A great evening was had by all to celebrate WBro David Gregory fifty years of uninterrupted service in the Craft, with two brethren making their way from Lodges in the South of England, in addition to numerous visitors from Lodges across the Province helping make the night a special one.
Plessey Lodge No.6242, which meets at Blyth Masonic Hall, is steeped in history, and for any brother who has not visited the building, it’s well worth a visit early to look around and enjoy the history it has to offer, prior to a meeting,
David was Initiated into Plessey Lodge in 1973 by Ralph Cuthbertson, and occupied the office of Master on three separate occasions in 1982, 2017 and 2022. At the time of his initiation his certified occupation was that of a ‘Bonus Clerk’.
In 1991 he was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge when he received first Provincial appointment to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon, receiving a subsequent surprise Field Promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden during the meeting.
In addition David is very active in other orders including the Holy Royal Arch Chapter, the Mark, the Royal Ark Mariners and is soon to be perfected into the Rose Croix in April.
In his private vocation David is a steam train fanatic and has trailed around pretty much EVERY single train museum in the country having also driven a steam train in Beamish.
Since the death of his wife, Sandra, in 2016, he has filled his time in volunteering at the Blyth battery, gardening groups and playing bowls.
During his working life he was a clerk of works on building sites and one Christmas was flown to Manchester for a party at the Midland Hotel. He can tell you a story about this being most entertaining and amusing.
He travelled around the country going to building sites in his professional capacity and also worked in the ‘Time’ office of Bate’s Pit for the NCB until it closed. He worked for Safeway as a stock taker, as well as in a fish factory and a fruit factory where he ended his working life.
An interesting night was spent with Andrew, his son-in-law, members of the Lodge and his friends in Redcar, at Andrew’s stag night with chaos being caused, however, you will have to ask David about this story and many more he has.
Fifty years in Freemasonry is an amazing test of the person David is, and has become.
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