It was a joyous and memorable occasion when visitors, distinguished guests and the brethren of Thornton and Cleveleys Lodge No 3854 gathered to celebrate the golden jubilee in Freemasonry of WM John Liversidge, marking 50 years of distinguished and dedicated service to the Craft.
The lodge was opened in due form by John himself, who then vacated the master’s chair to allow Mark Tomlinson to officiate the proceedings and open the lodge in the third degree. The meeting was interrupted in the traditional manner by Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Geoff Diggles, who demanded admission for Assistant Provincial Grand Master Michael Tax.
Upon entering, Michael was offered the gavel of the lodge and took his place in the chair of King Solomon, from where he led the meeting and delivered a warm and engaging tribute, beginning with a summary of John’s life and remarkable Masonic journey.
He welcomed the brethren, remarking that to celebrate a brother’s golden jubilee is one of the greatest privileges an Assistant Provincial Grand Master can experience and that John had reached a milestone achieved by only a distinguished few, joining the honoured ranks of the ‘50s Club’.
John was born in 1951 under the star sign Cancer and in the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. Cancerians, Michael noted with a smile, are known for their intuition, loyalty, protectiveness and love of home and family, though they can sometimes be moody or defensive, qualities that those present could judge for themselves. John was the fourth child of Mary and Clifford Liversidge. His elder brother David sadly died shortly after birth, and John grew up with his two sisters, Anne and Joan, arriving four years later and he often jokes that the best is saved until last, although he admits reality may suggest otherwise.
John’s parents ran both a greengrocer’s and a flower shop in Bacup and Waterfoot, meaning the family home was always filled with produce nearing its sell-by date and the lingering scent of flowers past their best, as nothing was ever wasted.
One childhood story raised particular amusement, when asked at school what he had for tea, classmates gave the usual answers, beans on toast, egg and chips, sausage and mash. John’s reply of caviar on crackers was met with disbelief. Yet it was perfectly true, unsold luxury stock from the shop had come home and Beluga caviar it was. His mother reassured him, saying that it was just fish paste, although it apparently resembled black frog spawn and tasted rather stronger than advertised.
John attended Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, where mathematics became his favourite subject. For a brief time, he also attended a school housed in a castle near Inveraray in Scotland, close to the Duke of Argyll’s estate. The regime was strict, dormitories cold, showers tepid and lights out at 8:45pm. He quickly learned that instructions were to be followed immediately, or else. Thankfully, his stay was brief before returning home to normal school life.
Sport played an important part in his youth. He played rugby union and more significantly football, earning a place in the school team and later the Rossendale Boys representative side. Football matches against teams such as Salford Boys and Manchester Boys proved challenging and he later discovered many of the Manchester side were already signed to Manchester United football club.
John began his working life as an apprentice toolmaker. After completing his apprenticeship, he discovered a preference for design work rather than the tools themselves and retrained as a draftsman. Over time his career progressed through mechanical engineering, CAD design, office management and ultimately project engineering.
At the age of 21, John met Lesley at the Oxford public house in Blackpool. They married three years later at St John’s Church in 1975 and soon moved into their first home on Warbreck Hill Road, where they lived for 26 years. Together they raised two children and are now proud grandparents to five grandchildren.
John and Lesley shared a love of travel, exploring Europe, the United States and the Caribbean, but their special place was always Tenerife, sometimes visiting as many as four times a year. After 39 happy years of marriage, Lesley was sadly diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2013 and passed away in April 2014 aged just 63. Despite the sadness, John continues to visit Tenerife, finding comfort in the many happy memories they created there together.
Outside Freemasonry, John enjoys cycling and has rekindled a passion for music. His father, once a dance band musician, owned a black Gibson guitar that John was never allowed to touch, though he was encouraged to learn both drums and guitar. Returning to the instrument in the early 2000s purely for enjoyment, he now owns a collection of eight guitars, including, fittingly, a Gibson of his own. He also gives back to the community as a volunteer with Trinity Hospice and the One Fylde charity.
John’s Masonic journey began following a conversation with a colleague at work. After a successful and very formal interview, he was initiated into Thornton and Cleveleys Lodge on 20 February 1976 at just 24 years of age. He was passed in November of that year and raised in April 1977.
In this, his 50th year, he proudly serves once again as WM, having previously occupied the chair of King Solomon in 1987. His service extends far beyond his mother lodge, including membership of Senatores Lodge of Installed Masters No 8966 and numerous Provincial honours. Promotions have included Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon, Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works and the distinguished rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
In the Royal Arch, he was exalted into Thornton and Cleveleys Chapter No 3854 in 1988, later becoming first principal and receiving further Provincial appointments culminating in the high rank of Past Provincial Scribe Nehemiah.
Michael concluded the presentation by conveying the personal greetings of the Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews, and expressing the sincere good wishes of all present for John’s continued health and happiness. Following the presentation of a commemorative scroll and the return of the gavel, the lodge was closed in due form and the brethren then retired to the festive board, where the customary toasts were given and John warmly thanked everyone for their friendship, support and for sharing such a special evening.
