Congratulations to W.Bros Alf Adams and George Parkinson of Haltwhistle Lodge No.5090, which meets at Haltwhistle Masonic Hall, on both reaching fifty years of uninterupted service in the Craft.
Alf was initiated into Freemasonry in February 1971, into Washington Lodge No.4346, in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham. prior to joining Haltwhistle Lodge in 1987 and Hextoldesham Lodge No.5577, in 2000. He has been Master of the Lodge on three separate occasions and was the Lodges Secretary for seventeen years from 1995 to 2012. He was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works, in Provincial Grand Lodge, in 1999, being promoted firstly to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2006 and finally to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2014. In 1990 Alf was exalted into Albert Edward Royal Arch Chapter No.1557, which he remains a member of to this day.
Away from Freemasonry Alf was a member of the 1st Washington Scout Group for 20 years, going through Cubs, Scouts, Senior Scouts and Rover Scouts and then becoming Cub Leader, Scout Leader and Rover Scout Leader at various times. He also played the drum in the drum and bugle band. On leaving school he had various office jobs, prior to becoming Office/Accounts Manager successively, at three different companies in the Washington area, the last one being a precision engineering company which he joined in 1992 and still has a part-time connection with. He also performed 5 years as Clerk to both Bardon Mill and Henshaw Parish Councils.
George was intiated into Freemasonry in September 1970, into Eslington Lodge No.4523, also in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham. He joined Haltwhistle Lodge in 1994, has held the office of Master on six separate occasions and has served in every office, with the exception of Treasurer. He was appointed, in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham, to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works in 1996, being promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2009. He joined Liddle Royal Arch Chapter No.3616 in 1982, resigning in 2005.
After serving an apprenticeship George joined the Merchant Navy, enjoying four years seeing the world on Troopships and on coming ashore joined a Leicester based company as a service engineer. He married his wife, Betty 62 years ago, and has recently celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary. He has always enjoyed gardening with a particular interest in Britain in Bloom and arranging flower shows.
Congratulations to both Alf and George, from all at Northumberland Frreemasons, on their fantastic achievement and we are sure that they will continue to serve Freemasonry in general, and Haltwhistle Lodge in particular, for many more years to come.
Many thanks to W.Bros Alf Adams and George Parkinson for the submission of this article.
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