The brethren of the Hawton 100 Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners held their 51st birthday meeting recently, not only celebrating a new member being advanced into the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners, but also celebrating 50 years' service by one of its members. Joining them was Right Worshipful Brother David Charles Purdie, the Provincial Grand Master. He was accompanied on this special occasion by Right Worshipful Brother Peter Hawken MBE, Past Provincial Grand Master and a founder of the lodge, Worshipful Brother Brett Varker, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brother Christopher Elliott, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, all holders of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank, and Worshipful Brother Robert Palmer, Provincial Grand Secretary and Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank.
They were further escorted by other holders of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank, including Worshipful Brothers Bill Humphries and John Clendinning, both Past Deputy Provincial Grand Masters, Worshipful Brother Richard Thomas, Provincial Prior of the Devon and Cornwall Knights Templar and Worshipful Brother Gary Peard, District Grand Master of the Royal and Select Masters of Devon and Cornwall, alongside Worshipful Brothers Martin Smith and Gilson Rowe, the Provincial Grand Chaplain and Assistant Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies respectively.
The lodge was opened by Worshipful Brother Charlie Cobham, who was standing in as the Worshipful Commander due to the unfortunate absence of Worshipful Brother Peaty Keaty on health grounds. Worshipful Brother Cobham then led his crew of officers to perform an outstanding Elevation ceremony for Brother John Pritchard. Demonstrating the support for the order by other distinguished brethren who are members of the lodge, Brother John was expertly led around the Lodge by the Senior Deacon, Worshipful Brother Nicholas A. Ball, also the Provincial Grand Master of the Craft and Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch within Devonshire. Superb renditions of the ritual were also performed by many brethren within the lodge, including Worshipful Brother Bill Daw for the signs and secrets, and Right Worshipful Brother Peter Hawken for his explanation of the working tools.
Following this outstanding ceremony, the Provincial Grand Master was invited onto the floor of the lodge, and he was joined by Worshipful Brother William Stuart Daw (affectionately known as Bill). The Provincial Grand Master then discussed with Bill his exceptionally long and distinguished career as not only a Craft Mason within Devonshire, but also as a member of many other orders throughout England, Wales and Scotland, treating the brethren present to an in-depth history of Bill’s outstanding service and career within these numerous orders. Of note, Bill has been a founder member of Agri Libertas Lodge 21 of the Knights Beneficent of the Holy Royal City, as well as a founder of both the Mandylion Lodge 628 and the Grand Master's Bodyguard 715 in both the orders of the Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta. He has held and still holds many high and prestigious positions within all of the orders that he is a member of.
Bill joined the degree of Mark Master Masons at the Brunswick Mark Lodge 48 in August 1971 and became the Worshipful Master in 1980. His support for the order was recognised, and in 1988 he received his first appointment to the rank of Grand Steward, giving him the opportunity to join the prestigious Grand Stewards Lodge the same year. Further promotions ensued, with promotion to Past Grand Junior Deacon in 1993, and then to Past Grand Junior Overseer in 2007, earning him the rank of a Very Worshipful Brother. Bill went on to become a founding member of the St Andrews Golf Lodge of Mark Master Masons 1370 in 2022, becoming their Worshipful Master the following year, joined the Lodge of St Simon 1116 in 2024, and was installed as the Worshipful Master of the Grand Stewards Lodge in 2025, 38 years after joining it.
Bill was elevated into the Hawton Lodge 100 within the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner on the 28th July 1976. He became their Worshipful Commander in 1985 and has served as their Treasurer since 1987. His career in this degree did not finish there, as he was a founder member of the Ashburton Lodge of Royal Ark Mariner 1038, becoming their first Treasurer from 1992 to 2001, and becoming Commander in 2022. He also became a founding member of both the Sir Francis Drake Lodge of Royal Ark Mariner 617 in 1994, where he is the Charity Steward, and the Devonshire Lodge of Installed Commanders 1750 in 1996, where he has held the rank of Treasurer for the last 20 years. In recognition of his service to the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity, Bill was promoted to Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank in December 2002.
The 50 Year certificate from the Grand Masters Royal Ark Council, together with the Provincial Citation, were read out eloquently by the Provincial Grand Secretary, Worshipful Brother Robert Palmer, and a pin badge celebrating his dedicated service to the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner was then presented alongside his certificates by the Provincial Grand Master.
Following this wonderful discussion and presentation, Bill said a few words to the brethren, which included his answer to the question of what his favourite degree was. Bill said that being a member of any order is a privilege, and each one across Freemasonry has its own special bits and pieces; as such, he could not choose a specific degree or order as his favourite. He thanked all of those who had supported him throughout his career and said that both the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner degrees will always hold special places within his heart.
Following this wonderful meeting, more than 40 brethren retired to the refectory to enjoy a wonderful festive board.
During the festive board, Brother John was presented with his Provincial tie, which he stated that he would wear with pride, before the brethren were treated to a slice of the lodge's traditional birthday cake. Worshipful Brother Bill was also presented with his own celebration cake, which he said he would share with his wonderful wife and supporter, Ursula, in due course.
On behalf of all of the brethren of the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner within the Province of Devonshire, we congratulate you on your excellent service and dedication to the order, and we wish you many more happy years enjoying the company of all of us.