On April 4th Three 50-year certificates were presented in one night to W. Brother’s Brewer, Crocker and Symons by Worshipful Brother David Maskell PSGD, Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall.
The History of W Bro William David Crocker (Pictured Right)
David as he likes to be known was born on the 6th January 1946 in Liskeard and grew up and was educated in the town. He met and married his wife Rosemary who also came from Liskeard.
In his working life David joined his father to set up the family company, Roseland Plant just outside Liskeard, which developed into successful company involved in ground works, plant hire and at one time operated five quarries, a tar plant, concrete plant, and a number other smaller operations. Retirement by the family directors required that a large part of the company be sold to a national waste management company. David is still involved helping his son Richard operate Lantoon Quarry part of the business.
David Masonic career began on the 4th April 1972 when he was Initiated into St Martin’s Lodge No. 510 as a Lewis having been proposed by his Father William who had been Worshipful Master in 1976. David’s two Uncles Aubrey and Basil were also Worshipful Masters respectively in 1977 and 1978.
In 1972 the Prime Minister was still Edward Heath, when the coal miners went on strike for seven weeks and he declared a state of emergency as a result of the strike. Unemployment exceeded the 1 million mark for the first time since the 1930’s. The UK’s last trolley bus system operating in Bradford was closed and the Brighton Belle Pullman made its final journey from London to Brighton. Crown Courts were established to replace the Assize and Quarter Session Courts. The school leaving age was increased from 15 to 16 and many new temporary buildings at schools had to be created to accommodate the children. The musical Jesus Christ Superstar by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber made its West End debut. Access credit cards were introduced. The first hypermarket in the UK opened in South Wales run by Carrefour. The prices in 1972 had increased and the average house price was now £7000 and Ford Cortina cost £1022.
David soon took a keen interest of the work of the Lodge and joined the Officer List and became their Worshipful Master on the 4th November 1986. He has held the Office of Almoner on two occasions, firstly in 1996 for 14 years and is currently their Almoner having been appointed last year.
David’s Masonic career further progressed when he was appointed Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in April 1984 by the then Provincial Grand Master RW. Bro. The Honourable M.R.V. Eliot. He was further promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in April 2000 by the then Provincial Grand Master RW. Bro. N.J.F.C. Barrington.
His Masonic career has not been confined to Craft Masonry as he joined the Holy Royal Arch and was Exalted into St. Martin’s Chapter on the 21st January 1974 of which he is still a member.
Outside of Masonry David is great supporter of the local community being involved with local politics as a parish councillor, trustee of the village hall and supports charity events. He is a Rotarian and in fact one of the longest serving members of Liskeard Rotary Club.
David and Rosemary have hosted and still do hold fund raising events at their home whether it is for Freemasonry, the Rotary Club or other local charities.
He enjoys gardening and the ‘Garden’ he refers to, as many of you may know covers a large area, which is bigger than the average garden. He use to enjoy sailing but has now sold his boat.
David and Rosemary had two children but sadly their daughter died of cancer so in their retirement David and Rosemary have needed to spend time in Portsmouth looking after their grandchildren as well as supporting the family at home.
From this record it can be seen that David has served Freemasonry in Liskeard and Cornwall in general and the town of Liskeard with great distinction and loyalty to duty throughout his 50 years of service. He is a great ambassador to the cause and is always willing to help out and to share his expertise.
The History of W Bro William John Brewer (Pitured Left)
John as he likes to be known was born on the 1st December 1946 in Liskeard and grew up and was educated in the town.
After school John joined the Nat West Bank and worked for them for 35 years, the last 16 of which were in a managerial position. During his banking career he has worked in many of the towns in Cornwall, Devon, Bristol and Dorset. The family moved to Dorset some 25 years ago due to his work commitments.
John may give the impression of being a very serious person but he does have a sense of humour and this has often been displayed when raising money for charity during his time with the Nat West bank. He has undertaken to dress up as one of the gnomes with Snow White joining other members of staff at the Tavistock branch to support the carnival fund raising. He organised and took part in a sponsored relay run from Sidmouth to Plymouth in aid of the Children in Need Appeal. On another occasion John and his colleagues dressed in 1940’s costumes to swim in the sea on Boxing Day, without wet suits. Through these initiatives he and his colleagues have raised considerable sums of money for charity.
After his career with the bank John took a very different career move and joined the Prison Service for whom he worked for 14 years before retiring.
During his career John has always been very supportive with those he works for and with. He has always been a dedicated family man and has supported his wife in her choices of work and was an excellent father replacement during the years of child minding and fostering the family provided. They have also provided temporary homes for young mothers and their babies, as well as teenagers who have needed temporary accommodation.
John’s Masonic Career began on the 7th July 1970 when he was Initiated into St. Martin’s Lodge No. 510 as a Lewis, his Father William having been Worshipful Master in 1974. He was Passed on the 4th August 1970 and Raised on the 1st December 1970. Some two months after completing his Third Degree his family moved to Dorset and he decided not to progress in Freemasonry until his son’s education and futures had been decided upon.
In January 1970 a Boeing 747 landed at Heathrow Airport the first Jumbo Jet to land in Great Britain. In June Edward Heath became Prime Minister. The Half Crown coin and the Ten Shilling note ceased to be legal tender. The National Westminster Bank began trading following the merger of the Provincial and Westminster Banks. The Prince of Wales joined the Royal Navy and in the same year the last issue of grog was issued. The first Glastonbury music festival took place.
Chrysler UK launched the Hillman Avenger to compete with the Ford Escort and the Vauxhall Viva. British Leyland announced that its longest running model the Morris Minor would be discontinued after first production in 1948.They also created a niche in the four wheel drive market by launching the luxury Range Rover as an alternative to the Land Rover which also started in 1948 and they re-launched the Austin Maxi. Ford also launched its new Cortina Mark Three.
