W.Bro. J.S.L.Bathe Celebrates his Diamond Anniversary.

W.Bro. Terry Hudson, P.S.G.D. A.P.G.M. started  describing John’s early life, by telling the meeting that John was born in Canning Town, London, on 27^th, June, 1925, and was one of five children. His parents were strict Methodists, and even more strictly Teetotal.

 As Terry pointed out,” Where did it all go wrong?”

Terry went on to explain that in 1941, at the very young age of 16 John had joined the Merchant Navy as a laundry boy, serving on troop ships bound for Italy and North Africa. Then at the age of 18, he joined the crew of the legendry, SS. Ile De France.

The Ile De France was launched in March 1926, and was the first large liner to be built after the conclusion of World War One. It was the Ile De France that heralded the inception of modernistic Art Deco into the design of passenger shipbuilding. In 1941, she was converted to a troopship carrying American and Canadian troops across the Atlantic that was until 1945, when she was decommissioned.

1945 heralded the end of the War. John on being released went to work for his family firm repairing bomb damaged buildings.

Terry then informed the brethren that the date of 27^th. June 2008, was a cause for extreme celebrations. On Veterans Day in Blackpool, John along with four others received, from General. Sir Richard Dannatt. Chief of the General Staff; and Veterans Minister, Derek Twigg. M.P.  for his service to the BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC.

The Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

This is without doubt a great honour, and carries certain privileges, for example. A Freeman of the City of London, has traditionally but apocryphally associated with the honour the following advantages;

The right to drive sheep over the London Bridge.

Have a Silken rope, if hanged.

To carry a naked sword in public.

If found drunk and incapable, the police will bungle him or her into a taxi, and send them home, rather than throw them into the cells.

As yet John has not taken up any of these options.

Johns Masonic career is a long and varied one, being a member of several lodges throughout the country.

Knighton Lodge No.5899 – Leicester. Prescot Lodge No.5470 – Prescot. Hope Lodge No.54 – Rochdale. Paragon Lodge No.5815 – Bridge Street, Manchester. Sanaritan Lodge No.3366 – Bridge Street, Manchester. He was Initiated into Leyton Jubilee Lodge No.6424, finally becoming a joining member of Mereside Lodge No.6360, and was in the year if 2004, appointed to the rank of P.Pr.J.G.D.

Terry concluded by praising the integrity, commitment and especially the humour of W.Bro.John. He was then presented with a scroll, from the R.W. P.G.M. Bro. Peter Hosker, by the Chairman of the Blackpool Group of Lodges, W.Bro Ian J.Robertson. P.A.G.D.C. 

Photo from left to right; 

W.Bro.Terry Hudson. P.S.G.D.  A.Pr.G.M.   W.Bro. John S.L.Bathe. P.Pr.J.G.D.

W.Bro. Richard Gosling. Mereside Lodge.No. 6360 , and

W.Bro. Ian J.Robertson. P.A.G.D.C. Chairman of the Blackpool Group of Lodges.