In the company of a truly glittering array of Masonic talent from both Province of West Lancashire and our neighbouring Province of Cumberland and Westmorland, Dave Kellet celebrated his diamond jubilee, 60 years as a Freemason. Prior to the celebration of this auspicious occasion, Dave assisted WM Dave Cole to open the lodge, in his role as IPM.
Once Hawkshead Lodge No 4354 was opened in the third degree, Deputy Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers entered, accompanied by the principal guest for the jubilee celebration, Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield. Also in attendance were Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Grainger. Along with Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cumberland and Westmorland Keith Beaumont, Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cumberland and Westmorland Keith Young, Past Provincial Grand Master of Cumberland and Westmorland Norman Thompson, Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Cumberland & Westmorland John Fielding (and also a member of Hawkshead Lodge) with grand officers Rowley Saunders and John Wrennall, accompanied by Furness and South Lakeland Group Chairman Chris Gray and group secretary Tony Jackson.
Acting Provincial grand officers were also in attendance, in the persons of, Assistant to Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Phil Renney, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Hallatt and Provincial Grand Steward Stephen Renney, as well as eight masters of other lodges; proof if it were needed of Furness and South Lakeland Group’s emphasis on getting out while holding office.
Peter was invited to take the gavel of the lodge, and on this occasion he accepted it to give everyone an insight to Dave’s life.
David Kellet was born in 1943, the year that the Second World War started to turn in favour of the Allies, greatly assisted by the daring Dam Buster raids. David was born in Kendal Hospital which he referred to as being on the wrong side of the river and he lived with his father William and mother Sarah Elizabeth (Bessie) at the family home in Windermere. Bill was a time served painter and decorator and mother Sarah was a confectioner baker. Both Dave’s parents were born and resided in Carlisle. In the early 1930s, due to work shortages in the Carlisle area, Bill and Sarah moved to Windermere following Bill’s success in securing employment with Pattinsons who were local landowners and owned many businesses in the area and he was kept very busy with the maintenance of their many properties.
At the outbreak of the second World War Bill was successful in securing full time employment with Kendal Fire Brigade and this eventually led to the family moving permanently to Kendal. Young Dave started school at St Mary’s Nursery in Windermere before progressing to the infants and junior school. Following the family move to Kendal where he completed his primary education at Kendal Central School at Beast Banks. Moving on to the Kendal Secondary Modern for Boys (or Stramongate University as it was affectionately known), where they actually made Dave a prefect.
During his school years and as a teenager Dave was a very keen sportsman and became both the cricket and football team house captain. Dave left school with three ‘O’ levels, but his proudest achievement was achieving the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Medal award. Dave travelled to Holyrood Palace in Scotland to receive the award from the Duke of Edinburgh himself. On leaving Stramongate University in 1960 Dave decided against pursuing a Master’s Degree and decided it was time to make some money. Almost immediately he was successful in securing employment with Somervell Brothers, known as K Shoes in the factory at Kendal.
Dave literally started work at the bottom being placed in the shoe sole production department (as Dave says, you couldn’t get much lower). His hard work and commitment were soon recognised and he received promotion to the design department in March 1961.
Gaining a reputation as a devoted, hardworking employee which spread through the company his expertise and knowledge was in great demand. Dave eventually retired from K Shoes at the relatively young age of 58 after 42 years of devoted lifelong commitment and service.
His reputation as an expert shoe model maker was now well known throughout the whole industry. This resulted in him being offered consultancy work with Clark’s Shoes which he successfully carried out for a further two years based at their company headquarters in Street, Somerset. This involved a lot of travelling and after two years Dave decided to finally fully retire.
In his personal life Dave was married to his first wife Lesley in 1963 and their daughter Barbara was born in June 1964, who to this day plays a huge part in his life. Unfortunately, the marriage to Lesley broke up in 1969 when, as Dave so eloquently puts it: “She buggered off”, leaving him alone with Barbara who was only five years old at that time. Dave freely admits that at that time he couldn’t have managed without the unstinting help of parents Bill and Bessie, and they assisted him greatly through this difficult time.
However, manage Dave certainly did, proving to be a wonderful father to Barbara and once again enjoying the carefree life of a young single bachelor. Dave’s bachelor days came to an end seven years later when one day when helping Briggs Shoe Shop in Kendal prepare their float for the annual torch light procession through the town. Also assisting in the preparation was a certain young lady Anne Stowe who worked at Briggs Shoe Shop and lived in Kentmere. An instant friendship developed and later, after plucking up the courage, Dave asked Anne for a date which she duly accepted. Happiness once again returned into his life and following a suitable courtship they were married at Kendal Registry Office in1976, with the following reception held at Heaversham House.
Dave described Anne as being the loveliest lady he has ever met. She became a wonderful wife to him and the perfect stepmother to Barbara, assisting in bringing her up to be the wonderful person she has become today. The couple were married for 32 years during which time they had some wonderful times together. Sadly, Anne is no longer with us, having passed in 2009 after a long illness. Daughter Barbara married Bob and the family were blessed with three granddaughters. They have been further blessed with five great grandchildren.
Dave’s main hobby is, of course, Freemasonry, but he did, until recently, enjoy fell walking but has now decided rather wisely to stick to the pavements and roads instead.
Fishing has certainly been and remains one of the loves of Dave’s life. Being an accomplished fly fisherman in his younger years he has now developed a passion for Charr fishing. For those of you who don’t know, a Charr is land locked salmon, they exist in many lakes in the Lake District such as Windermere and Coniston and can only be caught from a boat using very specialised equipment.
