Garston Masonic Hall on Island Road, Liverpool was the venue for the celebration of 50 years in Freemasonry for Robert (Bob) Rowland at a well-attended meeting of Lodge of Harmony No 220. The WM Kevin Flynn opened the lodge in due form and completed the domestic business of the lodge before opening the lodge in the second and third degrees.
David Boyes Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, announced that John Murphy, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, stands without and demands admission. The brethren were upstanding to receive John Murphy who was accompanied by John Gibbon, Mersey Valley Group Vice Chairman, and other distinguished brethren. WM Kevin Flynn formally welcomed John Murphy and then handed him the gavel, who on this occasion accepted. John requested that David Boyes place Robert (Bob) Rowland on the floor of the lodge and ensure that he is comfortable.
John then began to give some history of Bob’s life saying; “Brethren it is said that the greatest happiness a man can have is to you know that he is loved, and the very fact that there are so many brethren here this evening who have made the journey to take part in this evening’s celebration only serves to reinforce that statement and shows the high regard that our celebrant is held in.
The average wage in 1951 was £1,891, inflation in 1951 was 9.5%, inflation in February 2026 is 3%. Average price of a new house in 1951 was £2,000, the average price of a new house in 2026 is £292,000. Average price of a new Austin A30 car was £507, £1 in 1951 would be worth £35 today £1,000 in 1951 would be worth approx. £35,000 today. In 1951 some very famous people were born, Peter Davison and Jane Seymour the actors, Phil Collins and Bonnie Tyler, Luther Vandross, Bob Geldorf, the singers, Gordon Brown the former Prime Minister, Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish the footballers. The most famous of them all was Bob Rowland born in February 1951 in Liverpool, to father Robert, a machine operator and mother Georgina who was a Housewife.
Bob spent his early education years attending Northway County Primary Infants School followed by the Junior School in Wavertree. At age of 11, he moved to Morrison School in Rose Lane. Bob was keen on sport like most young lads in the City of Liverpool and he excelled at swimming for school and he went on to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, attaining the bronze, silver and gold awards. Upon leaving school. Bob trained as a telephone engineer, an occupation he held from 1967 until 1979. Bob became a security alarm engineer and was subsequently promoted to Branch Manager.
Turning to his family life, in 1967 he met the love of his life, Janet. After being encouraged by his mates, Bob asked her out on a date and they became an item. Bob states that Janet’s father initially was not impressed with the cocky 16 years old lad from Old Swan, but eventually warmed to him when he realized that the relationship was not going to go away. Bob and Janet married on 29 June 1974 and were blessed with two children, Stuart and Helen.
In his spare time, Bob is involved with the Garston United Reform Church, being an Elder and Lay Preacher. Building on his training with the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, Bob became interested in scouting and became an assistant sea scout leader with the 4th Allerton Group.
Now let us turn to Bob’s Masonic career, he states that Janets father, Donald Thompson, now deceased, was a Freemason, but Bob did not have a clue what that was. Bob and Janet were invited to her father’s ladies night, which was held in the India Buildings, Liverpool. He was very impressed with the venue and the sherry reception held at 4pm with all the men in evening suits. He states that he attended the event wearing a cast-off suit from a deceased uncle which had to be adjusted to fit him by his mother!
It transpired that his father-in-law, Don, was a member of the ‘Garston Gang’, six members of Britannia Lodge No 4768 who lived and met socially in the south end of Liverpool. As time went by, Bob and Janet attended many social events, and Bob’s interest was piqued by this mysterious bond of friendship experienced by the ‘Garston Gang’.
In around 1975, Bob was encouraged by one the gang members, Norman Christian, to become a Freemason in Britannia Lodge. Bob applied to be a member of the lodge and went to an interview at Hope Street which was followed by a home visit by two members of the lodge to interview Janet. How times have changed! Bob’s application to become a Freemason was successful and on 11 February 1976, he was initiated into Brittania Lodge in a double ceremony with another initiate, who they never saw again! This caused Bob to have some thoughts on what he had joined!
As a young Mason, Bob was mentored by Harry Jones who was a wonderful ritualist, who instilled in Bob his mantra to ‘learn the charge’. Bob says that he never did that until 2003 whilst he was the senior warden, when his good friend and fellow member of Lodge of Harmony, David Finney, was initiated into Britannia Lodge, who unfortunately proved to be the last initiate before the lodge surrendered its warrant and closed on 8 June 2005.
Bob served as WM of Britannia Lodge in 1984 and during his time as master he initiated, passed and raised a candidate as well as installing his successor. During this time Bob was encouraged and tutored by Digby McKenzie another excellent ritualist and his mantra was ‘learn the wee bookie’, he was a Scot and had served in the North Africa desert during the war, and his ex-army language amused Bob and suited him down to the ground.
In the third degree ceremony, having completed it and feeling cocky, Bob walked back to the chair smiling at the director of ceremonies and as he took the chair, he informed Bob that he had not shown the signs of the degree, Bob had to go back and get the candidate and go through the signs with him! Bob states that coming to the end of his year as WM, as a past master of Britannia used to say: “We are not actors whose job it is to learn, we have jobs and have to learn, to be successful.” Prior to the closure of Britannia Lodge, Bob became a joining member of Lodge of Harmony on 16 February 2005 becoming WM on 27 November 2024.
Bob, your service and dedication to your lodge was recognised by the Province of West Lancashire in 1993 when you were appointed PPJGD, followed by further promotion in 2003 to the rank of PPGSuptWks. Brethren, Bob’s life has been shaped by dedication, reliability and warmth. Whether serving the community in his church, the sea scouts and in the Masonic community he has earned the respect and affection of all who know him, not just for what he’s done, but for the way he’s done it:
I’m sure I speak on behalf of everybody present that we are absolutely delighted to see you here this evening to celebrate your 50th anniversary as a Freemason and even more so that you have allowed us to celebrate your special evening with you. Bob, such is the importance of your own 50th anniversary as a Freemason that our Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews has caused a certificate to be struck to mark this wonderful achievement which John Gibbon will now read the contents.” To read John Murphy’s full script, click here.
The brethren then retired to a well-attended festive board where Bob on the response to the toast, thanked everyone for attending. Bob was proud and satisfied with what he achieved with the support of some great guys and mentors during lodge of instruction.
John Murphy,
Assistant Provincial Grand Master.