Liverpool Masonic Hall at Hope Street, Liverpool, was pleased to host and celebrate David Jones’s 50 years of Freemasonry at Everton Chapter No 823. The chapter was opened in the usual manner by the three principals, first principal Paul Shirley, second principal Stephen Roberts and third principal Brian Gillbanks.
The usual minutes were dealt with before chapter director of ceremonies Roy Cowley and Dave Brighouse retired, to assist in the arrival of the principal guest.
The chapter was then honoured by the arrival of principal guest Second Provincial Grand Principal Andrew Whittle, who was accompanied by Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Rob Fitzsimmons and Liverpool Group Chairman Dave Johnson with vice-chairman Neil Francis. Accompanied by Provincial Grand Standard Bearers Dave Berrington and Peter Williams.
The principal guest was welcomed to Everton Chapter and the sceptre was offered to Andrew, who for the purposes of the ceremony, accepted it, to deliver the tribute to David.
David was brought forward and placed in the centre of the chapter room and Andrew Whittle gave the tribute to David.
Andrew was pleased to be able to be taking part in David’s celebration and his special anniversary and was pleased to see that so many other companions in attendance who also saw him in high regard by attending the special celebrations. David Charles Jones was brought forward by Rob Fitzsimmons and placed in the centre of the chapter room facing the three principals.
Andrew then overviewed events that had taken place in 1944 within the world, which mostly related to conflict and war, with the odd injection of Academy Award ceremonies. Details of famous people who had been born that year included, Danny De Vito, Diana Ross, George Lucas, amongst many others, with the most famous of them being David Jones.
David, having been born in the early days of April that year, was brought up in a 38 acre family farm in Gwespyr, the farm being a pivotal supply of milk, vegetables and poultry for the surrounding area. The area was also known for its stone, which was used in many buildings and construction in Wales and in the Liverpool area.
David attended his local primary school and enjoyed his junior education, becoming bi-lingual in Welsh and English. After passing the current equivalent of the 11 plus examination, David attended Holywell Grammar School, having found a flair for rugby and discus throwing. David enjoyed maths and technical drawing, both of which would be relevant to him when he left school.
David’s first career was as an apprentice mining surveyor, whilst also attending Wrexham College to attain higher certificates and accreditation.
In 1963 David joined the Territorial Army and after spending three years in the TA and attaining driving accreditation. David left the National Coal Board and came to work in Liverpool City Corporation as a site engineer. David then joined British Rail and became a track engineer until 1977.
David then took a three year secondment as a technical liaison engineer on the Britannia Bridge road and rail reconstruction project and a return to his Welsh homeland. Andrew reminded David of the bridges history and events that had taken place regarding its construction.
After the secondment David returned to Liverpool, where he worked through several rail privatisations, until taking early retirement in 2003.
Andrew reviewed some of Davids greatest moments which included meeting prince Charles, being with his wife when they met the Queen and falling asleep in West Germany to wake up in East Germany without any papers.
Andrew then spoke about Davids Masonic career, which included being initiated into Harmony Lodge No 220 at Garston Masonic Hall in February 1974, becoming a master Mason in 1975, before resigning from the lodge in 1976. In that same year he became a joining member of St David’s Lodge No 2950 and was installed as WM in 1986 and served in that position in the same lodge on further three occasions, as well as serving as secretary, almoner and director of ceremonies.
David became a founding member of Garston Lodge of Installed Masters No 9403 in December 1991 and was installed as WM in 2007.
Davids first appointment was as Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon on 1994, receiving a field promotion of Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works in March 2003 and in 2012 he was promoted to the very high rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
David was exalted into the Royal Arch in Chapter of Harmony No 220 in April 1976, becoming the chapter’s first principal in 1992 Resigning from the chapter in 2008. In 1998 David became a joining member of Hamer Chapter No 1393, becoming first principal in 2004 and for a second time in 2010. Serving as charity steward, and treasurer for several years before resigning in 2017. David became a joining member of Everton Chapter in September 2001 and served as scribe Ezra from 2018 to 2025 and is currently assistant scribe Ezra.
Andrew recalled the several memorable occasions that David remembered during the time he has been a member of the chapter. David received his first appointment to Provincial rank as an acting Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in April 2004 and Past Provincial Grand Sojourner in April 2008. With the latest promotion being Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah.
David completed 50 years in Craft masonry in 2024, when Andrew Whittle was Assistant Provincial Grand Master at that time and presided over the celebration.
Andrew then explained that the celebration has caused Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews to produce a certificate and group chairman Dave Johnson read out the certificate and then handed it to Andrew to present to David.
There was a short response from David who explained to the companions present that he was wearing the same dress of regalia that he wore at that time, being an evening suit, white shirt and black tie, as was the same 50 years previously.
Andrew then handed the sceptre back to Paul as the first principal. Paul thanked Andrew for his presentation.
The risings were dealt with and a Supreme Grand Chapter certificate was presented by Derek Gaskill to Stuart Latta.
The chapter having been closed, the companions retired for a festive board. The companions were not surprised to see that during the festive board the group chairman had managed somehow to win the raffle prize. Dave Johnson gave a short and sincere toast to Andrew and Andrew responded with an equally short toast, both recognising that the ceremony was all about David and his 50 years in Freemasonry.
Dave Brighouse gave the toast to David Jones and stated that the chapter was all about its 30 years of history. Dave explained that David was a font of knowledge, which is most helpful for the historic chapter. Dave presented a summons from the time that David had become a joining member of the chapter and passed it around the festive board for the companions to look at.
Dave Johnson then presented David with a card from the Liverpool Group. Dave Jones then responded to the toast to his health. David thanked Dave Brighouse for the toast to his health, which is his second milestone after having completed 50 years in the Craft and he was grateful for the memories and his health which has allowed him to get to this stage.
David thanked all the companions for their attendance and those who had helped him within the chapter, especially Paul Shirley and Roy Cowley as director of ceremonies, who had both put in a lot of hard work to get things right. David also thanked Dave Johnson for reading out the certificate and special thanks for Andrew and his celebration of life and Masonry.
David reflected on his history, also mentioning the unfortunate loss of those brethren and companions that are no longer with us and the sad times when lodges and chapter must hand in their warrants.
David was grateful for the members of the chapter which has always been of a very high standard, recalling the input of Albert Ley and the social occasions that Albert and his wife had attended.
David recalled the visit he had made to the 911 memorial and that later, David’s grandson had also visited the memorial and seen the plague that the chapter had given.
David thanked the treasurer of the chapter for looking after the finance and legacy of the chapters. Before David was finished he had a sentimental period when he thought about those that are no longer with us, his friends, brethren and companions and for his own personal reasons how he missed them. David thanked all those present for the toast to his health and sat down to a rapturous response from the companions.
Bernard Ashley then gave a toast to Albert Ley and his legacy that he had left for the chapter, before proposing a toast to his memory. The festive board was closed with every companion saying what a wonderful celebration it had been.