Bill Thorp celebrates 40 years in Mark
Fleetwood Masonic Hall was the backdrop for a very special celebration which took place to honour 40 years of continuous service to the Mark degree by William (Bill) Thorp, PPrGJW and Registrar of Marks in Wyre Lodge of Mark Master Masons.
Presiding over the celebrations was APrGM Ian Nairn who was accompanied by a glitterati of Grand, Acting and Provincial officers, all there to pay tribute to Bill’s lengthy achievement.
Bill is congratulated by Ian Nairn
Though the evening was mainly about Bill and the contribution he has made to Freemasonry over the years not only in Mark but also in Craft and the Royal Arch, there were also several other high points during the evening. PrDGDC Brian Gregson who oversaw proceedings on the night was presented with his Royal Ark Mariner’s patent of appointment to Grand rank by Ian Nairn as Brian, through pressing business commitments, had been unable to attend in person on the day. This additional presentation was heartily applauded by brethren.
Brian Dicks congratulates Bill Thorp on achieving 40 years in Mark
The WM of Wyre Mark Lodge Brian Dicks also welcomed two joining members to the lodge and later heard a proposition that a new candidate is to be considered for membership of the lodge - all of which was very welcome news for the lodge. But the main business of the evening was the celebration of Bill Thorp’s long service. Ian Nairn after accepting the gavel of the lodge asked that Brian Gregson seat Bill before him so he could deliver a précis of Bill’s personal life and the contribution he has made to Masonry.
Bill with the Galaxy of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers in attendance
Brethren heard from Ian that 84 year old Bill had modestly not wanted “any fuss” about his achievements and that the first time he had been made aware of what was planned for the evening was when he had received his lodge circular! Ian continued that Bill had been born in July 1927, in Ancoats, then an impoverished part of Manchester. At age seven and a half he was ‘ushered’ away to Cheetham Hospital Blue Coat School – a school for the sons of poor men of Manchester, Salford and Bolton. There, a very strict and Oliver Twist-like regime was in force; an early rise to do chores, a kit inspection of his buckled shoes, knee breeches, shirt, clergy bow tie and jacket with brass buttons. Breakfast was porridge and a slice of bread and butter except for Sundays when Bill and the other boys were treated to two slices of bread and butter and a small slice of cake.
W.Bro. Shaun Haynes entertains those present
When war broke out the school was evacuated and his new home was the hall of St Andrews Church in Cleveleys.
In 1941 Bill found his first job in Manchester as an office boy. His duties included delivering mail around the city centre, a task that was to see him develop his entrepreneurial skills at an early age as, through the contacts he made, he secured a supply of those then-rationed delicacies, sweets, and he opened a shop back at the office.
The Acting Provincial Junior Warden Tony Farrar presents the team
He next volunteered to join the Royal Navy in 1944 and became a ship’s writer doing accounts and payroll. In 1945 he was posted to HMS Devonshire and found himself first in Bombay on the personal staff of the C in C of the East Indies, and thence to Ceylon where he was in charge of keeping officers’ records until being demobbed in 1947.
Bill laughs as Ian hides behind the Table display
Returning to Manchester he studied book-keeping and accounting. At the age of 21 he met a young 17 year old girl called Edith who, after four years of courtship, he married in May 1952. A change in direction career-wise saw Bill join a textile company dealing in shirt materials and he went on to become a sales representative. However a change in management and uncertainty of the future found Bill looking elsewhere.  His next move was to take up than offer of employment from one of his customers, a manufacturer of shirts from the materials he had previously been selling.
Steve Clarke takes wine
This led to his salary being increased by a third as he familiarised himself with the principles and practices of shirt manufacture. So much so as his new employer decided to spend every other month in Israel it left Bill to run the factory and to have a company car and a secretary as well!
Jimmy's on guard
Fond memories of the Fylde Coast prompted Bill to rent a small factory in Blackpool in 1963 where he started his own shirt manufacturing business. Initially employing seven girls making 30 dozen shirts a week the business soon grew to a workforce of 40 girls and an output of 400 dozen shirts a week – firmly establishing Bill and his wife and two children in Blackpool.
On the same site as his shirt premises was another manufacturing rock which had gone bankrupt. Sensing an opportunity Bill took on this unit as well and diversified into the manufacture of Blackpool rock running both businesses alongside each other.
Unfortunately, as a very busy man indeed, the stress eventually took its toll resulting in Bill suffering a major heart attack in 1970 and impressing on him that something had to change.
A Wonderful Cake for a Wonderful Man 
Bill foresaw the inevitable decline in the clothing industry as a result of post-war investment in India and an abundance of cheap labour so he made the decision to sell off the stock and assets of the shirt business and to invest the proceeds into rock production, adding nougat and other confectionery to his portfolio.
But not everything had changed.  Bill was still the salesman with contacts now all over Europe which involved travelling to customers and trade fairs. Other heart attacks followed and eventually by-pass surgery in 1992 brought the revelation that Bill had to slow down.
Bill cuts the cake
Though the successful confectionery business still continues to thrive to this day it is now in the capable hands of Bill’s son and grandson (albeit under the watchful eyes of its founder). Ian reflected that with all of Bill’s work commitments over a half a century it was difficult to see how Bill had found time for leisure interests but he discovered the celebrant did have other pastimes.
John Whitley
Ian apprised the meeting that Bill is a keen golfer having been both Captain and President of North Shore Golf Club.
As well, Ian added, Bill is of course a keen Mason.
Bill was initiated into Craft Masonry in 1972 and became WM of Cleveleys Park Lodge No 7540 in 1982 and again in 1998 and holds the rank of PPrJGW.
In the Royal Arch Bill was exalted in Anchorsholme Chapter No 5854 in 1994, is a past first principal, and holds the rank of PPrGSN.
He was advanced in Wyre Mark Lodge No 754 on 16 October 1974, was WM in 1984 and has held office ever since, currently being Registrar of Marks. His first appointment to Provincial Grand rank came in 1991 when as acting Standard Bearer he served two PrGM’s, John Escott and Dr Brian Bennett Radcliffe. He was promoted to PPrDGSwdB in 1995, PPrGSO in 2006 and to PPrGJW in 2011 his current rank.
Ian delivers his speech
Ian concluded by summing up Bill’s life and times as “very interesting and fruitful both personally and in Masonry.” He thanked Bill for allowing everyone present to share in his life experiences and achievements.
After congratulating bill he presented him with a certificate from the PrGM Peter Connolly to mark the occasion.
I response Bill thanked Ian and all those present for making the evening so special and, in jest, said that he would get his ‘revenge’ on lodge secretary Jimmy Rogers for springing the surprise celebrations on him. He added that the brethren had only heard “half of the story.”
Brian presents Bill with flowers for his wife
Bill joined the Ian and the Grand officers as they paraded out of the lodge and the brethren accorded him a tumultuous round of applause.
Ian Nairn (left) receives a present from Fleetwood – which we don’t suppose is fish...
The celebrations continued at festive board where his sometime golfing partner Bob Bennett added some insight into Bill’s golfing prowess.
 
WM Brian Dicks on behalf of the lodge presented Bill with celebratory cake and also with a floral bouquet for his wife and a gift for Bill.
 

As Ian and the Grand officers took their leave Brian also presented Ian with a gift for the part he had played in making the evening one to remember for a long time to come.
 
Article by Bob Boal, Photographs Coutesy of Giles Berkley and Bob Boal