadly now folded. Mike also bowled and was very active in the Province, representing Up Holland Lodge for many years.
Holidays over the years have included visiting various regions of France by car, and for the last 13 years an annual holiday on the Greek island of Paxos. Whilst visiting Canada on a couple of occasions he went over the border into Alaska, and of course with family in Australia he has been out there on numerous occasions, travelling to every single state and major city as well as visiting the main tourist attractions in the country.
Mike was initiated, (along with his twin brother John), into Up Holland Lodge No 7608 on 28 February 1974 and became a member of Orrell Lodge in 2009, when along with Mesnes Lodge No 5967, the three lodges amalgamated. Unfortunately, due to John, (Mike’s twin brother), being in the Merchant Navy, he found it difficult to attend lodge meetings and when he moved over to Hull with work he resigned from the Craft.
Mike’s dad Eric was also a proud Freemason being a member of Lamberthead Lodge 6387. Mike was subsequently passed on 19 December 1974 and raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason on 24 April 1975 again in a double ceremony with his brother. Once he was appointed as a steward of the lodge, he became very active, taking on every position on the floor, apart from senior warden when in 1984, he went directly from the junior warden’s chair into the chair of King Solomon.
After his year as IPM, Mike became the ADC for two years before becoming the director of ceremonies from 1988 to 1995. On his retirement as the DC, he became the secretary until 2009 when the lodge amalgamated with Orrell Lodge and Mesnes Lodge. In 1991 he was promoted to PPSGD, followed by a well-deserved promotion in 2001 to PPJGW.
Mike was exalted into Chapter of Harmony No 178 on 12 of January 1977, becoming its first principle in 1992, and in 1995 was appointed to the acting rank of ProvGStwd, being promoted to PPGSoj in 1999, and in May of 2006 he was promoted to PPGSN. Mike is also a member of Townfield Tatton Lodge No 7024 and an honorary member of the Master Masons Forum Lodge, both of which are in the Province of Cheshire.
At this point, group chairman John Selley read the certificate issued by the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and Malcom Bell then presented it to Mike. Once the lodge business was completed the attendee’s retired downstairs for a lively and enjoyable festive board.