This Jubilee Certificate for 50 years in Freemasonry presentation to WBro David Ayears, PPSGW Honorary Member of St Crispin Lodge Number 5627 by WBro David Watson PSGD was made at the Regular meeting of the Lodge on 11th February 2022.
Brethren I would like to take you back to February 1972 – W Bro David Ayears was aged 39 years
A year into decimalisation
No mobile telephones
Apple Corp still 4 years away
Hosted by Eamonn Andrews was a hugely popular television programme
SO…. W Bro David …. THIS IS YOUR (MASONIC) LIFE
Having been educated at the Central School in Kettering W Bro David was employed by British United Shoe Machinery Company (BUSM). Married to Margaret in 1960 by whom he has 3 children he had served his National Service in the highly regarded 11th Hussars, a regiment formed 2 years before UGLE was established and nicknamed The Cherry Bums having been granted the honour of wearing crimson/cherry trousers, being the colour of Prince Albert’s livery – the regiment having escorted Albert to his marriage to Queen Victoria. Returning to BUSM he eventually moved into management and directorships in the field of shoe component manufacture.
As a serving officer it was probably to be expected that W Bro David would have been interested in our Brotherhood not least because his close friend W Bro Ian Tailby had joined two months previously. So on the 11th February 1972, he was initiated into St Crispin Lodge progressing to the Chair of King Solomon in 1985. In 1991 he was appointed to the acting rank of ProyJGD being promote to PProvGSuptWks, PProvJGW and in 2008 to PProvSGW.
He joined Perseverance Chapter in Feb 1975 attaining the office of “Z” in 1989 and now holds the rank of PProvGScribeN
He is also a well respected member of Rose Croix, Mark and Knights Templar where he holds Grand Rank as a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies. It also struck me when comparing his Masonic career with that of W Bro Ian Tailby how closely they worked together in office. Not only that but he has also contributed to the development of Kettering Masonic Hall having been the Secretary of the Centre for a number of years, again alongside his great friend W Bro Ian Tailby who was Chairman.
Outside of Freemasonry, for many years, he was Chairman of Keystone Boys Club and was a major contributor to their widely acclaimed status. He attended many a boxing tournament where the MC was W Bro Bobby Civil. He developed an interest in motor racing and kept his technical interests alive with a 1948 Fordson Van – he is still a motor sport fan but is also most happy with a somewhat slower pace of life on board a Canal Boat an interest that he shares with another close friend W Bro Harry Twelvetree.
BRETHREN – the measure of a man and a mason is not just by the work they do but by the relationships they establish. Some years ago W Bro David recognised that W Bro Ian and his wife Margaret required additional support. He called me and I contacted Devonshire Court and W Bro Ian is happily resident there. Ian kindly provided some of the information set out above with much more being provided by W Bro Glen Page.
When I first became a Freemason in Kettering I knew few brethren but I did recognise that there were some highly distinguished brethren here in York Road: WBro's Albert Shepherd, David Bosworth, Pat Marlow, Ian Tailby and of course David Ayears whose masonic and personal life can be summed up in the motto of the 11th Huzzars “Treu und Fest” – Loyal & Sure.
(Information kindly supplied by WBro Jason Brice, Kettering LCO)