Dave now gives talks on char fishing at lodge meetings and before he starts he points out that char fishing is more secret than Freemasonry, so before he commences his talk, all present must take a solemn obligation and have to repeat ‘I promise not to divulge any of the secrets which I am now about to learn from this talk, on my fisherman’s oath, so help me tight lines’.
Dave was Chairman of the Cumberland and Westmorland Fishing Association for a magnificent period of eight years since helping in its formation in 2011. The association has provided, free of charge, many days fishing experience for disabled and disadvantaged children with members offering one to one guidance and help to individual children, creating wonderful memorable fun days for many, many children, their parents and carers.
As Dave was growing up, Freemasonry was no stranger to him or his family. grandfather James Kellet who resided in Carlisle was a member of Border City Lodge No 2906 and he was their organist for many years.
Dave’s father Bill joined Hawkshead Lodge in 1960 and was WM in 1969. He became secretary for many years and was promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden. He was a founder member of Heversham Lodge No 8396 in Cumberland and Westmorland.
It therefore came as no surprise that Dave was proposed by his father Bill and seconded by Jim Atkinson as a suitable candidate for membership into Hawkshead Lodge. Dave’s Masonic journey began on 21 October 1965 when poor and penniless he was initiated into Hawkshead Lodge, meeting at the Market House.
Bill was inner guard on the evening ensuring everything went according to plan for his son’s initiation, indeed it was Bill who first placed Dave in the chair of King Solomon, another wonderful proud evening that must have been for them both. Dave was passed to the degree of a fellow craft on the 18 November 1965 before being raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason on 17 February the following year.
Following his initiation, Dave progressed through the various offices of Hawkshead Lodge and became WM for the first time on 20 September 1973. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he has agreed to occupy the chair of King Solomon of the lodge no less than four more times, in 2009, 2010, 2022 and the centenary year of 2023 for which the brethren were grateful, this allowed junior members the opportunity to progress naturally through the various offices.
Dave was appointed lodge assistant director of ceremonies from 1976 to 1983, lodge secretary from 1983 to 1997, assistant director of ceremonies from 1997 to 2002 and secretary once again from 2002 to 2007, a magnificent period of assistant director of ceremonies for 12 years and secretary for 19 years. As if that was not enough Dave held the office of lodge almoner from 2006 to 2015, a further nine years dedicated care to the lodge widows and sick brethren.
When in the chair of Hawkshead Lodge for the first time in 1974 and being single, Dave invited his daughter Barbara to accompany him as his principal guest at his Ladies Evening, which was held at the Old England Hotel in Windermere. Barbara was absolutely delighted and didn’t have to think twice in accepting the invitation and with the help of Dave’s mum, (her grandmother) in the preparation of her reply to the toast to the ladies, she gave an outstanding wonderful performance.
Bill sang the Ladies Song. Dave was especially proud of Barbara and how brave she had been to stand up in front of all those people, considering that she was only eight years old at the time. Dave was so proud of Barbara that he presented her with a brooch as a memento of the evening. In 2015 when Dave was WM of Union Lodge No 310, Anne unfortunately had passed, and therefore at his Ladies Evening Barbara again was his principal guest and she wore the same brooch dad had given her back in 1974.
In 1992 Dave was a founding member of Lonsdale Lodge of Installed Masters No 9422 and was WM of that lodge in 2005 and remains a well-respected member to date. Dave also became a joining member of Union Lodge and Zenith Lodge No 9800 in the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland and has held the office of Vice Chairman of South Westmorland Group from 2017 to 2021.
In Provincial Grand Lodge Dave was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in May 1986 and received promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in October 1993 before being promoted once again on 15 November 2015 to the very high rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden which was undoubtedly just reward for all his hard work, commitment and dedication to his lodge, the group and indeed the Province of West Lancashire. It was remarked by Peter that Dave’s Provincial Senior Grand Warden apron had kindly been passed to him when his turn came to hold that very high rank, Dave quipped: “Aye and look where it took you!” with a huge grin.
In April 2016 Dave received appointment to grand rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the United Grand Lodge of England, a just reward for his outstanding commitment to Freemasonry generally.
In the Royal Arch, Dave was exalted into Wansfell Chapter No 2745 in February 1970 and was first principal in 1977 and again in 2021 before becoming director of ceremonies from 1979 to 2001, a wonderful 22 years of dedicated service. In Provincial Grand Chapter of Cumberland and Westmorland Dave were appointed to Past Provincial Grand Sojourner in 1982 and promoted to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 1989 before being promoted to the very high rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 1996. Dave was appointed to the ranks of Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals in 2014 and Third Provincial Grand Principal in 2015.
Dave’s outstanding service to Royal Arch Freemasonry was once again acknowledged by Supreme Grand Chapter in 2009 when he was appointed to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer before promotion in 2017 to Past Assistant Grand Sojourner.
Here, Peter Schofield thanked Dave on behalf of all those people whose personal and Masonic lives have been made the better because of Dave’s drive, commitment, dedication and quite frankly by just having him in their lives. Peter recalled one of his first memories in his Masonic journey was the first visit to Hawkshead Lodge back in the early 1990s, when his attention was drawn to the infectious laughter and that broad beaming smile which went out across the room. Asking who that was, Peter was told: “Oh, that’s David 1T.”
At this point, Peter handed back to Dave Cole, master of the lodge, to conclude business.The smiles, laughter and joy continued long into the night.