Martin Peters who scored for England in the 1966 World Cup became the first £200,000 footballer to transfer from West Ham to Tottenham Hotspur. Tony Jacklin won the US golf championship.
British Petroleum discovered a large oil field in the North Sea and started the oil industry based in Scotland. A gallon of petrol cost 6/8, a pint of milk 1 shilling and a pint of beer was 2/11. A Pye television cost £249 and a Ford Cortina was £882. The average house price was £4500.
Following the family move to Dorset, John became a Joining Member of the
Blackmore Vale Lodge No. 3625 on the 26th January 1990. He soon took a keen interest in the work of the Lodge and became Junior Warden in October 1995 and Senior Warden the following year. He took the chair of King Solomon on the 31st October 1997. He has also held the office of Almoner from 1999 for 8 years and has held the office of Assistant Secretary on two occasions and Assistant Director of Ceremonies.
His Masonic Career further progressed when he was promoted to Provincial Senior Grand Deacon on the 28th October 2004. He was further promoted to Provincial Grand Orator on the 27th October 2011, Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in October 2015 and to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden on the 27th September 2019.
John has always kept in contact with St. Martins Lodge and regularly arranges for members of the Blackmore Vale Lodge to visit for exchange workings.
John’s Masonic career has not been confined to Craft Masonry as he was Exalted into the Holy Royal Arch and became a member of the Benevolence Chapter No. 1168 on the 30th March 1999. Two years later he took the chair of Joshua in November 2002 and the following the chair of Haggi. He became the Most Excellent Zerubbabel on the 25th November 2003.
He again took the chair of Haggi in 2004 and the MEZ for the second time the following year. He has also held the office of Treasurer in 2014 and again in 2017 for a total of 3 years. He has also been their Director of Ceremonies form 2018 for two years.
He became a Joining Member of the Dorset Frist Principals Chapter No.3366 and was made an Honorary member of the Dorset Masonic Bikers Chapter No.1367 on the 15th February 2020.
His Royal Arch Career further progressed when he was promoted in 2006 to Provincial Grand Sojourner and further promoted to Provincial Grand Sword Bearer on the 29th June 2013 and to Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah on the 29th June 2019.
Outside of Masonry he has a keen interest in football and was the Treasurer of the Sturminster Football Club for 14 years during which time he supervised the completion and raising funds for a new clubhouse. He also set up the development of the business. His sins include being a Manchester City fan and he can certainly see his enthusiasm for them when watching matches on the television. John’s love of sport is well known and he does enjoy a game of golf whenever the opportunity arises.
He continues to be a very supportive Husband, Father and Grandad and a loyal Cornishman and stays true to his birthplace of Liskeard accepting all the jokes made about him in this context.
From this record it can be seen that John has served Freemasonry in Cornwall and Dorset with great distinction and loyalty to duty throughout his 50 years of service. He is a great ambassador to the cause and is always willing to help out and to share his expertise.
The History of W Bro David C Symons (Pictured Centre)
David was born on the 9th September 1937 in Liskeard and grew up and was educated in the town. After leaving school David became a motor mechanic and worked for Taylor’s Motors in Barras Street, Liskeard. He then decided to start his own business and set up his own workshop in the town, carrying out servicing, repairs and MOT’s.
David’s Masonic career began on the 7th March 1972 when he was Initiated into St Martins Lodge No. 510 as a Lewis, his Father Leslie having been Worshipful Master in 1954. His Uncle Stanley was Worshipful Master the following year.
Other events that took place in 1972 were the completion of the final stretch of the M6 motorway, which opened between junction 6, Spaghetti Junction and junction 7 north of Birmingham. Edward the Duke of Windsor died of cancer and his funeral took place at Windsor Castle. Ford launches its new Granada model available as a saloon, coupe or estate car to replace the Zephyr. Nissan enjoyed a surge in sales of its Datsun badged cars with more than 30,000 sold, compared to 7000 the previous year. Honda also started importing cars into the UK for the first time including the Civic. The Dominion of Ceylon became Sri Lanka. The Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi won the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch driving a Lotus 72D. The BBC programme Mastermind and Yorkshire television’s Emmerdale Farm were broadcast for the first time. The cost of a Mini was £695. Following decimalisation a pint of milk cost 5p and loaf of bread 10p. The first electronic calculators became available at a cost of £70.
David soon took a keen interest in the business of the Lodge and joined the Officers list and progressed to the office of Warden. But due to the death of his wife and the need to look after his two young sons he could not at that time take the office of WM and concentrated on bringing up his family.
In the early 2000’s David with the support of his second wife Mary progressed to Worshipful Master and was Installed into the chair of King Solomon on the 1st November 2005.
David’s Masonic Career further progressed when he was prompted to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies on the 31st March 2012, by the then Provincial Grand Master RW. Bro. P.G. George. He was further promoted to Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works on the 4th April 2020 by the then Provincial Grand Master RW. Bro. S.C. Pearn.
David has remained a loyal member St. Martin’s Lodge since he was Initiated, supporting meetings and social and fun raising events.
Outside of Masonry David’s hobby is Classic Car Trails, which is an off road event driving up muddy slopes testing one’s performance with observed sections. The Classic Trial usually runs to about 70 to 100 miles with 14-18 sections over different surfaces to assess your skill. David will be taking part over the Easter weekend with the event finishing at Lands End, his sons Nick and Chris are also taking part so it will be a family challenge to see who the most skilled driver is.
From this record it can be seen that David has served Freemasonry in Liskeard and Cornwall in general with great distinction and loyalty to duty throughout his 50 years of service. He is a great ambassador to the cause and is always willing to help out and to share his expertise.
