Congratulations to W.Bro Robert Stephenson of Shiremoor Lodge No.6921, which meets at Shiremoor Masonic Hall, who celebrated fifty years uninterupted membership in Freemasonry last night.
Bob was initiated into Shiremoor Lodge in May 1971, becoming Master, for the first time in 1981 and again in 1997. Since 1985 Bob has made the office of Director Ceremonies in the Lodge his own, having held the role since then, with the exception of 1997, when he took the office of Master, at very short notice, after the Master Elect had withdrawn literally days beforehand.
He was appointed , in Provincial Grand Lodge, to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Deaconin 1990, receiving subsequent promotions to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 1999, again in 2005 to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden and more recently to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden.
He was exalted into Vandeleur Chapter in 1979, becoming Most Excellent in 1991, and has, once again, held the office of Director of Ceremonies, in the Chapter, since 1992.
He was appointed, in Provincial Grand Chapter, to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1997, and has been subsequently promoted to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 2004 and Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2013.
Bob has been very active within Shiremoor Building and has been a regular visitor to all of the Lodges where he has always been a ready and willing stand-in if asked, even taking the Chair at very short notice on at least one occasion. Bob has also been a very good visitor to a number of other Lodges and Chapters outside of Shiremoor. In 1992 he joined the United Masonic Lodges of ShIremoor, as one of the Trustees, and became Chairman in 1994, a position he still holds.
Away from Freemasonry Bob has been married to Brenda for 58 years and they have three grown up sons, four grandchildren, two girls and two boys and one great grandchild. He retired some seventeen years ago but was an upholsterer when employed, latterly teaching youngsters the art of upholstery for the local authority so that they could repair chairs, seating etc in the local care homes. Nowadays Bob is a prolific reader and likes to do crosswords to keep his mind active.
Congratulations to Bob from everyone at Northumberland Freemasons and we wish you many more years of enjoyment, and directing ceremonies.
Thanks go to W.Bro Tony Carlisle, Secretary of Shiremoor Lodge, for the submission of this article.
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