Golden jubilee celebrations are no stranger to Lodge of Grace No 6418, having celebrated jubilees for Raymond Erskine and WM of the lodge, Alan Morris. On this occasion, the brethren and visitors were gathered to celebrate the golden jubilee of long serving member, Paul Sutton, at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. The lodge having been called to order by director of ceremonies Robert Menzies, WM Alan Morris opened the lodge in fine form, assisted by his wardens, Robin Miles and Mark Dimelow. The lodge having worked its way through the degrees, was the cue for Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies David Boyes to enter the lodge and announce that John James, Assistant Provincial Grand Master stood without.
Provincial Grand Steward Anthony Collins led the procession followed by acting Provincial deacons, Mike Fox and Paul McLachlan, Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar and John James, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, who was introduced to WM Alan Morris by David Boyes. After all were seated, Alan offered the gavel of the lodge to John James, who on this occasion accepted the gavel and resumed labour in the first degree. John explained with good humour that we are here tonight to celebrate the golden anniversary of a very popular member of the lodge. His quiet, almost reserved manner, coupled with his pessimistic, sometimes bordering on miserable, outlook on life, is not at odds with his sharp sense of humour and his reluctance to put his hand in his pocket. Indeed, his life mantra is, and always has been, ‘Money is for counting, not spending’!
Paul is the longest serving member of the Lodge of Grace, and therefore father of the lodge, and as such receives the respect that position deserves. John, expounding on his earlier comments, explained that Paul has endeared himself to all who know him and he is held high in the affections and estimation of the brethren of his lodge, by both young and old. John called for the placement of chairs on the floor of the lodge so that the celebrant Paul could be seated comfortably and began. Paul was born in 1951, in Liverpool, to parents Jack and Muriel. His father had served in the Navy during the war and afterwards was a supervisor in the Birds Eye factory, whilst Mum was a secretary in Lockheed and Lucas Aerospace.
Moving into a house in South Barkham Road, Childwall, brother Barry was born a couple of years later and is now a Chartered Accountant. Paul’s education began in Rudstone Road Primary and School where he passed his 11plus, entitling him to attend Hillfoot Hey Grammar School. Explaining that the years that followed were not the happiest time, as Paul railed against authority and the rules and restrictions it placed on him. A rebel from an early age, and not much has changed since!
The one aspect Paul did enjoy however, were the extracurricular activities that the school offered. Namely sport and the various special interest clubs that were available. With a keen interest in football, he was a regular in the school second 11 side, and quite often drafted into the first team. One of his teachers was an amateur philatelist and specialised in first day covers. Paul was encouraged and pursued his interest. He also enjoyed the school chess club and became quite adept. Paul could not wait to leave school and left at the age of 16, having completed his O levels, deciding that sixth form and further education was not for him.
Having tried various employment opportunities such as hotel management, banking and travel agency, which didn’t pique Paul’s interest, a friend of the family suggested that he speak with Barry Evan, a Chartered Surveyor in Liverpool. Paul found Barry extremely interesting and very motivating and Barry must have thought the same as Paul was offered a job of trainee surveyor, on the condition that he would have to improve his O level results.
Paul enrolled at Childwall Hall College, a specialist sixth form college, and found that unlike his experiences at school, bearing no resemblance to the strict discipline and narrow-minded practices, the freedom of college enabled him to thrive and there followed the happiest 12 months of his education. Having achieved and bettered his targeted exam results, Paul returned to the offices of Barry Evans and confirmed his employment as a trainee surveyor. Enrolling in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors as a student member, after a further five years of studying and exams, Paul qualified as a Chartered Surveyor.
Paul was steadily working in his professional field, initial as part of St Helens Estates, however, with limited prospect he began to find the work less challenging and began work for Sykes Waterhouse. Unfortunately, that was not quite what Paul was looking for and in 1980 was approached by Taylor Jenkins. Taylor Jenkins was not only a firm of surveyors, but also sold houses as an estate agent and Paul soon found that being a surveyor at Taylor Jenkins was only half of the job. Becoming involved in the day-to-day business of an estate agent but also doing structural surveys, mortgage valuations and working with building societies and banks.
