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More than 75 members crammed into the Spilsby Masonic Hall for a ceremony to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Eccles Lodge, which involved a number of special moments.
The attendance was boosted by Provincial Grand Master Dave Wheeler leading a visit by the Provincial team. He took the chair and to dedicate a new Master’s collar, in the pictures worn by Nigel Ward, who took the chair for the evening since current Master Phillip Tagg was too ill to attend.
To mark the anniversary Dave also presented a silver salver and a commemorative jewel to mark the Lodge’s half-century. They’ll be put on display with the service meals of JGT Eccles, who gave his name to the Lodge. The Lodge was formed when Freemasonry in Spilsby was particularly strong, with Shakespeare Lodge having more than 90 members, and a three-year wait for initiates.
The menu for the Festive Board was the same as was eaten at the Consecration, which took place in Spilsby Town Hall, next door to the Masonic Hall.
What’s in a name: Why Eccles Lodge is called Eccles Lodge
Eccles Lodge is named after past Provincial Grand Master JGT Eccles. Son of a tailor, he became steel industry entrepreneur. He started his Masonic career in Brigg as a member of Ancholme Lodge in 1926. As PGM he gave his permission for the formation of the new Lodge, offering his name to be used ‘if desired’. Its warrant was issued on December 11th 1974, but he didn’t live to see the consecration, passing away a little more than a fortnight later, having been PGM and Grand Superintendent since 1962. The consecration took place on April 5th 1975
A history of Rt W Bro Eccles’s life was explained by current Deputy PGM John Crutchley, who demonstrated how varied it had been. Born at the end of the 19th century as the son of a tailor in Brigg, he went to the town’s Grammar School, and at the age of 19 enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment. He served in France until the end of WW1, and then transferred to the Indian Army, and saw service in Persia and the North West Frontier. He retired from military service in 1922, holding the rank of Captain.
He never forgot his association with Brigg, and from time to time wrote to the Grammar School’s Old Boys Association, the Briggensians. One of his letters is shown below.
He founded Eccles Slag, which processed and sold slag, a by-product of steelmaking at Scunthorpe which was used in road making. The company was formed with financial backing from his father’s bank manager, and when it was created had just two employees. By 1962 it employed more than 700, and his lorries, bearing the slogan ‘slag makes good roads’ were a familiar sight on the roads of north Lincolnshire. It was in the same year that he became PGM.
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- Nick and Kaye with the Coronation Ceilidh Band
