A rather special celebration was arranged to honour Malcolm Wilkins, a highly respected Mason celebrating 50 years of being a Freemason. Members and distinguished visitors alike at Flixton Lodge No 4869, meeting at Urmston Masonic Hall, were delighted to receive Stuart Boyd, Assistant Provincial Grand Master as representative of the ProvGM, accompanied by Trafford Group Chairman Patrick Walsh and group vice chairman Eddie Wilkinson, along with Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Ryan Modlin and Provincial Junior Grand Deacon Phil Burrow.
The lodge business being dealt with, the special part of the evening arrived as Stuart entered the lodge room in fine style and was presented to the master of the lodge, Geoff Collantine. Geoff having welcomed Stuart and his attending officers, offered him the gavel of the lodge, which on this occasion he accepted and occupied the master’s chair. Stuart then addressed the brethren, thanking the lodge for their very kind welcome and explaining what a great pleasure it was to be with the members and visitors of the lodge to share this very unique and auspicious occasion.
Having ensured that Malcolm was comfortably seated in prime position, Stuart began his presentation stating that his office of Assistant Provincial Grand Master carried a number of onerous responsibilities and duties, but also a number of great privileges, and the prospect of being able to officiate at a 50th celebration was, without doubt amongst the best!
Following Stuart’s request, lodge secretary Shaun Brookhouse then proceeded to read an extract from the lodge minutes of the meeting held on Monday 18 November 1974, which coincidentally, was the meeting at which Malcolm was initiated. Stuart then continued, quoting information which Malcolm and he had discussed during a convivial hour or so that the two had spent together the previous week.
Malcolm first attended Hope Memorial Infants School and then Christ Church Primary School, both in Heaton Norris, Stockport and then St Mary’s Road Primary School in Moston. Passing the required exams, he then attended North Manchester Grammar School until the age of 16. His interest in maths, physics and particularly chemistry soon came to the fore and he left full-time education after GCE O Levels and continued education via day release and evening classes, joining ICI Dyestuffs Division, Research Department at Blackley in Manchester, as a laboratory assistant.
It was here that his academic flair, work ethic and ability all came together, and his continuing part time education led him to achieve an ONC, HNC and then become a Graduate Member of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, now known as the Royal Society of Chemistry, of which he has now become a life member having achieved 50 years of membership. This enabled him to rise through the ranks from lab assistant to Experimental Officer and eventually, Technical Officer. Malcolm’s work also led him to be seconded to Imperial College, London as a postgraduate where he became part of a group working with Sir Derek Barton who was a joint recipient, with Odd Hassel of Norway, of the 1969 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Malcolm continued to work at Blackley and his experience, abilities and knowledge became very well utilised, taking him into many varying roles including the Information and Patent Departments and working with the research chemists. The Dyestuffs Division at Blackley went through a number of organic changes over many years and so after working for 38 years on the same location, but for numerous different organisations, in 2002 Malcolm retired. It is said that old chemists never die, they just stop reacting.
However, a chemical reaction that is continuously occurring is called a flow chemistry reaction and Malcolm is a chemist whose life continues to flow in many directions not least of which, with his wife Dorothy and his family. Malcolm and Dorothy were married at St. John’s Church, Pendlebury and in 2020 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They have three children Jamie, Martin and Danielle and eight grandchildren. It is a great source of pride to both Dorothy and Malcolm, that they all attained University Degrees going on to variously achieve their present positions as company director, teacher and finance and pension specialist.
Since retiring and having the opportunity, travelling has become a source of enjoyment for Malcolm and Dorothy, visiting Spain regularly and spending time with their children and grandchildren in sunnier climates. This also includes supporting local breweries, eating out at bars and restaurants and enjoying a lively social life, which has also included visiting Spanish lodges on a few occasions.
This social life also includes being a member of a pool team which maintains its position in the upper half of the league and taking part in pub quizzes, with Malcolm and Dorothy being the go-to members for many subjects including Malcolm for the Science questions and Dorothy for all things Historical.
Masonically speaking, Malcolm was proposed by his father Clifford and initiated into Flixton Lodge on 18 November 1974, 50 years ago to the day. His passing ceremony was part of a double ceremony, and his father took the WM’s chair for his raising.
Passing through the offices, Malcolm became WM for the first time in October 1980 and for the second time in October 1999. He has also held numerous offices in Flixton Lodge including treasurer, secretary for 9 years, DC, charity steward and almoner.
Flixton Lodge has always been at the core of Malcolm’s Masonic life, and this was recognised by the brethren of the lodge when he was made an honorary member on 17 September 2018 and the brethren of the lodge were delighted that they are all able to share his celebration.
Malcolm’s sterling work has also been recognised by the Province of West Lancashire and he received his first appointment in Provincial Grand Lodge as PPAGDC in 1988 and was promoted to his current high rank of PPJGW in 1995.
Stuart then went on to say that the Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews also recognised Peter’s outstanding contributions and had produced and signed a celebratory certificate to commemorate the evening, which was then read out by Trafford Group Chairman Patrick Walsh and presented to Malcolm by Stuart followed by very richly deserved applause from all present.
Malcolm responded to the applause quite emotionally, saying he felt very privileged and thanked Stuart for his very kind comments. He thanked all who had attended, particularly those brethren from Flixton Lodge.
The celebratory part of the ceremony completed, Stuart vacated the chair handing the gavel back to WM Geoff, who thanked him for his presentation and very kind words towards their highly respected member. On completion of the ceremony, Stuart requested Malcolm to join him in leaving the lodge room with the grand and acting Provincial grand officers.
An excellent festive board ensued, encompassed by food and cups of cheer along with further congratulations from both Stuart and Patrick together with a heartfelt response in return from Malcolm and the brethren will have all left the celebration with a sense of pride at being in the presence of such a respected Freemason.