Paul’s reputation flourished, as he established himself in his new position. However, whilst he had been working for Barry Evans, Paul became friends with a certain Stewart Kersh. Stewart had left Barry Evans after a while to start his own Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors business as sole trader. The business had successfully grown, but had become too big for one man. Having kept in touch with Stewart, Paul knew of the progress of Stewart’s business and in 1983, he offered Paul a partnership in his business, which he immediately accepted.
Over several decades, together, the business was built up to become the leading independent estate agent and surveyors in Liverpool. Paul was very involved in the day-to-day work and certainly enjoyed the ‘hands-on’ approach. In 2016, Countrywide Estates, which, as its name suggests, is a national company, came knocking on their door. They made an offer for the business that they could not refuse. Terms and conditions were negotiated and Paul was able to enjoy a fitting end to the happy and successful partnership which had lasted for over three decades.
Returning to Paul’s own story, in 1984 Paul’s first marriage came to an amicable end, and through that marriage Paul had his first son, Martin, and was heavily involved in Martin’s formative years. Martin is now a computer manager for HSBC. Paul subsequently met Beverley in 1987 and following a whirlwind romance, they were married in 1989. John explained that he knew Beverley’s father, Bernard, who was a formidable man, and that they were all surprised that Paul managed to persuade him to give permission to marry his daughter. Paul’s family immediately increased, as Beverley had a boy and a girl from a previous marriage and then in 1994 along came Philip to complete the Sutton family.
Son Philip followed Paul into Lodge of Grace, but as Philip is a successful orthoptist in Surrey, that relocation necessitated his premature resignation. Returning to Paul’s Masonic journey, his introduction to Masonry came through his business partner, Stewart Kersh. Stewart was a Southport Mason and encouraged Paul to join a Liverpool lodge and introduced him to Don Brown, who was a past master, founder and a well-respected member of the Lodge of Grace. He in turn introduced Paul to a certain Cyril James, and after a lot of persuading, both agreed to propose and second him. At the age of 24, he was balloted and initiated into the lodge on April Fool’s Day 1975.
The commitments of Paul’s considerable business interests as well as a young and growing family, meant that achieving a balance was very difficult, and something had to give, and of course it was Freemasonry. Paul reducing his attendance to just one or two meetings a year and requested that he did not want to go on the ladder. After holding the record for the longest serving master Mason in the lodge, Paul re-started on the ladder in 2016 and was installed as master of the Lodge of Grace, after a journey of some 41 years. Paul enjoyed his time as master so much that he stayed on for another year. Since then, he has held senior positions in the lodge such as chaplain and almoner.
John explained that Paul is held high in the esteem of all who know him, and his integrity and commitment are recognised by all in Lodge of Grace, and as such his 50-year membership continues to leave a positive mark on us all. John then called on Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar to read aloud a certificate which had been struck to commemorate the occasion of his golden jubilee, which John presented to Paul at the conclusion.
All retired to enjoy dinner in the Crompton’s Restaurant. Stephen Senneck gave a thoughtful and well-meaning toast to Paul, explaining that Paul had ‘all of the admiration’ of the brethren of Lodge of Grace and that it was a personal pleasure for him to deliver that toast to someone held in such high esteem. In reply, Paul explained that he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as a Freemason, and that as an organisation he couldn’t recommend it highly enough and extolled its virtues which from the acclamation and comments of all present, he himself personifies.
At the festive board, Raymond Erskine, himself the recipient of a golden jubilee celebration, presented WM Alan Morris, with a commemorative clock in recognition of his recent golden jubilee celebration, which Alan thanked all the members of the lodge for this gift and that it will take pride of place at his home. Stephen Senneck, in his previous toast explained that this was the third golden jubilee for Lodge of Grace and that in November 2025, John James will celebrate his golden jubilee and in the following February 2026, Stephen Senneck will also celebrate his. An amazing, combined quarter of a millennium of Masonic history that surely has not been equalled by many lodges in the history of the Province of West Lancashire. With the news that at Provincial Grand Lodge in May, Paul will be honoured with his first promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon, we all wish Paul Sutton, congratulations and best wishes on his landmark achievement.