Lodge De Loraine No.541, which meets at Fern Avenue Masonic Hall, had cause for a recent double celebration when two of their number, John Herbert Holland and Peter Ronald Laybourne, reached the marvelous milestones of seventy and fifty years respectively.
W.Bro John Holland was initiated into Freemasonry in February 1952, into Lodge De Loraine, which he remains a mmber of. In 1968 he joined Northumbrian Masters Lodge No.3477in 1969, remaining a member until 1997, Per Diem Lodge No.9638 in 1997, remaining a member until 2006, and finally Southwell Lodge No.1405 in the Province of Nottinghamshire, in 2013, remaining a member to this day.
He has occupied the chair of Master on three occasions, twice in Lodge De Loraine in 1965 and 1995 and once in Per Diem in 2005 and is currently the Mentor and Charity Steward for Southwell Lodge.
He was honoured for his dedication to the Craft in 1975 when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Deputy Grand Registrar, subsequently being promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1994 and finally to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2018. For his work in the Province of Nottinghamshire he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2017.
He was exalted into Gosforth Royal Arch Chapter No.1664 in 1965, finally resigning in 1999.
W.Bro Peter Ronald Laybourne was initiated into Freemasonry in Lodge De Loraine in February 1970 and subsequently became a joining member of St Mary’s Lodge No.3987 in 2007 until its erasure in 2011. He has occupied the office of Master of Lodge De Loraine on a fantastic six occasions in 1997, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2013.
He was honoured for his dedication to the Craft when he was appointed to the active rank of Provincial Grand Steward in 1986, being subsequently promoted to Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2005, Past Provincial Grand Superintendant of Works in 2010, Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2016 and finally Past Provincial Senior Grand WArden in 2022.
Peter was exalted into De Loraine Royal Arch Chapter no.541 in 1979 before finally resigning in 2007, but not before being appointed, in Provincial Grand Chapter, to the rank of Provincial Grand Steward in 1986.
Congratulations from everyone at Northumberland Freemasons to both John and Peter on reaching your fantastic milestones.
If you have a story, event or news item you would like to have published on the Provincial website, or social media, please get in touch with our Communications Team at news@northumberlandmasons.org.uk