Brethren of Faith Lodge No 484 gathered at Ashton Masonic Hall to celebrate 50 years in Freemasonry for David Taylor. The principal guest at the celebration ceremony was Assistant Provincial Grand Master Malcolm Bell who gave an insight to David’s life.
David’s story begins at Billinge hospital Lancashire, when very proud and loving parents William and Annie welcomed their son David William Taylor into the world. Mum was a factory worker and dad William was a carpenter in the local pit. It must have been a devastating blow for the whole family when William sadly passed in a mining accident, falling down one of the shafts, when David was only 9.
The events that were dominating the world at this time in 1938 were leading up to World War 2, with a certain Adolf Hitler flexing his muscles in Europe, annexing Austria and invading Czechoslovakia. It was the year when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met Hitler, returning with the white paper declaring peace in our time.
David shares the year of his birth with Oliver Reed, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Dame Diana Rigg and Jack Jones the American singer who wrote the theme tune for The Love Boat. Sadly, leaving us that year were a number of people including the Polish American makeup artist Maksymilian Faktorowicz, founder of Max Factor. Prices have changed somewhat since 1938, when a loaf of bread would have cost around 5p, 2p for a pint of milk, a new suit was about £2, and of course the most important thing a pint of beer was 5p.
Growing up in the family home on Village Road, with younger brothers Jeff and Frank, it must have been a real struggle for a mum raising three sons, however even though times were tough, a good and happy childhood full of love and fun was guaranteed, getting into harmless mischief as all young lads do.
Attending Highfield St Matthew’s Junior and senior School, David met and made many new and good friends, including James Anderton, with whom he was in the choir, and who went on to become Sir James Anderton, the chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. David was a bright lad and enjoyed school, especially sports, playing both football and cricket for the school. Sporting prowess didn’t stop at school, as David went on to play for the Highfield Cricket Club, however his main sport was football and he played for the Wigan Town team, even being invited for trials with Preston North End.
On leaving school he found work as an apprentice joiner for the local company, Nixon and Boardman, who were based in Moor Road in Orrell; both the owners Herbert Nixon and Bill Boardman were Freemasons in Heber Lodge No 4388, and whilst David was working for them, they did a job at tower buildings; indeed, Bill Boardman said to a young David that he would probably be a Freemason one day! As part of his apprenticeship, he attended the Wigan Technical College where he gained his City and Guilds, with this was the line of work that he was to stay in throughout his life. Enjoying his time with Nixon and Boardman, it was a bit of a shock when papers landed calling him up for two years of National Service.
David joined the Royal Air Force, and obviously had a good time, however it wasn’t all plain sailing. He once fell asleep on the train when heading home for a spot of leave and missed his station, having to borrow a £1 from a complete stranger to get home. Thankfully David took the gentleman’s details and promptly returned his £1 with a thank you letter, this was quite fortunate as a few years later he actually bumped into the man in Atherton, again thanking him for his kindness!
On leaving the Royal Air Force he managed to get a job working for a local builder in Windy Arbour, before moving on to Q-Bits in Liverpool with the company taking on a lot of large contracts. David stayed here for 30 years working his way up to become the foreman. Upon leaving there he took the leap of becoming self-employed and carried out work around people’s homes in the area, officially retiring when he was 65.
In 1962 David’s life changed forever, and of course for the better, when he went along with his good friend Tom on a blind date to a dance at the Court Hall. Tom had arranged to see a young lady named Joan, and in return she had asked her friend Marjorie to come along too. Marjorie and David got on really well, with his stunning good looks, wit and charm winning the day, which was just as well as apparently it certainly wasn’t his dancing skills!
In the October 1964 they cemented their love for each other, and tied the knot, becoming husband and wife, marrying at All Saints Church at Newton-le-Willows. The marriage was a very happy one, moving in with Marjorie’s parents at Lowton, before saving up and moving to their current house that has been their home since 1965. In 1967 they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Julie, whom they are very proud of, she now lives and works in Somerset. They are very proud grandparents to Jasmine who works in the care industry in Somerset, and William who is currently working in the United States as a soil quality scientist.
Holidays and travel are a huge part of their life, and since marrying, they have owned several touring caravans, making some wonderful and lasting memories on many trips to Scotland, Wales and southern England. They also used to own a static caravan at Towyn in Wales, having it for a number of years, and on one of the visits down there David gave a lift to a stranded pig farmer, this was never repeated is it took weeks to get rid of the smell from the car!
David’s Masonic journey started when he met Marjorie, as her father was Leonard Bowker, who became the WM of Lodge of Faith in 1973. Leonard was obviously impressed with David and he was proposed by his father-in-law, with his seconder being Edward Platt. David was initiated on 1 April 1975, passed the following month and raised the month after that.
David enjoyed his Freemasonry and held a number of positions within the lodge including DC for five years and became the very proud WM in 1986. He received his first appointment to Provincial grand rank in 1996 being appointed Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon, with a subsequent promotion following in 2005 to Past Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works.
Also, a Royal Arch Mason, David was exalted in 1986 into Makerfield Chapter No 2155 that meet at Leigh. He enjoyed his Royal Arch Masonry, receiving Provincial honours in 2009 to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Sojourner, and being promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 2015.
David has led a very full and interesting life, socially, professionally and Masonically, making some great and wonderful memories along the way.