The venue for the 50 years celebration in Freemasonry for Bernard Bailey was the Masonic Hall in Stoke-on-Trent at Gordon Lodge No 2149. Bernard is a member of Lodge of Harmony No 220 but decided to hold his celebration at the hall where he was initiated. A convoy set of from Liverpool in very wet weather with WM Kevin Flynn and the brethren of the Lodge of Harmony but it was worth it by the warmth of the welcome from the brethren of Gordon Lodge, but most importantly to support Bernard.
The lodge was opened in due form by the WM of Gordon Lodge Jonathon Noake and the domestic business of the lodge completed. Present in the lodge was the Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire John Lockley. The lodge was called off and two seats were placed in the centre of the lodge were John Lockley sat with Bernard Bailey to have a discussion on the life history of Bernard.
Born in April 1944 in Stoke-on-Trent, when his father, who was serving during the war in the Royal Navy as a Chief Petty Officer was absent, due to all leave being cancelled, ready for D Day. His role was to skipper one of the landing craft during the invasion. Bernard was educated at Hill Top Junior School and Moreland. He was a keen swimmer and, used to train every evening. The school even gave him a day off to train. He has represented Staffordshire in the 100 yards freestyle. In 1958 Bernard managed to win a Gold Medal at the ESSA Championships in Blackpool. Lucky his main rival broke his leg 6 weeks before the championships. Bernard has represented England on three occasions. He left school at 15 and obtained an Engineering Apprenticeship with British Rail at the massive engineering Crewe Works over 9000 employees, as a fitter and turner. His dad, who was a manager at Royal Doulton, in the mould making department, felt Bernard should have followed him into the pottery trade.
In 1963, Bernard met his future wife, Christine, at Victor Sylvester’s dance club held at the Gaumont Cinema in Hanley. He formed a Tennis Club at Cobridge Park and started playing in the City and Suburban Tennis League, even managed 2 seasons in Division One. He passed his Ordinary National Certificate in Engineering and was awarded a prize of 10 shillings (50p) from British Rail, who changed the apprenticeship from fitter and turner to engineer. With a further 5 years on the engineering apprenticeship, and changed night school to day release he passed his Higher National Certificate in Engineering in 1965 and joined the Institute of Mechanical Engineers as an Associate. He later upgraded to Member and became a Chartered Engineer.
Bernard married on April 2, 1966, at Christ Church in Tunstall, it snowed all day. He still had two years to go on the Engineering Apprenticeship. His pay scale for an apprentice was low therefore to boost income, he obtained a part time lecturing job at Stoke Polytechnic, teaching night school during the week, and went taxi driving at the weekend.
Finally, after completing his apprenticeship, he was given the title of Design Engineer at British Rail. Unfortunately, the boss of the department was a nasty vindictive man who acted like a dictator and came to work dressed in a morning suit, starched collar, white shirt, black tie and a bowler hat. He refused to have any contact with manual workers on the shop floor, he felt they were beneath him, and prevented any colleagues from doing so. However, when working on a project which required a lot of workmanship and not sure if it could be done Bernard went into the works to consult the skilled engineers required to produce it (fatal mistake). It was a really good meeting, some of the ideas and methods they came up with were brilliant and filled all the holes. When Bernard got back to the office, feeling absolutely delighted with the outcome, that was the end of his career as a Design Engineer with British Rail. To say he was reprimanded is an understatement. There was no way Bernard could work for his boss It was either Bernard or him to go.
Bernard applied, and was offered a job with English Electric at Kidsgrove. Unfortunately, English Electric moved the facility to Wilmslow. As Bernard had just bought a nice semi-detached house in Burslem with an air raid shelter attached to the back at a cost of £2,500, he turned the job down, as he didn’t want to up sticks and move to Wilmslow. Bernard enjoyed my time at Stoke Polytechnic, so decided to change career and make lecturing his preferred job in the future. He was informed that should he put in an application at Stoke Polytechnic, he would have no problem in getting a Job. As Newcastle College were also after lecturers he decided to apply as a backup, should problems arise at Stoke. He never got shortlisted at Stoke Poly, but managed to obtain the post of lecturer at Newcastle College, lecturing in Engineering Technology, Maths, and Science.
He met a colleague who was heavily involved with scouting and was persuaded to take on the role as Venture Scout Leader with Ashley Air Scouts, the only Air Scouts in Staffordshire. Tern Hill was just down the road, so they got involved with various air activities and parachuting. Unfortunately, Tern Hill closed but they managed to carry on parachuting at Gaydon Aerodrome. Bernard Joined the college football team and played in the Hanley and District Football League.
In 1972, he was blessed with the birth of a son in October of that year followed with a daughter in 1977. In 1982 Christine, fed up with the injuries incurred from football, decided to book Bernard a series of golf lessons, in the hope that he would stop any further participation in football. He took the lessons but was not that keen. However, because Christine had booked the lessons, he felt it necessary to give it a go. Spent hours hitting the ball in a field, before daring to venture on to a golf Course. Finally, with work colleagues, he took that big step and played golf at Keele Golf Club, and Golden Hill Golf Club.
Feeling extremely brave, Bernard applied to join Newcastle Golf Club, it’s a good job they didn’t require proof of ability to play golf. However, he was allowed to join with a handicap of 26. Met and played with a great bunch of people. Bernard retired from lecturing in 2002 after having stints at Loughborough and Staffordshire Universities. This allowed him more time to spend with his family, and practice golf.
In February 1976, Bernard became a Freemason when he was was initiated into St Martin’s Lodge No 98 Burslem. He met a man who was to become a very dear and close friend who was also a Mason and Bernard was invited to his ladies’ evenings in Liverpool. That was something else, it was amazing. The people were so friendly and accommodating. One of the best decisions Bernard has ever made, was to join Lodge of Harmony, he was proposed and accepted. The night of joining will forever remain embedded in his mind. The welcome he received is what Freemasonry is all about. The fellowship, the warmth, the greeting, something he will never forget.
Not wanting any office, he was quite happy to sit on the side, and enjoy the work done by the lodge. However, he somehow ended up on the ladder, and was given what can only be described as one of the greatest honours ever received, that of being made WM of this great lodge. Words cannot express how much that meant.
The 50 years celebration was completed for Bernard Bailey when the Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire John Lockley presented a certificate to mark Bernard’s achievement. This was followed by Mick Southern, Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary, presenting a certificate on behalf the Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire Mark Matthews.
