At Southport Masonic Hall, a celebration was held for a decorated and extremely hard-working member of West Lancashire Lodge No 1403. Arthur Waine not only celebrated his 50th jubilee but did it while serving as master for the fourth time!
The respect and affection held for Arthur was evident even before proceedings began with the brethren warmly greeting each other with smiles outside the lodge room, and a large number of visitors having made a special effort to attend. This included a large Provincial contingent including Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Thomas and his team, who had made the journey to Southport to make the presentation and take part in the celebrations, as well as Southport Group Chairman Phil Stock here to show his support for one of the most dedicated and well-liked men in the group.
The lodge was first opened in perfect step by Arthur himself, showing his experience in the calm and professional way he conducted the business of the lodge prior to the main event of the evening. The business being concluded, the lodge was opened in the third degree and the Provincial contingent then proceeded in with great fanfare, David Thomas being accompanied by the group chairman Phil Stock and grand officers. The procession was orchestrated perfectly by the Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Greg Pinnington and included two senior members of the lodge, Christoper Brooks and Lee Martin, proudly acting as provincial deacons for the evening. Arthur then offered David the gavel, which he accepted with good grace, taking the chair of King Solomon while a chair was brough forward for Arthur in front of the pedestal.
Arthur was born on in March 1949 in Sefton General Hospital, Liverpool, on a warm, sunny month that was an omen for just how bright Arthur would shine throughout his life. He was the eldest of three children to his father Arthur, who served in the Royal Navy and was later an HGV driver, and Marian, a nurse. Education was served firstly at Prescot Primary School and Whiston Central Boys School before Arthur left school at 16 to study Marine Engineering. However, after a visit to the engine room of a large Merchant Navy vessel docked in Liverpool, and after hearing tales of constant engine room temperatures of about 35 degrees Celsius with no air conditioning, Arthur decided a change of career might be a good idea.
The lure and glamour of a life at sea proved too much however and Arthur joined the Merchant Navy in 1966. First serving as a steward, Arthur’s work ethic soon resulted in a promotion to Chief Steward and Purser in 1971. The life at sea was extremely glamorous and he travelled all over the world from the America’s to Africa and Asia. In a short period of eight years, he took in San Francisco, Hawaii, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Indonesia, Borneo, The Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Colombo, Durban, Cape Town, Dakar, Lisbon, Las Palmas, Le Havre, Rotterdam and of course Liverpool! However, the work was not without its serious side, and his first ship was one of the last vessels to pass through the Suez Canal before its closure in 1967 during the 6-day war.
Arthur left the Merchant Navy in 1974 and moved into banking, where he proved to have a significant aptitude. Working across several banks he eventually settled in a commercial division that specialised in funding the agricultural, civil engineering, road haulage and maritime markets. In 2009, at the age of 60, he decided to retire but was persuaded to take a consultancy role until 2016 when he finally called time on his illustrious career.
In 1972 Arthur was on shore leave when he was invited by the master of West Lancashire Lodge, Stan Quinney, to a social gathering at Southport Masonic Hall, the lodge was celebrating its centenary year and proved auspicious for Arthur, as he would go on not just to be a pillar of the lodge but also meet his first wife at the event. Carol was an accountant and an accomplished pianist who played with the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Arthur was also musically inclined and the pair quickly hit it off, being married in 1977 and going on to have two daughters, Caroline and Victoria. Sadly, Carol passed away in May 2001 after a courageous battle with cancer.
In May 2003 Arthur was persuaded by another West Lancashire Lodge member, the late Andy Rushton, to attend a Murder Mystery evening to be held at Southport Masonic Hall. Despite being a bit reluctant as he was catching an early flight to Chicago the following morning, Arthur attended and for the second time in his life was introduced to a lady. This occasion proved just as successful, and Arthur married his second wife Janet only 18 months later. Arthur and Janet are currently enjoying their retirement and are regular visitors of Lake Garda in Italy, while at home, a combined four grandchildren make for large family gatherings.
As well as his considerable Masonic commitments, Arthur continues to love music, being in two ukulele clubs with whom he sings with a mellifluous voice playing at such events as Southport Flower Show, the Formby and Ainsdale Shows and charity events at the Atkinson Theatre in Southport.
Arthur’s Masonic career shone just as brightly. In his navy days he was originally initiated into Stanley Priory Lodge No 6741 in October 1974 in Garston, Liverpool and in April 1978 he also joined West Lancashire Lodge in Southport and it proved a brilliant fit. Arthur was master in 1986, 1996, and 2006, and is for the fourth time master again in his jubilee year. He served as assistant secretary when he first joined the lodge and over the years has served in every office in the lodge, including treasurer in 2002 when Stan Quinney was installed as master on his 50th anniversary in Freemasonry. He was also lodge secretary for 6 years and lodge treasurer again from 2017. All this hard work unsurprising led to a number of promotions, becoming PPSGD in May 1995, PPGSuptWks in October 2007 and PPGSwdB in May 2024.
Arthur also enjoyed his Royal Arch, being exalted into West Lancashire Chapter No 1403 in February 1984 and serving as first principal in 1991 and again in 2000. He was promoted to acting ProvGStwd in May 1994 and during his year in office, accompanied Colin Penty-Wright, who was then Grand Superintendent, on enjoyable visits to many Royal Arch chapters. He was also scribe Ezra for 6 years and has been treasurer since 2022. This came with more promotions, firstly to PPGSoj in 1998 and then to PPGSwdB in October 2007. He also joined Provincial Grand Stewards’ Chapter of West Lancashire No 8516 in October 1994 and continues to be an active member.
After the description of his rather impressive life and career, which enraptured the brethren present, Arthur was handed his certificate by Phil Stock and presented to the lodge room to heartfelt applause. Arthur then resumed the chair and closed the lodge with his customary eloquence.
The evening proceeded to the festive board and a description of the evening cannot pass without reference to the speeches. Phil Stock first rose to thank David Thomas for coming and conducting the presentation in such a knowledgeable and heartfelt way. David Thomas, after thanking Phil, the grand officers and his own team then seamlessly turned to toast the principal guest of the evening. West Lancashire Lodge then resumed the floor as Christopher Brooks rose to raise the toast to Arthur. Chris took pains to praise Arthur’s rather extensive contributions to the lodge over the years both as an officer and a brother. However, the overriding topic of the speech was Arthur’s cheerfulness, helpfulness and wry sense of humour, which Chris took pains to pay tribute to with several ‘in’ jokes that were much appreciated by the brethren! He then stood tall and with clear pride raised his glass in the toast to the celebrant.
The final word of course belonged to Arthur himself, who immediately began to showcase that customary sense of humour by reading his script in the guise of the cover of the Beano comic! Interspaced with the humour were many heartfelt tributes to the many members of the lodge who had a strong influence on him over the years. He also went out of his way to thank the lodge for the support and companionship he had enjoyed from the lodge over many years, and unsurprisingly his speech was greeted with enthusiastic applause and banging of firing glasses!
The lodge then presented Arthur with several gifts both humorous and commemorative. Fittingly, Arthur closed the evening by demonstrating his own charity by turning the attention onto others with a presentation of flowers and a warm thanks to David Thomas and Phil Stock. None were left in any doubt that even 50 years on, this outstanding Mason continues to shine brightly and set an example to younger brethren of how to live life the right way, through the continued application of humour, hard work and most of all charity.