( Information on this page compiled by I.J.Bain P.M. Lodge Ugie #939 * A.Goodman P.M. The Derwent Lodge #884 E.C. )
On
October 11, 2006 Bro. Walker travelled from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England to
Lodge Ugie #939 in Mintlaw Scotland to commemorate his 60th. year in
Freemasonry, the R.W.M. Bro. Joe Brice worked a 1st. or Entered
Apprentice Degree, & I was given the honour of standing in as Candidate.
Bro. James Arthur Walker (A brief summary)
Born in Stuartfield, Aberdeenshire on April 12, 1926.
Aged 14 he left school and went to college in Aberdeen to study Marconi Wireless Operations where qualified as a wireless operator - Ocean Going - & then wrote to Marconi to see if he could get on a ship. No-one asked for proof of age or checked his date of birth and he was sent to Ellesmere Port to be a wireless operator on a merchant ship, and consequently celebrated his 15th. birthday in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The
Great Survivor - he was first sunk (as if once wouldn't be enough) in the
Mediterranean, and then again in the Atlantic aged just 16, and again in the
Atlantic two years later. So at the end of the War, and after being sunk
three times Arthur gave up the life at sea and joined the Derbyshire Police
force where you can't get sunk, but unfortunately where you can be severely hurt
whilst attending an accident by a passing motorist. After recovering, he
moved to the safe confines of an office, the administrative side of Police work,
where you can be neither sunk or are at risk from passing motorists, and in
relative safety served out the rest of his working career.
Arthur has been happily married to Joan for 55 years. They now live in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England and have two daughters, a son and several grandchildren.
Notes on Bro. Walker's Masonic Career
| October 9, 1946 | Initiated into Lodge Ugie #939 on the roll of Grand Lodge of Scotland |
| October 23, 1946 | Passed to the degree of Fellow Craft |
| November 6, 1946 | Raised to the high and sublime degree of a Master Mason |
| April 4, 1948 | Advanced to the degree of Mark Master |
| March 18, 1960 | Affiliated to The Derwent Lodge #884 on the roll of The United Grand Lodge of England. |
| April 1, 1960 | Joined The Derwent Mark Lodge #963 |
| October 17, 1969 | Worshipful Master of the Derwent Lodge #884 |
| October 2, 1970 | Master of The Derwent Mark Lodge #963 |
| 1987 | Moved North back to Stuartfield, Aberdeenshire Remained a country member of Derwent #884 |
| January 11, 1989 | Senior Warden - Lodge Ugie #939 |
| January 10, 1990 | Depute Master - Lodge Ugie #939 |
| January 8, 1992 | Right Worshipful Master - Lodge Ugie #939 |
| 1995 - 2000 | Secretary - The Derwent Lodge # 884 |
| April 8, 2000 | Provincial Grand Junior Warden - Derbyshire Provincial Grand Lodge |
| 2002 - 2003 | Secretary - The Derwent Lodge # 884 |
| April 30, 2004 | Provincial Grand Senior Warden - Derbyshire Mark Lodge |
| October 11, 2006 | Received Diamond Certificate (60 Years) and commemorative quaich in Lodge Ugie #939 from RWM Bro. Joe Brice & RWPGM Bro. Alfred Davidson. |
| October 20, 2006 | Provincial Grand Senior Warden - Derbyshire Provincial Grand Lodge. |
If anyone should have further information, or information following on from the above stated, we would be more than grateful to hear about it.