The Masonic Hall, Garston, Liverpool was the venue for the celebration of 60 years in the Craft for Edward (Eric) Lloyd at Lodge of Harmony No 220. The WM Eirwyn Jones opened the lodge in due form and completed the domestic business.
David Boyes, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, announced the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Andrew Whittle who demanded admission. The brethren were upstanding to receive him with Mersey Valley Group Vice Chairman John Gibbon and other distinguished brethren.
The WM welcomed Andrew into the lodge and offered him the gavel, which he accepted and asked the DC to place Eric on a convenient seat before him. Andrew then gave the history of Eric’s life. In 1932 some very famous people were born in the persons of John Williams the pianist and composer, Peter O’Toole the actor, Little Richard the rock and roll musician, Lorette Lynn the singer, Debbie Reynolds the actress, Elizabeth Taylor the actress, Patsy Cline the singer, Jacques Chirac the 22nd president of France, William Roche the actor and of course maybe the most famous of them all Eric Lloyd.
Eric was born in June 1932 to his father Edward Ernest Lloyd who was employed as a chauffeur to a Mr Gibson of the Fruit Exchange in Liverpool, and his mother Alma nee Dargie, who was a bobbin worker at Wilsons Bobbins in Garston. Eric was the first born and only child of Edward and Alma, he remembers a happy family life living with his parents at 75 Canterbury Street, Garston.
At the age of five years old, Eric attended Banks Road Council Primary School until the age of 11 years of age. Once Eric had reached 11 years of age, he attended Heath Road Secondary School and study the usual subjects, before later attending Toxteth Technical College to study engineering. At the age of 11 he also joined the 6th Allerton Scout Troop and his enjoyment and aptitude at scouts would earn him the position of Troop Leader after several years. Eric would maintain his association with the scout troop for many years.
As a youngster, Eric was also a competent sportsman in his formative years playing football, cricket, swimming, and water polo. Eric in fact played water polo for Garston Swimming Club as a teenager. In 1948 at the age of 16 years of age, Eric obtained his first job at the Automatic Telephone and Electric Company situated on Edge Lane, Liverpool, as an apprentice draughtsman. The Automatic Telephone and Electric Company (originally the Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company (ATM) was a British telephone exchange manufacturer established in 1911. Who after several name changes and acquisitions, was merged into Plessey in 1961. Eric remembers well his early years at the company and how there was just five main buildings, the drawing office being in the ‘Bullnose’ as it was affectionally known, near to the main staff entrance.
Whilst working at the Automatic Telephone and Manufacturing Company, Eric met a lovely young lady by the name of Annie Elizabeth Quale, more commonly known as Nancy, who would catch his eye and steal his heart. After a suitable courtship Eric and Nancy married on 6 March 1954 at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree. Shortly after being married Eric receive his call up papers to undertake his National Service, he was assigned to the Royal Corps of Signals based at Catterick. Eric said that despite his best efforts to persuade the British Army to post him to Germany as the cost of living was cheaper, the pay on an overseas posting was higher and the married accommodation was of a higher standard, they would not listen to him, and he had to serve at Catterick for the whole of his two-year’s service.
Eric was also quite an accomplished football player and played for several local teams over the years, including one season with South Liverpool FC. However, this would be his only season as he had to attend night school to study electrical engineering to progress at work, this required three evenings a week at college and the requirement to study on the other nights. This prevented him from attending football training which was a mandatory part of playing for the club, so football had to come to an end.
Eric continued to work at the Automatic Telephone Company and his several re-incarnations through to its merger with Plessey’s in 1961. Eric finally retired from working at Plessey’s in 1992, after some 44 years. A long and loyal service from an employee to his employer, something which is rare in this modern era. Following his retirement in 1992, Eric and Nancy were enjoying themselves, their family and hobbies, Eric was a keen golfer and took up crown green bowling. Sadly in 1996 Nancy suffered a major stroke and Eric instantly become her full-time carer, and with the help of his family he loved and tended to her every need for 11 years until she passed away in 2007.
Eric currently resides in a flat at Gorselands Court in Aigburth and tells me that his daughter Jacqueline is his rock and that he enjoys time with her and his two great grandchildren, a daughter Trudy Louise from Christopher who is a cheeky young girl and 11-year-old Amelia from Jonathon who has downs syndrome but has her own lovely character.
Turn to Eric’s family connections with Freemasonry and his own Masonic journey. Eric’s father Edward Ernest Lloyd was initiated into Lodge of Harmony on 26 May 1954 and remained a member of the lodge for over 32 years until his passing on 30 December 1986. Eric was initiated into Lodge of Harmony on 22 January 1964. He was passed to the degree of a fellow craft on 23 September 1964 and raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason on 28 April 1965. Eric served in various offices on the ladder of the Lodge and in 1979 took the office of charity steward which he held until 1986. Eric was also active in the Garston Group, serving several group chairmen as the group golf representative for many years. His group work had to stop when his wife Nancy took ill in 1996 and he became her full-time carer. However, Eric continued to attend lodge regularly thanks to his daughter and wider family. Having served the lodge as chaplain from 2004 until 2010, on 25 October 2010, Eric was installed as the WM of Lodge of Harmony in a memorable evening for himself.
Eric continued to attend lodge and his services were recognised by the Province of West Lancashire when he received his first appointment to Provincial rank as Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon on 11 May 2009. Eric became a founding member of South Liverpool Rose Croix Chapter No1175, which was consecrated on the 29 September 2006, meeting here at Garston Masonic Hall. Eric said that he has thoroughly enjoyed his Freemasonry in all his Masonic Orders for the last 50years.
In completing his history of Eric, Andrew said: “I’m sure I speak on behalf of everybody present that we are absolutely delighted to see you here this evening to celebrate your 60th anniversary as a Freemason and even more so that you have allowed us to celebrate your special evening with you. Eric, such is the importance of your own diamond jubilee that our Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews has caused a certificate to be struck to mark this wonderful achievement and I now ask John Gibbon to read the contents of the certificate.” To read Andrew’s full script, click here.
Andrew congratulated Eric on his achievement and in return Eric presented a personnel donation of £220 which had been electronically sent to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity. The lodge was then closed and the brethren retired to the festive board were Eric received a gift from the lodge of a bottle of malt whisky.
