Ken, who has recently got his feet well and truly under the table at Douglas Bank Nursing Home in a lovely room with a fantastic view, along with his wife Doreen, welcomed Ray Martland who led a contingent of Ken’s friends to celebrate his 50 years in Freemasonry.
Ray said that it was nice for those assembled to share with Ken and Doreen the special occasion of a golden jubilee. “What a wonderful milestone”, he expressed.
But first Ray said he would go back in time to the year 1937. Why was 1937 important in history? George V was on the throne; Stanley Baldwin was Prime Minister until 28 May when Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister of a coalition government; Prince Edward, the abdicated King, was created Duke of Windsor; Frank Whittle tested the first jet engine; the 12 sided three pence coin was introduced; there was the coronation of King George VI and Elizabeth and the 999 call came into being.
Ray (left) presents Ken with his certificate
But also that year, at Ridge Avenue near Boars Head in Wigan, Mrs Lucy Cairns gave birth to a son called Kenneth; John Kenneth to be precise. Ken’s dad was called William, formerly a merchant seaman whose trade was electrical engineering. On leaving the merchant navy, dad joined Pilkington’s as an electrician before becoming the chief instructor. Ken had a brother Jim two years older. The family moved house a few times to Toogood Lane and Mossy Lea Road.
At the age of five it was off to school at St Joseph’s before moving to Mossy Lea County School. One day he asked his good friend Eric Fisher to play football and Eric replied, saying that he couldn’t because he had to have a haircut. Ken decided to oblige by doing the job immediately and solved the problem. Mind you, Eric’s mum wasn’t happy with the quality.
As a youngster Ken joined the cubs and then the scouts rising to group scout leader. Ken suffered from epilepsy so getting a job wasn’t that easy but one day his uncle found one at a market garden centre at Wrightington. This involved coming in contact with tomatoes, still more tomatoes and still more tomatoes. Needless to say, Ken no longer eats tomatoes. He moved to the bleach works and became a dodger before moving to the transport department. This was when Ken came into contact with a box of bra’s left on his desk?
Ken started doing a bit of dancing and met Doreen at the Bolton Town Hall. They started courting and then married at Tunley Church on 4 April 1968, immediately moving into 77 Claytongate, Coppull. The bleach works closed on a Friday evening and Ken moved to Leyland Motors the following Monday where he remained for 24 years as a clerk. Doreen worked hard and became a senior social worker. On retirement it was time for cruising on the high seas, around 23 in fact. The first one was up to Alaska and then the Caribbean at Christmas time.
Ken and Doreen are heading towards their golden wedding celebration and their minds go back to remembering their silver wedding held at the Half Way House, Whittle-le-Woods. They also remember the first holiday together in Corfu. Ken slipped and injured his Achilles tendon and an immediate operation ensued following a trip in the doctor’s car when a “cock-up splint” was fitted – a medical term – honest!
Ken became the Chairman of the Chorley and District Fellowship with Doreen alongside as the treasurer.
So let us go on to Ken’s career in the Craft, Chorley Group Secretary Don Hesketh read out the minutes of the meeting of Ken’s initiation. Ken was initiated into Standish Lodge No 4955 in 1966 and went through the chair in 1979. He enjoyed the office of almoner for two years. His first Provincial appointment was Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1990, being promoted in 1997 to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden. Ken joined Chorley Lodge No 6287 in 2012.
In the Royal Arch, Ken was exalted into Standish Chapter No 4955 in 1975 and went through the first principal’s chair in 1991. Ken joined Setantia Chapter of Installed First Principals No 7755 in 1991 where he enjoyed the office of almoner for three years. His first Provincial appointment in the Royal Arch was in 1998, that of Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer, with a promotion to Past Provincial Deputy Grand Sword Bearer in 2012.
Ray Martland observed of Ken: “Ken, during your life you have been the quiet man, just getting on with things and helping others and therefore a fine example of what makes a good Freemason.” Don Hesketh then read the certificate, which is an acknowledgement of the Province of West Lancashire’s great appreciation of Ken’s half century of membership of the Craft. This was followed by prolonged acclamation.
Ken and Doreen invited everyone to enjoy a spectacular buffet with a toast to Ken’s health in bubbly.
Pictured from left to right seated, are: Ray Martland, Ken Cairns and Doreen Cairns with members of Ken’s lodge.