At the Provincial meeting of the Royal Order of Scotland, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire, held in March at the Corby Masonic Centre, our Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Barrie Hall, with kind permission from the Royal Order PGM, RW Bro Gordon Gentry, presented a Diamond Jubilee Certificate to W Bro Bill Thompson to mark sixty years of faithful and dedicated service to the Craft.
W Bro Bill was initiated under the Scottish Constitution in Glenifer Lodge No 1219 in December 1948 before moving south in the early 60s to enjoy his Masonry in Queen Alexandra Lodge No 2932, now part of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London, and more recently in the Cambridge Meridian Lodge No 9687.
During all his Craft work W Bro Bill remained dedicated to his beloved Royal Order of Scotland and pioneered the formation of the Royal Order Province of Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire which was "erected and consecrated" in 1992. W Bro Bill was Installed as the first PGM, serving until 2004. W Bro Bill was a joining member of Three Counties Lodge No 9278 in 1992 and was Installed as Master in 1999. A year later, he received the PGMs Certificate of Merit from RW Bro Nicolas Hart.
A very active and respected member of the Royal Arch, W Bro Bill was appointed as PGStdB in Supreme Grand Chapter and later promoted to PAGSoj. He is also a senior member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite and holds Great Priory rank in the Knights Templar Order.
Throughout his sixty years in the Craft and long service in many other Orders, W Bro Bill served with great distinction and commitment. Following the Jubilee Certificate presentation the Brethren gave a standing ovation in tribute to W Bro Bill's Masonic service.