Brethren of Lodge of Concord No 343 celebrated 50 years in the Craft of Norman Coulthurst, a very special occasion for Norman and the members. The proceedings were led by the APrGM David Winder, accompanied by the Provincial Senior Grand Warden Mike Threlfall, PrDGDC, David Thomas, acting Provincial grand officer Mike Cowsley and the group chairman Steve Bolton.
David (left) presents Norman with his celebration certificate.
After transacting the normal business of the lodge, Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Winder was formally welcomed into the lodge by the WM Nick Ridd, who on offering the gavel of the lodge, invited David to occupy the master’s chair. On this occasion David accepted the gavel and took his place in the master’s chair.
David began by saying how delighted he was to be able to preside over the golden jubilee celebrations of a man he had known for many years, a man he greatly admired, a man with a wicked sense of humour and a man always there to give support to others. He was particularly pleased that following recent health scares and significant periods in hospital, Norman was fit enough to attend the celebration amongst his friends, guests and brothers of the lodge. He proceeded to inform the brethren of the life and times of Norman.
To set the scene, David began by recounting some of the events of 50 years ago, the swinging 60’s in that iconic year of 1966, when England won their one and so far, only World Cup. Harold Wilson was Prime Minister and the Beatles were taking the world by storm. An era without mobile phones, no microwaves and when the only take away was the chip shop. It was also the year Norman William Coulthurst was initiated into Freemasonry. David then invited the PrDGDC David Thomas, to escort Norman to a place on the floor of the lodge asking him to relax and enjoy the evening to the full. The brethren were then treated to a splendid résumé of the happenings in Norman’s life, both in and out of Freemasonry.
David began by explaining that Norman came from five generations of farming stock having been born at Moss Side Farm, Goosnargh in 1933. At the age of 18 months the family moved to Edenfield Farm, also in Goosnargh, where as soon as he was old enough, he was put to work cleaning out the pigs, milking the cows, and collecting the eggs from numerous poultry cages. Norman was to remain at the farm until semi-retirement in 1989. In the intervening years, the farm has grown from the initial 16 acres in 1935 to almost 400 today. The farm is now exclusively a dairy farm with 1,000 young stock and around 700 ‘milkers’ and continuing the tradition, is being farmed by Norman’s eldest son David.
As a break from farm duties, Norman attended Whitechapel Primary as one of its 50 pupils where his main sporting interest was football, although he was known to have played the occasional game of cricket. Leaving school at the age of 14, Norman attended Stokenchurch Agricultural College in Buckinghamshire where he learnt all aspects of farming. The college was split into houses with Norman continuing his education as a left hand batsman in the ‘Stephenson House’ team, a team that was unbeaten during Norman’s participation.
Returning to Norman’s love of football, David mentioned that his skill was such as to play for Preston North End Juniors for a season and he has been a North End season ticket holder for over 65 years. He continued Norman’s football career by reporting his time playing for a local team that won the District Trophy on a number of occasions. Retiring from playing, Norman went on to referee in the Catforth and District summer league for a period of seven years. Disclosing Norman’s later sporting interests, David cited snooker and bowls as games that received his attention. Playing at Whitechapel Bowling Club, Norman became a prolific winner including winning the President’s Prize on a number of occasions. He served on the bowling committee for many years and is a past chairman and president of the club.
As a means of giving back to the community, David noted his being chairman of the Goosnargh branch of the Farmer’s Union for a number of years and his 10 years’ service on the Parochial Church Council.
Turning the clock back to 1952, David moved on to romance, relating the time when Norman spotted a ‘brilliant’ young lady across the Longridge dance floor. Plucking up the courage to ask her to dance, the rest, as they say, is history. Norman and a certain Joyce Margaret Kenyon were married in 1954, at St Mary Magdalene’s in Ribbleton. The marriage was blessed with three children, David, the farmer, Paul, who owns his own joinery business and June who is a company secretary. They in turn, contributed 10 grandchildren to Norman’s family. David continued by saying that, in marrying Joyce, Norman also gained a brother in law by the name of Syd, who was to become a well-known Mason in the Preston Group.
