Today we help W.Bro Leslie Barker to celebrate a magnificaent fifty years of uninterrupted service to the Craft, along with the brethren of Morden Lodge No.5722, which meets at Fern Avenue Masonic Hall, and two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, under the auspices of W.Bro Gordon Craigs, of Northumberland, and W.Bro Gordon Brewis, of Durham.
George Leslie Barker was Initiated into Sincerity Lodge No.6036, in the Province of Durham, on 5th January 1972, subsequently resigning in 2008 and joining Morden Lodge in 2007.
He served as the Master of Sincerity Lodge on four occasions in 1982, 1987, 1995 and finally in 2005. On joining Morden Lodge he has occupied the chair of Master on two separate occasions ion 2011 and 2016 and currently serves as the Lodges Chaplain, an office he has held since 2019.
He was awarded for his service, to the Craft, when he was appointed to the active rank of Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, in the Province of Durham in 1991, subsequently being promoted to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 1998. Having transferred Provinces to Northumberland he was subsequently honoured, in the Province, by having the same rank conferred on him in 2018.
In 1975 Leslie was Exalted into Moseley Royal Arch Chapter No3105, also in the Province of Durham, taking the Chair of Z in 1998, and subsequently resigning in 2008, but not beofre being appointed to the active rank of Provincial Grand Standard Bearer, in 2003, with promotion to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer, the following year.
Lelsie was born in September 1943 and has lived in Birtley for the while of his life. After leaving school in 1960 he started work in a garage at Washington as an apprentice motor mechanic and attended Gateshead Technical College on a part time Motor Vehicle Technician Course. When he was 18 he left the garage and went to the College full time, for 3 years, and attained his City and Guilds. He then went to work for his father, who by this time had his own haulage business. They ran the business as a partnership until his father retired.In 1982 and subsequently became a Limited Company, Barkers Transport Birtley Ltd. Leslie was the Managing Director and his wife, Andrea, was the Company Secretary. They undertook general haulage, local, long distance and continental and employed 16 drivers, 2 fitters and 2 office staff. The business subsequently closed in 1993. Leslie also became a Fellow of The Institute of The Motor Industry,
As a child Leslie was in the Boy Scouts from Cubs to Rover Scouts. He met his wife, Andrea, in 1961 and was married in 1967. He has one son, Philip, and two Grandchildren, Poppy and Lilly, who all live in Epping.
He enjoys going abroad in his motor-home and is the Chairman of The Motor Caravanners Club’s European Group, where his wife is the Secretary.. In the winter months Leslie enjoys cruising and they both sequence dance twice a week when at home. In addition Leslie also enjoys F1 motor racing and has always had an interest in nature especially birds, regularly taking his motor-home to RSPB or WWT reserves. He is also a Fellow of the RSPB.
Many thanks go to both W.Bros Denis Niblett and Leslie Barker for the submission of this article.
Everyone at Northumberland Freemasons wish Leslie all the best for many years to come in Freemasonry.
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