Dennis celebrates a fantastic 50 years in Mark Masonry
 
14th October 2015
 
Dennis Houghton of Rose and Thistle No 158 celebrated 50 years in Mark Masonry at Pemberton Masonic Hall in the presence of Keith Beardmore, our Provincial Grand Master, who was accompanied by his Deputy Pr.GM Geoffrey Lee and Assistant Pr.GM, Ian Nairn, together with several other Grand Officers, including Danny Jones, Past.A.Pr.GM and Ken Alker, the PGM’s Special representative for the area.
PGM with Dennis Houghton
Dennis has already celebrated 50 years in the Craft, but this was a very special occasion as very few Freemasons manage to achieve 50 years, in the Mark Degree in which he holds Grand Mark Rank as Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearer. He has been a member of one of the oldest and most respected lodges in the Province, Rose & Thistle Lodge No 158 since October 1965. Rose & Thistle Mark Lodge arose from the fusion of English and Scottish Mark Masonry in the 1860’s, hence the name – The Rose of Lancashire and the Thistle of Scotland and very aptly named it is.
Asst. PGM, Ian Nairn, PGM Keith Beardmore, Dennis Houghton and Dep. PGM Geoff Lee
He was Master in 1973 and during his year he advanced no less than five candidates. Quite an achievement. He has also served as Almoner of the Lodge for no less than twenty–six years in total. At Provincial level he organised on two occasions the Provincial Mark meeting at Fleetwood after which he received his Grand Mark rank. Dennis is a highly valued member of his lodge filling in positions when needed and has performed the role of Senior Deacon during advancements on numerous occasions. He joined Leigh Royal Ark Mariner Lodge No 1322 in 2007 and he went through the chair as recently as 2014.
Senior Officers wih George Fletcher WM OF Rose & Thistle with Dennis
He is a member of Orrell Craft Lodge No 8371 after his original Lodge Mesnes No 5967 amalgamated with Orrell. He was its Master in 1977.
Dennis was born in Atherton on 29th August 1927 and attended Abram C of E School and he became founder member of the 15th Wigan Boy’s Brigade and Steadfast Association. Also in his youth, he was a member of the Army Cadet Force. He did National Service with the South Lancashire Regiment serving in Ireland, Malta and Trieste.
One of the place settings
In 1949 he married Doris Thompson Ashcroft at Abram Parish Church, sadly, Doris passed away in 2009 after almost sixty years of marriage. They had a very happy life together and enjoyed sea cruises to many parts of the world, something which Dennis still enjoys.
Not satisfied with everything else he was doing, Dennis was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in Wigan and he also became a Governor at Abram Bryn School and Abram CE School. In employment he worked for Thomas Crompton of Ashton – in – Makerfield for almost forty nine years, latterly as a Warehouse and Transport Manager and during this time he completed management training at Nottingham University.
In the Wigan Masonic Fellowship where he has been a member for many years along with his late wife Doris, he served two terms as Chairman. He is a member of Peace & Pemberton Chapter No 4686 and holds the rank of P.Pr. GSN. He is also a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.
 
How on earth did he find time to go on Cruises!!
At the Festive Board at which over eighty Masons sat down to an excellent meal at Pemberton Masonic Hall, Dennis received personal gifts from the Lodge, colleagues and friends and he also received a tremendous rousing reception when he entered the Festive Board with our Provincial Grand Master.
Earlier in the Lodge meeting our Provincial Grand Master gave a resume of Dennis’s life and Masonic career and a poem “Fifty Years and Freemason” was read out in Lodge by W.Bro Fred Lomax and afterwards presented Dennis as a keepsake of the occasion.
 
Dennis is a Freemason through and through and is highly regarded throughout the Province and long may it continue. We are all looking forward to his next fifty years.
Article courtesy of Fred Lomax, Photgraphs courtesy of Austin Fletcher