Brooke Lodge 3608 - John Montague Heeley and Roy Duncan Hague celebrating 50 years in Craft Masonry.

Brooke Lodge has celebrated two Jubilees this year with both John Montague Heeley and Roy Duncan Hague celebrating 50 years in Craft Masonry.

Worshipful Brother John Montague Heeley was initiated in Brooke Lodge No. 3608 on the 2nd April 1968 a few days before his 40th birthday.  He was Passed and Raised on the 2nd July 1968 and 1st October respectively and all at Brookes’ old Masonic Hall in Honley.  John has been an active member of the lodge and until recently has taken part in ceremonies particularly in the 3rd Degree Ceremony.

John was a Master Baker and as he advanced within the lodge, became concerned about going into the chair due to the 5.30 start in the bakery each morning.  A past Master of Brooke Lodge who was also a master baker, showed great brotherly love in offering to do the morning bake the day after the lodge met. This kind gesture convinced John to take the chair – which he did in 1982.  John had an eventful year and made many lifelong friendships.  John also acted as Lodge Charity Steward for 9 years.

John received his first Provincial Honours in 1991 as Past Provincial Deputy Grand Sword Bearer and received promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1997.

John was exalted into the Royal Arch on 11th November 1981 into the Chapter of Industry No 652 and became 1st Principal in in October 1995.  He received his Provincial Honours in 2001 as Past Provincial Grand Sojourner and again in 2005 as Past Provincial Grand Registrar.

John was also an active member of the Re-enactment Lodge 1759 who’s ceremonies are carried out in full period dress and once travelled to Dublin to perform an enactment for the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
​
John was presented with his Jubilee Certificate in open Lodge in April by W Bro Gordon Wilkinson in front of a host of brethren where he was warmly received and all took a great deal of pleasure hearing about John’s years in Freemasonry and celebrating this landmark jubilee.

---

Worshipful Brother Roy Duncan Hague (Duncan) has had a 78 year relationship with Freemasonry in general and with Brooke Lodge in particular.  His father W Bro Donald Hague was Worshipful Master of Brooke Lodge in 1956 and proposed his son into Freemasonry.  Sadly his father passed away one month before Duncan was initiated on 3rd September 1968.
Duncan was Installed as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1978 (a Master in the year of the fabled “Snowmasters”) and was the second member of the Lodge to have a second term in the chair in 1986. 

At his presentation Duncan regaled how, when the Lodge met at Honley – particularly in his father’s day, the trams stopped at 8pm, the Brethren and their Ladies thought nothing of walking home – on some occasions up to ten miles – how times have changed!
​
Throughout Duncan’s masonic career he has contributed greatly to the Lodge.  His knowledge of the history of the Lodge and the accounts he could give for seventy or so years was fundamental in the preparation of the book about Brooke Lodge to commemorate its Centenary in 2012.  Duncan has also held the position of Lodge Secretary for 16 years one which he still holds now.

Duncan and his wife Nancy have taken full part in the Lodges social life and they have both contributed greatly to the Ladies evenings and all social events particularly during his two periods in the Masters chair.

Duncan was awarded the Acting Rank of Provincial Grand Steward in 1987 and now holds the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.

In the Royal Arch, Duncan was exalted in Beaumont Chapter No. 2035 and was 1st Principal in 1985.  Duncan holds the rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah.  Duncan is also the second longest serving member of Beaumont Chapter.
​
Outside Freemasonry, Duncan spent 72 years working on the turnstiles as Huddersfield Town Football Club – where this year he was honoured by the club for the longevity of his service.
Duncan was presented with his jubilee certificate again by Worshipful Brother Wilkinson to a full temple at Kirkburton, where he was joined by several Past Masters of the year of the Snowmasters and afterwards said he was delighted that W Bro Wilkinson had done the presentation and advised the Brethren that he had “Done a wonderful job tonight!” to which there was warm applause.