Pausing for a moment David informed the brethren that, when in the chair in 1978, Norman had made it known that one of his favourite tunes was ‘Amazing Grace’ and as a result he requested, (insisted), that it be played as part of the music at each meeting. Not to depart from established practice, David asked guest organist, John Whittall, would he mind keeping with tradition by playing a couple of verses for the enjoyment of Norman and the assembled brethren. This, John was pleased to do, much to the appreciation of Norman and everyone present.
Setting the scene regarding Norman’s Masonic career, David invited the lodge assistant secretary, Peter Bennett, to read a précis of the minutes of the meeting of October 1966 at which, Norman was initiated. He continued by saying Norman’s interest in Masonry was cultivated following a discussion with one of his uncles who he knew was in the Craft. Things progressed to a successful scrutiny meeting only to be followed, as was the case in those days, by a two-year wait in the queue to join. Norman told David that such was the demand he was initiated in a double ceremony reiterating that he must have put the other fellow off as he never saw him again! With regards to progression, Norman had noted at his raising ceremony, there were 13 stewards on the list.
David continued by relating Norman’s first meeting with ‘Masonic’ stress when, having progressed about half way up the stewards list, he was approached by the lodge DC a few minutes before the start of the regular meeting and asked if he would stand in as inner guard for the evening. David revealed that Norman’s reaction was for his stomach to turn like a cement mixer and an overriding wish for the ground to open up and swallow him. (We’ve all been there brethren!)
Moving on to more pleasant occasions, David mentioned Norman’s memory of many happy festive boards in the company of a wide cross-section of business men with excellent music on the organ played by George Buck and clouds of smoke from ‘those that must’ being allowed to do so.
Continuing with Norman’s Masonic career, David recounted that, following progression through the various offices of the lodge, Norman arrived in the master’s chair in 1978 to join that happy band of Preston masters. In those days it was normal for many teens of masters visiting lodges throughout the season that led to the foundation of many long lasting friendships. David was pleased to report that three members of Norman’s year were present at this celebration in the guise of Gordon Clarke, Alan Dargie and John Watson, brethren with whom Norman, along with their wives, regularly meets for meals and outings; a practice that has continued for some 38 years. David went on to mention records being broken during Norman’s year as there were 244 people at Joyce’s Ladies Evening and over 200 at his Olde English Night. This he found quite remarkable, as fire regulations dictated a limit of 200 for the building.
David progressed by delivering a résumé of Norman’s extensive Masonic career starting with his exaltation into the Chapter of Concord No 343 in March 1971 where he became first principal in 1983 and went on to serve as DC for seven years. His work was recognised in 1998 by his appointment to the rank of PPrGSoj and further promoted to the very high rank of PPrGSN in 2001. David also informed the brethren that Norman is a member of several other Masonic orders holding very high ranks in these.
He went on to say that the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison was aware of Norman’s celebration and although he was not able to be present in person he sent his personal greetings in the form of a certificate. He then invited the group chairman Steve Bolton to read the 50th celebration certificate before formally presenting it to him, bringing his own congratulations as well as those of the PrGM.
David concluded his remarks by thanking Norman for revealing most of the truth most of the time and reminding him that on the day he was made a Mason he was charged to be respectable in life, useful to mankind and an ornament to the society of which he was on that day made a member. His final words were: “Every brother present today is in no doubt that you, Norman, have fulfilled those obligations on every count and we join in congratulating you on a wonderful achievement, your golden jubilee celebration in Freemasonry.” This was followed by prolonged and well deserved applause from all the brethren present.
Later in the evening, Syd Kenyon proposed the toast to Norman’s health, congratulating him on his 50 years in Masonry and saying he was pleased to note Norman was well on the way to recovery following his recent stay in hospital. He also brought the best wishes of the family and presented Norman with a card as a memento of the occasion.
In response, Norman thanked everyone for their support, particularly mentioning his long-time friends and colleagues, the three 1978 masters, Gordon, Alan and John, who had attended his celebration. He concluded with a special thank you to David for all the work he had obviously put in preparing what he was going to say in lodge.
Pictured from left to right, are: Mike Threlfall, Steve Bolton, David Winder, Norman Coulthurst, Nick Ridd, Mike Cowsley and David Thomas.