Today Northumberland Freemasons congratulate Bro Brian McPherson on reaching an incredible fifty years of uninterrupted service in the Craft and his brother, Malcolm, on a surprise field promotion.
Brian and his brother Malcolm, grew up in Hazlerigg with their younger sister Carole. He left school at 15 and commenced work for Newcastle Brewer, subsequently taking an apprenticeship with William Leech as a joiner, where he worked for 25 years, receiving a gold watch. He has been employed continuously, even through several company takeovers, and worked all over the North East, Northumberland and Durham areas. He met his wife, Jane, who he married in 1973, marking their 50th wedding anniversary this year. He has two sons and several grandchildren.
Brian was initiated into Freemasonry in March 1973 when he joined Arcot Lodge No.7000, which meets at Cramlington Masonic Hall, and has been a Steward in the Lodge for nearly the whole of his masonic career. He received Provincial Honours in November 2018 when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Pursuivant, actively becoming involved in all the Provincial visits that year.
Brian and Malcolms connection to the Cramlington Masonic Building goes back an incredible 91 years when their grandfather joined Cramlington Lodge No.4196in 1932, with their father Duncan joining Arcot Lodge in 1953, at a cost of 15 guineas, which in today’s money is £380.00. Their father always said that they could join the Lodge when they reached 21, and in 1970 Malcolm joined Arcot Lodge and Brian joined three years later.
Malcom, the current Master of the Lodge, who has been Master on 3 occasions, was subsequently presented to WBro Greg Smith during the evening, who gave him a surprise field promotion to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden, which was a huge surprise to him, leaving him for once speechless. He has been a member of the Craft for an incredible 53 years, and, by his own admission, has been an incredible journey, filled with memorable experiences and lifelong friendships. He has been a member of several other Lodges and Chapters over the years and has held various offices in each of them. He was first acknowledges in Provincial Grand Lodge in 1991 when he was Appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Registrar
He was Exalted into the Cramlington Royal Arch Chapter, in 1982, which was another significant milestone in his Masonic journey. Later that same year, he was made an Honorary Member of Lodge Mauldslie Castle No 1630 in Carluke, Scotland and in 2013 he was advanced into the Cramlington Lodge of Mark Master Mason. Over the years he has held various official and unofficial positions in Freemasonry including Chaplain, ADC, and DC.
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