On the 26th April 2019, W.Bro. Bill Caughie, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, went along to the Lovekyn Chantry Chapel in Kingston upon Thames to present a 50 year Certificate to a senior member of the Lovekyn Chantry Lodge No 6807, W.Bro. Bill Preston, PPGJW. This was W.Bro. Bill Caughie’s first visit to our unique venue. Built in 1309 the Lovekyn Chantry Chapel is one of the oldest buildings in which Masonic meetings are held.
W.Bro. Bill Caughie first spoke about Bill Preston the man and then highlighted the key points in Bill’s Masonic career. Bill, who was born in 1939, is married to Amanda. They have a son and a daughter and five grandsons, which keeps them very busy.
Bill was sent to a boarding Prep school in Southwold in 1947, from where he took the 11 plus and entered Kingston Grammar School in September 1951. On leaving school he started working in a Leather Tannery in Bermondsey for a couple of years until the tannery ceased trading. After which he had a major career change and entered the Motor Trade starting off cleaning cars and collecting spare parts. Bill retired as Sales Director of the company in 2002 when he took up voluntary work in various fields.
Bill was initiated into Lovekyn Chantry Lodge in 1969 and joined Corium Lodge in London in 1993. Until recently Corium Lodge met in the Leathersellers Hall in London. He is a member of one Royal Arch Chapter, Lovekyn Chantry Chapter, and one Mark Lodge. Bill is a well respected Mason, which was evident from the number of Brethren present to see him receive his presentation.
The Lodge would like to say a big thank you to W.Bro. Bill Caughie for making the time to come along to present Bill with his certificate. He had to leave immediately after the presentation as he was due to pick up his wife Sharon to go to the theatre. We hope that W.Bro. Bill will be able to join us again as a guest of the Lodge.
Article and photo by Chris Eley