Today Northumberland Freemasons help celebrate fifty fantastic years of uninterrupted service to the Craft by W.Bro David Lynn.
David was Initiated into Freemasonry in November 1972, when he joined Hadrian Lodge No.6772, which meets at Wallsend Masonic Hall. He occupied the Masters Chair in 1981 and 1995 and has undertaken the duties of Director of Ceremonies since 2010 and Mentor since 2013.
He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge in 1989 when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Deputy Grand Registrar, receiving subsequent promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
David joined the Holy Royal Arch Chapter in 1975 when he was Exalted into Novocastrian Royal Arch Chapter No.3361, which was sadly erased in 2014. He subsequently joined Carliol Royal Arch Chapter No.5419, which meets at Fern Avenue Masonic Hall, and occupied the Chair of Z , whilst in Novocastrian Royal Arch Chapter, in 1985. He is currently the Assistant Director of Ceremonies in Carliol Chapter. A position he has held since 2014.
He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter in 1990, when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Sojourner.
David was born in July 1943 to Elsie and Stanley George Lynn, who was killed in World War 2 aboard HMS The Clacton, a minesweeper on 31st December 1943, having changed ship just three weeks earlier. David’s father had been a member of Astley Lodge No.2997, which meets at Seaton Delaval Masonic Hall. On his mother re-marrying David gained two half brothers, John and Brian.
David married his wife, Lorraine in September 1965 at Walker Parish Church having met at Wharrier Street School in Walker, when David was 12 and Loraine 10., and getting engaged in 1962, when Lorraine turned 17. They honeymooned in Bavaria Germany and have now been married for 57yrs. They have two daughters, Angela and Alexandra (Sandy) and two grandchildren, Michael and Jessica.
David left school at 15yrs and started an electrical apprenticeship, firstly with Fletchers Electrical Contractor, and finished it with W, Dobson Electrical Contractor. David also continued his education in the evening at The Charles Trevelyan College Newcastle gaining his City and Guilds Certificate. From Wm Dobsons David and Loraine both worked for the MOD as civilians attached to the Royal Navy in Coulport near Fase Lane in Scotland, with David as a technician, x-raying nuclear warheads for the Polaris Missile. Unfortunately Loraine became poorly and had to return home with David following later and returning to work for Wm Dobson.
David subsequently decided to go into training and worked in the training centres for Tyne North Training, Vickers, Parsons/Rolls Royce and then back to Tyne North Training, until he retired at the age of 64. In addition David also worked at North Tyneside College as a Lecturer in the evenings.
Congratulations from everyone at Northumberland Freemasons on attaining a magnificent fifty years in Freemasonry.
Many thanks go to Mrs Lorraine Lynn and W.Bro Dave Caulfield for the submission of this article.
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