There was a double presentation of certificates for long service at the February meeting of the Lord Roborough Lodge. In attendance were the Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro Nicholas A Ball, The Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Andrew W A Vodden MBE and Past Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, W Bro Peter Haigh and W Bro Colin Gale. W Bro John Welsford PPrJGW was presented with a certificate for 50 years and W Bro Anthony Banbury PAGDC was presented with a certificate for 60 years, both for services to Freemasonry.
W Bro Colin Gale PAPGM presented both certificates in his own inimitable style. He began with an account of the life and Masonic career of W Bro Welsford. Educated in Plymouth, W Bro John became an apprentice in HM Dockyard and, unbeknown to him, was tutored by the Worshipful Master of the Lord Roborough Lodge, W Bro Arthur Beer. Following his apprenticeship, and now qualified with an HNC in Construction, he was posted overseas to Mauritius and twice to Gibraltar whilst employed by the Property Services Agency. Back in the UK, in 1976, and between overseas postings, he was Clerk of Works on the construction of GCHQ in Cheltenham. Eventually he returned to Devonport and left the PSA in 1994. He became Estates Business Manager with Plymouth Community Services until retirement in 2006.
W Bro John married Barbara in 1968 and has two children, one of whom was born in Mauritius, and two grandchildren. His family accompanied him on all his overseas and UK postings.
W Bro John was initiated into the Lodge of Friendship No 1696 Eastern Constitution in Mauritius, on the 11th October 1974. The following year he was exalted into the Friendship Royal Arch Chapter No 160. In Gibraltar he became a joining member of The Robert Freke Gould Lodge No 2874 and of Calpean Royal Arch Chapter No 278 and Hammeton Mark Lode No 516. Two years later he was installed as Worshipful Master of Robert Freke Gould Lodge and promoted to District Grand Steward in the Royal Arch. On his return to Gibraltar four years later, he was again installed as WM of Robert Freke Gould Lodge. In 1987 he was present at the consecration of the District Grand Stewards Lodge No 9217 which was held in St Michael’s Cave in Gibraltar. It was presided over by the Grand Master, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent with The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Spain in attendance.
After his retirement W Bro John became a joining member of Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge No 2958 in 1992 and Armada Lodge No 4360 in 2001. He became Worshipful Master for the third time in 2001, in Armada Lodge and then served as treasurer for seven years. In 2004 he joined Unity Chapter No 1247, was First Principal in 2009 and is still their Treasurer. In 2018 he was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in the RA. In 2015 he became a joining member of the Lord Roborough Lodge No 5789 and was promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2018.
On behalf of the Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Gale presented W Bro Welsford with his certificate of long service of 50 years with many congratulations for his long and varied Masonic career and this was received with acclamation by the brethren.
W Bro Gale then proceeded to give an account of W Bro Tony Banbury’s life and Masonic career. Born and educated in Plymouth, W Bro Tony left school at 17 and in 1961, started work in the City Engineers Property Maintenance Section as a Junior Clerk and later moved to the Planning Office. In January 1966 he was appointed to Plympton St Mary Rural District Council as a Senior Clerk in the Building Inspectors’ Office. However, in September 1966, he decided on a complete change of career and entered St Paul’s Teacher Training College in Cheltenham to begin a three year course leading to a teaching certificate.
In September 1969 W Bro Tony was appointed to Oxford Street Primary School in the heart of Plymouth and spent 10 years there. In 1979 he was appointed Deputy Headteacher of St Andrew’s C of E Primary School, Plymouth and finally, in 1984, as Headteacher of Brixton St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in the South Hams. During this time he studied for a Bachelor of Education Degree, part time at the College of St Mark and St John. In 1997 W Bro Tony took early retirement from headship but continued to work in schools for another 11 years. He was also a part time Assistant Staff Tutor with the Open University, working with, and assessing, teaching assistants until 2004.
W Bro Tony married Marion on her 21st birthday in February 1965 and they have just celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. The wedding ceremony was conducted by his grandfather, W Bro Rev Frederick Charles Pound, Past Provincial Grand Chaplain. They have two sons, both now in their fifties. In June 1970 W Bro Tony was admitted and licensed as a Diocesan Reader (lay minister) in the Church of England at St Michael’s Church in Devonport and he continues with this role at St Mary and All Saints Church in Plymstock. To celebrate their Ruby Wedding in 2005 they embarked on a nine week round the world epic journey, visiting India, China, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada.
W Bro Tony was initiated into The Lord Roborough Lodge, No 5789 on the 24th February 1965, just two weeks after getting married. His Father, W Bro Robert Banbury, initiated him and, two months later his Grandfather, W Bro Pound PPrGChap raised him. In 1976 he was installed in the Chair of King Solomon by his father. He was appointed Provincial Grand Steward in 1985, promoted to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in the following year and to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1994. He was Director of Ceremonies of Lord Roborough Lodge for 13 years from 1993. He has also served as Mentor, Charity Steward and Almoner, an office he still holds.
W Bro Tony was appointed Provincial Assistant Grand Chaplain in 2005 and as Provincial Deputy Grand Chaplain in 2009. In 2010 he succeeded R W Bro Ian Kingsbury as Provincial Grand Mentor, an office he held for 6 years. In 2010 he was appointed as Past Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Lodge.
In the Royal Arch he was exalted into the Chapter of Friendship No 202 in 1976 and installed in the First Principal’s Chair in 1986. He was appointed Provincial Assistant Grand Scribe Ezra in 1998, promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1999 and finally to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2006. He was Director of Ceremonies in Friendship Chapter from 2007 to 2015.
In 2002 W Bro Tony was perfected into Huyshe Chapter No 38 Rose Croix and was enthroned as Most Wise Sovereign in 2012. The following year he had the privilege of enthroning his brother, W Bro Chris Banbury, as Most Wise Sovereign of Huyshe Chapter. In October 2013 he was promoted to 30th degree in the Grand East in London. He currently holds the office of Prelate in the Chapter.
As well as Freemasonry W Bro Tony lists many other interests: walking in wild country and on the coast, reading, music, theatre, travel, debate, photography, things mechanical, things ecclesiastical and most importantly, his family.
On behalf of the Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Gale presented W Bro Banbury with his certificate of long service of 60 years with many congratulations for his long and distinguished Masonic career and this was received with acclamation by the brethren.
Following the meeting the brethren retired to the refectory to enjoy an excellent Festive Board.
W Bro Chris Banbury PPrJGW
IPM The Lord Roborough Lodge No 5789