The Artists Club, Eberle Street in Liverpool was the setting for the celebration of the landmark achievement of 50 years of continuous membership of the Craft for Trevor Brooks. Visitors to the lodge making their way up the eloquent staircase of the Artists Cub were well met by the brethren of Centurions of Merseyside Coronation Lodge No 2923, who encouraged them to attend the Grundy Room and avail themselves of a welcome drink.
WM James Ramsay, calling the meeting to order opened the lodge and Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies David Boyes announced that Assistant Provincial Grand Master John James stood without. John was processed into the lodge by the lodge deacons, Glenn Hornby and Roy Hayes, accompanied by Provincial Grand Steward Michael Fox, Provincial Junior Grand Deacon John Donnelly, grand officers, Neil Ward and Michael Thomas and Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar.
Having been formally introduced to James, John was offered the gavel of the lodge, and on this occasion accepted it for the purpose of celebrating the golden jubilee of Trevor Brooks. Requesting that two chairs be placed in a convenient location, John requested that Trevor be presented to him and once Trevor was seated comfortably, John joined Trevor to narrate the celebration.
John explained that Trevor was born in Preston,1943 to parents, Phylis and Arthur, before returning home to Leyland, where Trevor spent his early childhood and primary and secondary school education. Aged 15, which seems such a young age now, Trevor was apprenticed as a motor mechanic at Leyland Garage, gaining valuable experience which would stand him in good stead later in life.
It was during this time that Trevor became aware of Freemasonry, chauffeuring his boss to meetings and picking him back up some time later, in the meantime washing the car for the princely sum of half a crown and driving a posh car! After completing his apprenticeship, Trevor found employment with Leyland Motors, and a new chapter in his life opened.
Trevor spoke about how at the age of 21, he was asked to take a wagon to the Frankfurt Motor Show, and having never been out of the country before, it was quite the adventure. Trevor had obviously impressed ‘the management’ and he was offered the job of service manager, travelling abroad to help customers get the most out of their fleets of Leyland vehicles. This role involved considerable travel around the world, and had Trevor taken a camera crew with him, he may have been known as ‘Around the world with Trevor’ rather than the other popular travel programme ‘Around Whicker’s World’, that many of a certain vintage will be familiar with.
Pictured from left to right, are: Mike Fox, Roy Hayes, Neil Ward, Paul Storrar, Trevor Brooks, James Ramsay, John James, Michael Thomas, John Donnelly, Glenn Hornby, David Boyes.
Trevor’s travels took him as far afield as the West Indies, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore on long contracts and after many years of long periods away from home, meant that Trevor asked for shorter trips away. This meant further afield again, travelling to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii as well as the South Pacific. His shorter trips were, Chicago, USA and the Middle East, and it was on whilst leave on a trip home to Preston, that Trevor met nurse Dorothy, who had also extensively travelled throughout the middle east.
They were married in 1980 and Dorothy journeyed with Trevor to Indonesia, and despite being married, Trevor was by now a senior ambassador of the company was in demand. Trevor described to all at the Artists Club his memories of two trips in particular, Cambodia after the Pol Pot period, and another to Mogadishu, Somalia. After a long period of travelling, it was time to put the suitcase in the loft and Trevor returned back to England in 1986, and following a promotion, began work for Leyland Vehicles Services, UK. Unfortunately, after a short period the troubles at Leyland caught up with everyone employed there and in 1991 Trevor was made redundant. Trevor was not out of work for long, he joined NW Road Car in Liverpool, as a service manager, where he remained until his retirement.
We have already heard of Trevor’s familiarisation to Freemasonry as a chauffeur. In 1973, his uncle, Gordon Ellison, and his friend Jack Baxendale persuaded Trevor to join and on 3 January 1974, he was initiated into Coppull Lodge No 4232. The lodge had a long stewards list, and coupled with his frequent travels away, progression towards the ladder of the lodge was a faint possibility. Coppull Lodge sadly closed and Trevor joined Leyland St Andrew’s Lodge No 7391.
This time Trevor did have the opportunity to progress and was installed into the chair of King Solomon in 2014. With his first Provincial appointment coming in 2022 to his current rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Superintendent of Works.
In the same year, Trevor and some like-minded colleagues were asked to join Centurions of Merseyside Coronation Lodge by good friend and past master, Andy Ince. Trevor explained that he was delighted to be a member of the lodge and that he enjoyed his Freemasonry very much.
John James, then asked for Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar to read the celebratory certificate which had been raised in Trevor’s name by command of the Provincial Grand Master. After the reading was complete, John then presented the certificate to Trevor, the lodge brethren and visitors applauded Trevor on the achievement and celebration of his golden jubilee.
John then requested WM James Ramsay to occupy his rightful position, once James was settled in the WM’s chair, he thanked John on behalf of the lodge for the excellent, entertaining and informative way that John had carried out the celebration.
After the first rising, John accompanied by Trevor, acting Provincial grand officers and grand officers departed, and the lodge continued its business, closing in solemn form. All then retired to the magnificent setting of the Halliday Room, where the smiling portraits of the former presidents of the Artists Club adorned on the walls, seemingly joining in the convivial atmosphere of the festive board and celebrations.
At the festive board, past master Andy Ince gave a very humorous speech in honour of Trevor’s golden jubilee and the obvious high esteem and regard that the lodge holds for Trevor. In response, Trevor thanked all those who had attended, supported him, and that he continued to enjoy his Freemasonry and wished that we all continue to do so too. Congratulations to Trevor.