WALTON WALKER AND SANDWELL LODGE 3847
Memoirs from Alf's Corner
Editors note: Dear readers - keep looking out for more memoirs from Alf’s Corner!
Our Editor at large, Alf, brings with him a pearl of great wisdom when he gives the following advice to us all – “don’t grow old!”.
It should be noted that the under-editor and apprentice to the tea-fetcher’s mate, chose at his peril to ignore that sound advice.
Bro. W. I. (Billy) Bassett
The Editor is continuing the theme of the Lodge and association with football clubs. A founder of Walton Walker Lodge was Bro. W. I. (Billy) Bassett (Lodge No. 347) and was, during his career, a player, manager and chairman of West Bromwich Albion F.C. Billy Bassett died in April 1937.
W. Bro. Richard Hill (W. M. in 1977)
W. Bro. Richard Hill (W.M. in 1977) was asked to produce a table plan for the wedding reception of Bryan Robson (captain of the England football team) and Denise, the daughter of Bro. George Brindley, Lodge No. 347. Incidentally, another member of our Lodge was Bro. Gil Rowley, initiated 11 December 1975, who was a very close friend of the Brindley/Robson family, and displayed many photographs of the family at his home where the Robson children spent many happy hours with Gil and Elaine.
W.Bro. F. A. (Bert) Millichip (W. M. 1964)
In October 1991 the minutes of Lodge 3847 reported that W.Bro. F. A. (Bert) Millichip (W.M. 1964) (Chairman of West Bromwich Albion and the Football Association) had been awarded a knighthood for services to football.
Bro T. W. (Tommy) Glidden
Bro. T. W. (Tommy) Glidden, a West Bromwich Albion player, was initiated into Lodge No. 3847 in November 1949.
Bro. James Marcus Smith
Sandwell Lodge No. Ex 4673 had the great excitement of initiating a true rock and roll legend when the fabulous, famous, and sometime infamous, Brother James Marcus Smith joined the Lodge in 2003. Bro. Smith was perhaps better known under his stage name of “P. J. Proby” an erstwhile contemporary of Elvis “the Pelvis” Presley. He was eternally and globally renowned for a “trouser splitting” incident on stage at a rock and roll concert, even though he was actually an accomplished super-star of the time in his own right. He continued his career in clubs and cabarets by returning to the “road” in the “silver wheels tours” with many other famous names from that era. This certainly left no time for P. J. Proby to continue his Masonic career as Bro. James Marcus Smith.
W.Bro. Sam Chiles, D.F.C. (Distinguished Flying Cross)
Another Brother who served his country well was W.Bro. Sam Chiles, D.F.C. (Distinguished Flying Cross) who also completed 50 years in Masonry, was initiated into Sandwell Lodge No. Ex 4673 in 1952 and was Worshipful Master in 1963.
W.Bro. H. J. Roberts (WM 1951)
W.Bro. H. J. Roberts (WM 1951) was a local confectionery manufacturer whose factory and home was on the corner of Walsall Road and Heath Lane in West Bromwich. W.Bro. Roberts became famous as the inventor and creator of the recipe for Trebor mints and in typical West Bromwich vernacular he was known in the Lodge as “Suck” Roberts.
W.Bro. Les Alldritt (W.M. 1986)
W.Bro. Richard Hill P.A.G.D.C. told the following tale about W.Bro. Les Alldritt (W.M. 1986). Les was for many years the Tyler at Noah’s Ark Lodge No. 347 which met at the Royal Oak Public House in Tipton. When called for to attend a Masonry function or Lodge meeting Les alleged that his dear wife said “if you go off out with them I shall never speak to you again”, to which Les confided to his colleagues “quick, let’s go before she changes her mind”.
W.Bro. Cliff Powers (W.M. 1988)
W.Bro. Cliff Powers (W.M. 1988) holds the accolade of being the only man to play in the Ivy Benson All Girl Band when he featured in the brass section to cover for absence.
W.Bro. Dr. Arthur Cyril Vernon Jones M.C. (Military Cross)
As this year celebrates 75 years since Victory in Europe we can celebrate two former members.
W.Bro. Dr. Arthur Cyril Vernon Jones M.C. (Military Cross), which is the third level of award for gallantry behind Victoria Cross and the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. “Cyril” Jones was awarded this medal for his actions in World War II when he infiltrated into German occupied Yugoslavia on a mission. The M.C. is awarded in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active occupations against the enemy on land. His only comment about this award was “better you don’t know about that” and refused to discuss it further.
W.Bro. A. C. V. Jones M.C.
As this year celebrates 75 years since Victory in Europe we can celebrate two former members.
W.Bro. A. C. V. Jones M.C., who had served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, completed 50 years in Masonry in October 2004 after being initiated on 28.10.1954 and going through the chair in September 1970.
"Life is a culmination of the past, an awareness of the present, an indication of the future beyond knowledge and the quality that gives the touch of divinity to matter!"
