Worshipful Brothers Chris Aplin and Fred Bolt were both presented with PGM Certificates by Worshipful Brother, Derek G Webber
Worshipful Brothers Chris Aplin and Fred Bolt were both presented with PGM Certificates by Worshipful Brother, Derek G Webber, PSGD, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master. The follwing presentations were given by Worshipful Brother, Derek G Webber,
Worshipful Brother Chris Aplin, PPrJGW
Worshipful Brother Chris Aplin PPrJGW, the Worshipful Master and brethren of Excester Lodge No. 6228 have given me the very great honour privilege and indeed pleasure in presenting to you with our Provincial Grand Master’s certificate marking your having served 50 years as a Freemason in this wonderful Province of Devonshire and more specifically in this the Excester Lodge No 6228.
For you were initiated into this Lodge on 4th May 1971 by the then Worshipful Master Worshipful Brother J Simmons. You were proposed by your father John Aplin and seconded by Lewis Satterley who was your father’s business partner, you were subsequently passed to the 2nd Degree or that of a fellow craft and then raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.
You were born on 11th May 1947 at Wimpole. You attended Bramdean school in Exeter followed by Kingsland school in Plymouth where you were a Border. On leaving education you worked for a short time at rank Bush Murphy electronics company in Plymouth before running your own business. You married Stephanie on 20th October 1973 at St Margaret’s Church Topsham and you and Stephanie have two children Jonathan and Helen Louise and one grandchild Lily who is currently studying aero engineering at University.
Your wife Stephanie was a teacher at Priory School Exeter teaching English and religious education, she later moved to St Peter School Exeter. Returning to your masonic life you progressed through the offices of the Lodge and were installed as the Worshipful Master on the 4th March 1981 by the then Worshipful Master Worshipful Brother Molland. You received Provincial Honours an active rank of Prov SGD and later promoted to PPrJGW the very high rank you hold today.
You became a joining member of Blundell’s Lodge number 5467 where you initiated your Son Jonathan into masonry. You became a founder member of The Louis Marchesi Lodge No 9558 the Round Table Lodge, becoming the Worshipful Master in 1996. You are also a member of the Lodge of Union No 444 meeting at StarCross.
Brother Chris 50 years is a long time and you will have seen many changes in the world this country and indeed here in Exeter over that long period. You have lived under three Monarchs, 19 Prime Ministers and eight Provincial Grand Masters. Freemasonry has changed over the last 50 years and I suppose it must continue to change in order to attract and retain new members, but the basic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth remain principles you have upheld throughout your life.
51 years ago on the 4th May 1971 you laid your foundation here in the North-East Part of The Excester Lodge No 6228 and you have raised a superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to you the builder. Brother Chris I congratulate you and I hope you continue to enjoy your masonry but more importantly that we may enjoy your company. Now on behalf of our Provincial Grand Master Rt. Worshipful Brother Ian Kingsbury who sends to you his best wishes and warmest congratulations I have much pleasure in presenting his certificate to you but I would first like to read the citation. And I offer you my own personal congratulations.
Worshipful Brother Fred T Bolt, PPrJGW
Worshipful Brother Fred T Bolt PPrJGW the Worshipful Master and brethren of the Excester Lodge No 6228 have given me the very great honour privilege and indeed pleasure in presenting to you our provincial Grand Masters certificate marking your having served 50 years as a Freemason in this wonderful province of Devonshire and more specifically in this the Excester Lodge No 6228.
For you were initiated into this Lodge on 2nd May 1972 by the then Worshipful Master Worshipful Brother G C H White. You were proposed by brother Fred Ottway and seconded by brother Harold B Rowe who was the Exeter city architect. You were passed to the 2nd Degree or that of a fellow craft on 4th July 1972 and raised to the sublime degree of a master mason on the 7th November 1972.
You were born in 1930 one of six children, you were educated at Exmouth Grammar school and you chose to be an Architect as a career serving articles in Somerset. You served your National service in the Royal Engineers. Completing your National service you took up employment with Exeter city council in the architects department under Harold B Rowe who of course was your seconder into Freemasonry. In 1971 you acquired your own business in Honiton with one other office and later you spread your interest to modest property fields until you retired.
You married your wife Beryl in 1955 with whom you had three children Gillian, Julia and David, Gillian has always had an interest in the girl guiding movement in which she achieves the appointment of Chief Guide of the UK and received the CBE for her services, Julia chose finance as bursar of Bournemouth girls school and David chose estate management and now lives in Sydney, after marrying Sura having two children and running his own property company.
You had met your late wife Beryl through your interest in amateur dramatics you had both attended the same school but the lads and lasses were separated,, it took the stage to find you. You were both cast playing opposite one another in a play by R F Delderfield called Worms Eye View. You say were you the worm?
Your interest in Freemasonry was undoubtedly sparked by your late father-in-law Len Lickfold a member and past Master of The Rolle Lodge No 2759 and also by many of your colleagues when working in Exeter. You progressed through the offices of the Excester Lodge No 6228 and were installed as Worshipful Master in 1983 by Worshipful Brother Trevor Barrett. You received Provincial honours of PPrJGD promoted to PPrGSwdB and finally PPrJGW the very high rank you hold today.
You are a member of Bishop Surtees Rose Croix number 628 having been perfected on 17th May 1988, progressed through the offices being enthroned as Most of Wise Sovereign on the 21st May 2002 and elected to the 30th degree on the 13th January 2003. Your other interest and activities outside of Freemasonry include the Church, Theatre, Rambling groups, playing bridge, art, travel, and visiting restaurants with friends.
Brother Fred 50 years is a long time and you will have seen many changes in the world this country and indeed here in Exeter over that long period you have lived through a world war under five Monarchs although one was never crowned 20 prime ministers some serving more than one term and nine Provincial Grand Masters, Freemasonry has changed over the last 50 years and I suppose it must continue to change in order to attract and retain new members but the basic principles of brotherly love relief and truth remain principles you have upheld throughout your life 50 years and 6 months ago on the 2nd of May 1972 you laid your foundation here in the North East part of the Excester Lodge number 6228 and you have raised the superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to you the builder.
Brother Fred I congratulate you and I hope you continue to enjoy your masonry but more importantly that we may enjoy your company. Now on behalf of our Provincial Grand Master R.t Worshipful Brother Ian Kingsbury who sends to you his best wishes and warmest congratulations I have much pleasure in presenting his certificate to you but I would first like to read the citation, and I offer you my own personal congratulations. Well done
After both presentations all retired for an excellent festive board ending yet again another very happy masonic evening.
Derek G Webber, PSGD
Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master.