Lodge of Grace No 6418 meets at the Adelphi Hotel Liverpool and incorporates Blundellsands Lodge No 2289. On this evening the brethren and guests had gathered to celebrate the landmarks achievement of a golden jubilee of Freemasonry for Alan Morris.
Alan is the current WM of Lodge of Grace, having previously been installed into the chair King Solomon with Blundellsands Lodge. The lodge was duly opened in the three degrees, at which point Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies David Boyes was admitted into the lodge to announce that Assistant Provincial Grand Master John James stood without.
A procession then entered the lodge consisting of Mike Fox, Provincial Grand Steward, Dean Walters, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, John Reynolds, Gladstone Group Secretary, Paul Storrar, Gladstone Group Chairman and John James, Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
The necessary salutations having been attended to, WM Alan formally welcomed John James to the lodge, of which John is a member, and as is custom offered John the gavel of the lodge. On this occasion John accepted the gavel and took his place in the chair of King Solomon. John then requested David Boyes and Dean Walters to assist him by placing two comfortable chairs at the front of the lodge room.
Having requested that celebrant Alan Morris occupy one of the two chairs, John James then joined Alan and began to explain the reason for this evening’s celebration. John is an excellent narrator and put Alan at ease and ensured that Alan was sitting comfortably before he began.
John explained that everybody is gathered here this evening to celebrate the remarkable achievement of a golden jubilee for a well-respected and well-liked member of the lodge, Alan Morris, remarking that Alan is recovering from two recent operations and wishing him a speedy recovery back to full health.
Alan was born in 1949 and was the son of Jack and Eva, Jack was a policeman and Eva ran the enquiries desk at Liverpool Lime Street Station. Alan was brought up in Knotty Ash, of Ken Dodd fame, and lived at the back of Ken Dodd’s house. Educated at Quarry Bank School, Alan excelled at school and had the early distinction of completing both his ‘O’ levels and ‘A’ levels, by the time he was just 16.
Being too young to qualify for acceptance at Oxford, Alan enrolled at Liverpool University as long as he remained at home and studied Law. Being first in the family to attend university, Alan studied hard and after three years of study, was awarded a Bachelor of Law. Having then completed a further gruelling six months of study, Alan successfully completed his Solicitor Finals, ready to enter the world of employment.
Accepting employment with a general practice firm, Latin and Masheder, for a further six-month training period, learning the ropes as it were. Having qualified as a solicitor, Alan was awarded his practicing certificate from none other than Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls at the Law Society in London.
Alan rose quickly through the ranks, becoming assistant solicitor and then partner within four years, specialising in both residential and commercial property. Alan was instrumental in opening a new branch office in Walton Vale, and with that came more responsibility managing other solicitors and associated staff. The branch office was very busy and proved to be a great success, and Mace and Partners, came calling and eventually took over the whole firm, making Alan an equity partner.
Eventually Alan moved to run the office in Huyton, responsible for over 100 staff, with interesting clients including the Transport and General Workers Union, and involvement with the Hillsborough claims. After a further 10 years, Alan transferred to 19 Water Street, Liverpool as Head of the Property Departments, responsible for major commercial properties throughout the country.
In 2005, Alan took on a new challenge and joined Hempsons in Manchester, as a consultant dealing primarily with the NHS and contacts for new hospitals. Alan derived a lot of job satisfaction from this work and remained there until his retirement some nine years later.
Going back in time to 1977, Alan met Glenda, a nurse, at the Childwall Valley Pub, Liverpool. Glenda had recently purchased an Opel Manta Coupe, which caught the eye of Alan, and the rest as they say is history! Alan and Glenda were married in 1982, going on to have a son and daughter, in 1985 and 1987 respectively.
Once the children were in full time education, Glenda achieved a Bachelor of Arts Degree in library studies and IT, becoming librarian of the Ormskirk Hospital Trust and following suit daughter Julie, obtained both a medical degree and a law degree as well! Alan now has two grandchildren, Amelie and Finlay and couldn’t be any prouder.
Alan is a keen golfer and as a member of West Derby Golf Club. He became captain in 2001, and in recognition of his contribution was awarded Captain of the Society of Golf Captains in 2014. Alan was and still is very proud to wear the iconic red jacket, attending dinners not only at all the Liverpool Golf Club dinners but nationally as well.
In recognition of Alan’s golden jubilee, John turned to Alan’s Masonic history. Alan was initiated into Mariners’ Lodge No 249 in 1975, having been introduced by his brother-in-law, David Birch. Mariners’ Lodge was a very successful lodge, meeting 12 times a year, it celebrated its bicentenary in 1983, and Alan wrote the history of the lodge, which was attended by Lord Cornwallis, Pro Grand Master. Alan was installed as WM in1986 and continued to enjoy membership of the lodge, until sadly in 2016 the lodge handed in its warrant having been in existence for 233 years, a reminder of the dangers of complacency of dwindling members within the lodge to us all. Alan went on to join Lodge of Grace, Lathom Lodge No 2229 and County Palatine Lodge No 2505, where he continues to enjoy his Freemasonry.
John concluded the celebration by saying to Alan: Over the 50 years you have been a Mason, you have proven yourself worthy of the high esteem to which you are held, and that you have always been willing to undertake any office and you are credit to the lodge as you were to Mariners Lodge.” John then called upon Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar to read out the certificate which has been struck for the purpose of this celebration.
Having presented Alan with the certificate, John requested Alan to please occupy the chair of King Solomon and return to his rightful place in the lodge. The lodge having been duly closed all retired to dinner to continue the celebration of the golden jubilee of Alan Morris.
At dinner, Ray Erskine led the tribute to Alan, explaining to all their friendship and the many qualities that Alan had brought, not only to the lodge, but also through his activities outside of the lodge and his very personable manner. In response, Alan spoke about his enjoyment of Freemasonry and that he had thoroughly enjoyed the company of his fellow man and that he was grateful to all who attended and supported him. It is fair to say that Alan is an example of what it is to be a Freemason, and his manner and demeanour are a credit to him and an honour for his lodge.