Northumberland Freemasons wish to congratulate W.Bro Edward Ducker of St Luke’s Lodge No. 6564, which meets at Wallsend Masonic Hall, on completing a magnificent sixty years of uninterrupted service in the Craft.
Eddie was initiated into Freemasonry, into St Luke’s Lodge, in April 1962, becoming Master in 1974 after having served in every office and being one of ten Stewards at the time. After serving his time as Master Eddie spent a total of eighteen years as the Lodge’s Charity Steward, between 1996 and 2004 and again from 2005 to 2015. He is currently the longest serving member of the Lodge at the age of 92.
He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge in 1985 when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer, receiving subsequent promotions in 2001 to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer, and 2013 to Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden..
Eddie was born in October 1930 and at his Initiation was working as a Sign and Ticket Writer for a large Newcastle retail store. He served his National Service with the Royal Air Force and worked on Mosquito’s in a squadron not based too far from Wallsend. On identifying that Eddie could sign write, the Wing Commander had him making signs for all sorts of things, however he loved working on the aircraft and had to make this known. As such a compromise was reached in order that he could do both, however knowing the RAF and Eddie this would have meant more work, On his last day of National Service Eddie was ordered to report to the Wing Commander. He thought he was in trouble, however the RAF wanted to show their gratitude for jobs well done and rewarded him with the flight of a lifetime, in his beloved aircraft the Mosquito. The flight proved to be exciting and probably illegal giving him low level views over the Tyne Valley and surrounding areas, “You could see the shop signs all the way up Wallsend High Street” he said afterwards. On leaving National Service Eddie attended Teacher Training College and became a qualified teacher, successfully pursuing this occupation until his retirement.
Apart from Freemasonry Eddie’s other interests involve model aeroplane construction and flying and he was Chairman of the Newcastle Model Aeroplane Club for a good number of years. He flew his first model aircraft in 1947 which was driven by a tightly wound rubber band, though he has since graduated to fuel engines, and is something of an authority on the subject. He still hasn’t however built that Mosquito.
Many thanks to W.Bro Jack Park for the submission of this article.
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