Bro. George Thurman’s 60th
   
On a lovely spring afternoon our R.W.Prov. Grand Master Peter Connolly, the Prov. Grand Secretary W. Bro. Geoff Lee, the Fylde Coast’s Special Representative W. Bro. John Forster and Bispham with Norbreck’s Almoner W. Bro. Ron Wetherill arrived at the Feng Shui House Care Home on the South Promenade Blackpool to celebrate Bro. George Thurmans 60 years as a Mark Mason. By good fortune it was also his 96th Birthday.
We knew we were in for good afternoon when we were so warmly welcomed by the Care Home’s staff who showed us into a first floor lounge, which had a splendid view over the sea front and with the sun flooding in George arrived looking fit and well.
 
After Peter had congratulated George on his wonderful achievement, Geoff then read the certificate from the Province, followed closely by the certificate from Grand Mark Lodge signed by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, George’s pleasure at receiving the certificates was a delight to see.
 
Then with us all sitting comfortably Peter gave an account of George’s life so far, born in Blackpool, in 1928, he attended Thames Road and Palatine Schools, at 15 he joined his father’s business, wood turning and machining, he also attended collage until the 2nd World War when he went into engineering making parts for the undercarriages of the Spitfire aircraft and eventually became the Machine Shop Foreman.
 
In 1950 the company George worked for took over a dental manufacturing company and with George as the manager they produced one million teeth a week. 1966 saw George and Sir John Charnley of Wrightington Hospital work together to produce orthopaedic bone cement still used to day.
 
In 1970 George became a director and General Manger of the firm, retiring in 1983 but retained as a consultant for a number of years. George married Wyn in 1957 and after over 50 years of marriage Wyn sadly passed away several years ago.
 
 
1950 was the year George joined Freemasonry, Fraternal Lodge at Adelaide Street Blackpool. 1954 saw George Advanced into Bispham with Norbreck Lodge of MMM although he held a number of offices George never went through the “Chair”. George served on the Masonic Club committee for many years and was President of the Blackpool Masonic Club in 1969, also acting as a Director for 40years.
 
George with John Forster, Peter Connolly, Geoff Lee and Ron Wetherill
 
George’s hobbies were gardening, fly fishing and both flat and crown green bowling and more recently surfing the net.
We then celebrated George’s 96th Birthday with a cake provided by the Province, and a splendid buffet laid on by the Care Home, during which George told us many interesting facts and stories about his long and busy life.
George still enjoys good health and I for one look forward to being present at his 70th!
 
Story byJohn Forster Sp. Rep. Photo's Courtesy of Peter Connolly and Geoff Lee