The brethren and visitors of Equity and Appleton Lodge No 1384 were delighted to attend Kingsway Masonic Hall in Widnes for the platinum jubilee of Bob Martindale. The last time such an occasion was celebrated at Widnes was back in 2018, when the late Her Majesty The Queen also visited the town as part of her platinum jubilee celebrations, so Bob was in very distinguished company.
A veritable contingent of distinguished guests had gathered in the robing room at Widnes Masonic Hall, for what promised to be a unique occasion, the celebration of seventy years as a Freemason for Bob Martindale.
The lodge was opened in fine form by WM Cameron Molyneux and his wardens, Gary Holmes and Michael Burwin. Lodge deacons, Stewart Parker and Norman Speed, accompanied by lodge director of ceremonies and Provincial Grand Steward, Ian Edge, retired from the lodge.
Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Barry Fitzgerald was then admitted and announced that the Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews, stood without and demanded admission.
Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Barry Fitzgerald and Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Phil Renney led the procession comprising Provincial Stewards Colin Higginson and Ian Edge, Provincial Grand Lodge Deacons Stewart Parker and Norman Speed, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies David Boyes, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Dave Douglas, Provincial Grand Registrar John Gibson, Provincial Grand Almoner Alan Riley, Provincial Grand Communications Officer Paul Brunskill, Provincial Senior Grand Warden John Reynolds, and Provincial Junior Grand Warden Ezra McGowan. Mersey Valley Group Chairman David Atkinson followed, by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Andrew Whittle, Assistant Provincial Grand Master John Murphy, and Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews.
After all the distinguished guests had taken their seats and salutations had been given, Cameron offered the gavel of the lodge to Mark, and on this occasion, he accepted it and occupied the chair of King Solomon. A chair was produced for celebrant Bob Martindale, and having assured Mark that he was seated comfortably, Mark began the celebrations.
Bob was born in 1930, the oldest of two children, in Moorefield Road, Widnes, to father John and mother Jessie. Bob attended infants’ school at Warrington Road and later moved to Farnworth Junior School.
With the advent of war in 1939 and the subsequent air attacks on the docks at Liverpool and Widnes, along with his mother and brother, he was evacuated to his auntie’s house in Stafford. This only lasted for six weeks before returning home.
At the age of eleven, Bob attended Fairfield Secondary Modern, leaving at fourteen to start work at ICI as an office boy. At sixteen, he became an apprentice Technical Instrument Engineer. Bob studied electrical engineering three nights a week at Widnes Technical College and then attended Liverpool Technical College to study applied physics, where he attained a level two qualification in the subject.
After completing his apprenticeship, he was called up for National Service in 1951, serving in the Royal Air Force. With an initial training of six weeks ‘square bashing’ at Padgate Camp in Warrington, Bob was then assigned to Melksham Camp in Wiltshire for specialist training, before being posted to Great Driffield in East Yorkshire, which was an Advanced Flying School, working on aircraft instrumentation.
Bob loved road cycling and whilst in the RAF he travelled many happy miles with his friend Peter Jackson. Having been demobbed in December 1953, Bob’s friends asked him to go with them to a dance at the local farmers’ hall. Bob reluctantly went along and he spotted a beautiful young lady called Ann who turned out to be the love of his life. Bob and Ann were married in September 1955 at the parish church in Widnes.
Bob returned to work at ICI at Fiddlers Ferry. The plant produced only one product, which was weed killer. He worked there for over forty years, becoming a leading hand, charge hand, and eventually plant foreman. Spending many long shifts at work, sometimes covering several days without being able to return home. On one evening when he managed to get home early, Ann said to his children, “This is your father, children”!
Bob was a member of the Widnes Horticultural Society, being the show manager for many years. He was also a member of the Widnes Family History Society and served as its president. Additionally, Bob has also enjoyed membership of the Real Ale Society.
Bob has enjoyed photography from the age of eight. Since then, he has collected and taken over six thousand photographs reflecting the history of life, work, and the industry in Widnes from the mid-1800s until the present day.
Turning to his Masonic history, Bob’s grandfather, A. F. Martindale, was master of Lodge of Equity No 1384 in 1930. Bob’s father, John Martindale, was initiated into the lodge and served as almoner and chaplain. There was never going to be another lodge to join and in 1955, he was initiated, having been proposed by his father and seconded by Albert Horner. He passed to the second degree in 1956 and was raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason in 1957. Due to work commitments and despite rising to the top of the twelve-strong stewards’ ladder on three separate occasions, he was unable to progress up the lodge ladder and become WM. Mark asked whether Bob would like to try now, saying that ‘It’s never too late!’
Other family members soon followed Bob into the lodge. His brother Norman and cousin Frederick were initiated into the lodge in 1958. Cousin Eric Twigg was also initiated in 1960. During the 1970s, visitors to the lodge would often refer to it as the ‘Martindale Lodge’!
Bob was recognised by Provincial Grand Lodge with an appointment to the rank of past Provincial junior grand deacon in May 2017, for the work that he had completed for Lodge of Equity and the amalgamated Lodge of Equity & Appleton No. 1384 over some sixty years.
Mark passed on his thanks to Brian Rafferty, who continually drives out of his way to collect Bob from home and transport him to and from lodge meetings. Adding his own thanks as well as Bob’s for his kindness in assisting Bob to get to lodge meetings.
Mark announced that it has been his great privilege to preside over Bob’s landmark celebration and that Bob has served his country, community, and Freemasonry with great distinction, commenting that seventy years as a Freemason is a remarkable achievement and that he wished Bob many more years of good health and Masonic happiness.
All of the brethren present joined with Mark in congratulating and showing their appreciation to Bob. Mark then called upon group chairman David Atkinson to read aloud the 70-year celebration certificate. At the conclusion of the certificate presentation, Mark presented the certificate to Bob and stated that he had another pleasant duty to perform and promoted Bob to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works, presenting him with the collar and jewel of that rank.
After the conclusion of the celebration, Mark invited Cameron to return to his rightful place. Cameron thanked Mark on behalf of the lodge for the celebration of Bob’s platinum jubilee. After the first risings, a procession was formed to retire from the lodge, and Mark invited Bob to join with him and process from the lodge.
The lodge being duly closed, all retired to enjoy dinner and celebrate with Bob his platinum jubilee. Amongst the many speeches and toasts at dinner, the final words should be left to Bob. He stated, “That in his many years as a Mason, he had taken considerable pleasure and had thoroughly enjoyed his time as a Mason and was looking forward to many more years.” Well done, Bob and congratulations on your platinum jubilee.
