The lodge room at Preston Masonic Hall was full of brethren of Lodge of Peace and Unity No 314 and guests to celebrate the attainment of 60 years as a Freemason of William (Bill) Huck, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Province of West Lancashire.
To mark this marvellous diamond anniversary for Bill, the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews was in attendance and was accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers, Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Lockett along with an array of current Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, an extended Provincial team and a large contingent of grand officers. Bill is held in high regard and with affection within the Preston Group. It was no surprise to see such a large turnout at the lodge meeting to celebrate this momentous occasion.
After being offered the gavel of the lodge by the master of the lodge John Lee, Mark took great delight in taking the chair of Solomon for the ceremony. He then presented the highlights of Bills life and Masonic career. We do forgive Bill for his origins on the dark side in East Lancashire, but he has been well and truly adopted into the light of West Lancashire. He was born in a momentous year when Charles Lindenberg made the first solo transatlantic flight. Fritz Langs changed the face of cinema forever with his futuristic film, Metropolis.
At school, Bill was a member of the Army Cadet Force and later volunteered for the war effort with the Royal Armoured Corps becoming a Tank Commander. Remarkably, this presented Bill with a driving licence without ever taking a car driving test! Beware if you park in his way, he may just nudge you out of the way. After leaving the armed forces, Bill took up a career in the legal profession starting as an Articled Clerk and becoming a well-established solicitor in Preston. Bill was also a Queens Commissioner for some 40 years.
In his masonic career, Bill joined Lodge of Peace and Unity in October 1964 and eventually became master of the lodge in 1979. He had already been exalted into the Royal Arch in 1971. In 1983, Bill served as the Provincial Senior Grand Warden. He then became Preston Group Vice Chairman in 1985 rapidly followed in 1987 with his first appointment in Grand Lodge as Past Assistant Grand Registrar.
In 1989, Bill served just 8 months as group chairman before being promoted to Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1990. This was followed by promotion in Grand Lodge to Past Senior Grand Deacon. Bill served as AProvGM for a remarkable 13 years. The Preston Group is lucky to have Bill’s sound advice and incredible wit to this day. He is a much-loved brother and friend to all.
Following the ceremony, some 95 brethren retired to the Ballroom for a fabulous festive board. A moving and sincere proposal to the health of Bill was given by Howard Jones. His words demonstrated the affect all have for Bill. Bill responded in typical form with sincerity and humour bringing the assembled brethren to their feet. A great night to honour Preston’s diamond Bill.
