Ron Gibson from Morecambe Lodge No 1561 celebrated 50 years as a Freemason in a ceremony presided over by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield. Peter was accompanied by Past Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison, Past Provincial Assistant Grand Master Phil Gardner and grand officers Peter Mason, Neil McGill and Paul Broadley. Lancaster Group Chairman Scott Devine was present together with group vice chairman Chris Larder, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Ryan Modlin, Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Tony Jackson, Past Provincial Assistant Directors of Ceremonies Larry Branyan and Mort Richardson, and Past Provincial grand Stewards Andy McClements and Phil Renney.
WM Stephen Cooper opened the lodge and invited Peter Schofield to take the gavel which was accepted. Peter requested that Ryan Modlin place the celebrant Ron Gibson before him. Peter began his presentation by giving a little information about events in 1974, the year that Ron was initiated. Harold Wilson was the Labour Government Prime Minister, Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States, the county of Cumbria was created, McDonalds opened its first restaurant in the UK, the feathered hairstyle, platform shoes and mini-skirts were in fashion, the average annual salary was £1,800, a house cost £12,000, a family car cost £1,600 and a pint of beer cost 16 old pence.
Ron Gibson was born in September 1935 where he lived with his father Robert and mother Charlotte on James Watt Terrace on Barrow Island, Barrow. Ron’s father was a security guard gate man posted to Sub Dock Gate in Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Yard in the town. His mother was a busy housewife taking care of the family, although later in life she was employed by the Coliseum Building on Abbey Road.
Ron attended Barrow Island Infants and Junior School before completing secondary education at Alfred Barrow Boys School. During his school years and as a teenager, Ron was a very keen sportsman playing football for school teams at all ages and was selected to play for the Barrow Boys team which was associated with Barrow FC. Ron later went on to play for Barrow FC ‘A’ and reserve teams before joining the Merchant Navy to complete his National Service.
After leaving school, Ron secured an apprenticeship with Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Company as an apprentice electrician. During his apprenticeship, he studied electrical engineering at Barrow-in-Furness Technical College which involved the study of a combination of science, maths and computing. Ron completed his apprenticeship and was awarded a National Certificate in Electrical Engineering at both standard and higher grade.
This achievement was recognised by his employer and his final year of apprenticeship was spent in the electrical drawing office which resulted in Ron qualifying as an electrical draughtsman. In 1958 Ron left Vickers Armstrong to complete his National Service, opting to join the Merchant Navy.
Ron joined the Orient Line as an electrical officer and was assigned to the passenger ship Orontes, which was built in Barrow-in-Furness. During his service on the Orontes, Ron completed seven round trips to Australia transporting British citizens hoping for a better life by emigrating down under, who were known as the £10 Poms. Sailing from Tilbury, it took 5 weeks to get to Australia passing Gibraltar through the Mediterranean, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean then on to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney followed by a further five weeks return journey.
This was a very happy but hard two years, but during this time Ron gained great working experience which would assist him greatly later in his working life. On completion of National Service in 1965, he resigned from the Orient Line and returned to Vickers Armstrong where he once again secured employment as a design draughtsman working in control systems for nuclear submarines. Later that year, Ron was successful in securing employment with transmission department at the Central Electricity Generating Board. This position involved the operation, maintenance, and commissioning of substations in Cumbria and Lancashire.
In 1975 Ron moved from Barrow and relocated to Morecambe on appointment within the GECB to oversee the construction and commissioning of substations and overhead high voltage lines needed to connect Heysham 1 Power Station to the national grid network. He later took early retirement in 1992 at the age of 57 after many years of devoted service.
Ron met his future wife Georgina Dale Mathieson in the mid-50s at a dance at the public hall in Barrow-in-Furness. Georgina had moved to Barrow from Manchester with her parents and was a clerical officer with Barrow Co-op and later a nurse at Lancaster Hospital. Following a suitable courtship they were married on 14 September 1957 at St Mark’s Church, Barrow.
Their first years of marriage were spent living with Georgina’s parents in Hartington Street before moving to their own home in Mill Bank at Ormsgill, and then to Fairfield Lane, both in Barrow. On relocation to Morecambe, they moved to Victoria Parade and then in 2006 relocated to their current home in Torrisholme. Ron and Georgina have 2 children Karen Jo and Zoe Elizabeth, who are both nurses in Morecambe. Karen and Zoe have provided them with 3 grandchildren Marc, Laura and Robert and 5 great grandchildren Syer, Duke, Ollie, Tylor and Theo.
Ron’s Masonic journey began on 15 May 1974 when poor and penniless he was initiated into Semper Sursum Lodge No. 5622 meeting at the Masonic Hall, Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness. He was proposed by Jack Postlethwaite who was both a friend and neighbour. He was seconded by Jack Fawcett who remains a member of Semper Sursum Lodge. Ron was passed to the degree of a fellow craft on 16 October 1974 and raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason on 20 November 1974. Ron became a country member as his demanding and busy professional career and the need to work away from home for extended periods made it difficult to attend meetings on a regular basis and commit to progressive offices in Semper Sursum Lodge. Following a conversation with a work colleague in Morecambe who knew Ron to be a Freemason, he was invited to a meeting of Morecambe Lodge by Fred Schofield after which he applied to join and was accepted as a joining member on 3 October.
Ron progressed through the various progressive offices of the lodge and became WM on 6 December 1991. He was director of ceremonies for a period of five years and was known to be ‘a bit of a stickler, a real traditionalist, everything had to be just right as we have only come to expect from him but he was always there to offer help, guidance, encouragement and support to any brother in need. In many respects not just an outstanding DC but an excellent mentor to many as well. Ron was appointed charity steward from 2001 to 2003 and almoner from 2003 to 2008.
In Provincial Grand Lodge, Ron was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2001 before receiving promotion to the rank pf Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works in 2009. In the Royal Arch, he was exalted into Morecambe Chapter No 1561 on 1 February 1993 and was installed as first principal on 3 March 2003. He held the office of almoner from 2004 to 2009 and treasurer from 2015 to 2020, a total of 10 years dedicated service to his chapter.
Ron joined Vale Chapter of Installed First Principals No 5256 in 2009. In Provincial Grand Chapter he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director or Ceremonies in 2009, promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Sojourner in 2015 and promoted once again in 2021 to the very high rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah. Ron is also a member of another masonic order.
On conclusion of Peter’s presentation, Scott Devine was invited to read out the words on Ron’s framed certificate which was signed by the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. This certificate was presented to Ron at which time he was escorted by the Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies back to his seat in the lodge. Following the completion of lodge business, the lodge was closed and a total of 42 brethren retired to dined at the festive board.