It was in 1974 that Julie McGee started work at Southport Masonic Hall, she became deputy manager in 1997 and then manager of the hall in1997 after taking over from her stepmother Pat. Since then, she has been ever present in Freemasonry in Southport and has never had a sick note, even working at the hall all the way through COVID.
To put it in perspective, she has worked with eight Assistant Grand Masters, 11 group chairmen, 13 vice chairmen and 11 group secretaries. Added to which, she has seen off 11 Prime Ministers. Over the years she has administered her healing balm on the afflicted in her little office, when a brother has had need of a shoulder to cry on.
Married for 51 years, Julie has two children, Joanne and Peter and three grandchildren, Jasmine Rebecca and Sophie. And as Jasmine works at the Masonic hall, that makes four generations of Julie’s family that have worked at the hall!
Julie said that she was sad to be leaving but it was time to move on, even with no plans for the future she was just going to play it by ear. She said that she would miss everyone but it was time for putting her feet up. It is to be hoped that she has passed her tremendous knowledge to her successors.
There was a farewell celebration at the hall to commemorate Julie’s retirement, which started with a lavish buffet leading to a heartfelt speech by the group chairman Phil Stock, in which he thanked Julie for her many years working for the hall.
The room was packed with well-wishers which was by invitation only because the hall couldn’t cope with the number of Masons who wanted to come. Phil then presented her with a beautiful floral display and presented her grandchildren with bouquets of flowers.
Julie then replied saying that it had been a pleasure to work at the hall but she thought after 50 years it was time to step down. She would miss working at the Masonic Hall and all the people she met on a daily basis. For the future, after a family holiday in Majorca, Julie left it open ended, so who knows?