W Bro Len Hellon

Len Hellon, accompanied by some 90 of his friends, celebrated 50 years in Freemasonry in Great Marton Lodge No. 3985 at The Masonic Hall in Blackpool on 28^th May 2009. The principal guest was Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Terry Hudson, who gave an outline of Len’s personal history.

Photo : left to right Terry Hudson, Graham Forsdyke (WM), Len Hellon

Len was born in Blackpool in 1931, at 40 Kimberley Avenue, the home of his parents, Thomas Stanley, affectionately known as Stan, and Doris Hellon. Len’s father was a Policeman who served throughout his career in Blackpool, memorably as PC 111, regularly driving the Black Maria to Strangeways and Walton prisons.  Stan was a genuine man of firm but fair principles which ultimately led him to become a Freemason, and in 1962 a Past Master of Great Marton Lodge, all of which was to have a significant bearing on Len’s future life.  Len’s sister Jean was a nurse before her marriage to Marcus Hill, also a Past Master of Great Marton Lodge, who was present along with Marcus’ son and Len’s nephew Antony, now the Lodge’s Senior Warden, who later proposed the toast to Len at the Festive Board.

Len’s early education was at Roseacre Infants School before moving up to Highfield School. Some 2 years later he successfully took a newly introduced examination which at the age of 13, enabled him to go to the Blackpool Technical College, where he remained until leaving at the age of 15.

His first employment was with J B Leigh on Preston New Road where he entered into a 7 year apprenticeship.  National Service later beckoned with the RAF. He signed on for three years, principally he reasoned, because the pay would be better.  In the event this was a period of his life which he enjoyed immensely. He worked on airfields in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Egypt, usually being involved in generating power and significantly purifying water from the notoriously obnoxious Sweetwater Canal.  Sweetwater was of course a contradiction in terms, for sweet it most certainly it was not. Downwind you could smell it from five miles away and clothes reeked for months afterwards.

After service with the RAF he returned to his former employer as a toolmaker. Over the years the company changed its direction a number of times from toolmakers to the manufacture of teeth and dental equipment, and then to slot machines and plastic cups.  Finally he left in 1961. If truth be told he was dismissed when it was learnt that he and two others were proposing to set up on their own engineering business. And so it was that the Blackpool Tool Co Ltd was born where he specialised in press tools, injection moulding tools and other general engineering.  Intriguingly two of the partners invented a type of hydraulic wheelchair which might have brought him considerable fame and fortune except that it was by common consent some 20 years before its time.  For 25 years he continued to trade successfully until sadly there was another slump in 1986/7. The decision was then taken to sell off all of the machinery and close down.

However he had another string to his bow. In 1976, some ten years earlier, Len and his wife Brenda opened a Health Food shop in Highfield Road which having added in 1986 the Wool Shop next door he developed and ran successfully for nearly 30 years. Unfortunately problems with Brenda’s health finally influenced them to sell up in May 2005 and retire.

As a young man Len used regularly to attend dances at the Winter Gardens. It was there that Len met an attractive young lady called Brenda Taylor. They married on 7^th  March 1959 and lived very happily for over 46 years until sadly she died in January 2006.  Their marriage was blessed with two children, John and Julie and he now has five grandchildren.

His retirement enabled him to spend more time in pursuit of his two principal hobbies, caravanning and decoupage. Decoupage is an art form at which he had become particularly skilled over the years. Sadly he was robbed of many of his most prized examples following a break in at home.

His father having been a Freemason and a Past Master of Great Marton Lodge, as indeed was his uncle John, it should comes as no surprise to learn that his father became his Proposer into the Lodge. Len was initiated on 11 May 1959 by Frank Berry with Joe Sanderson and Stanley Lovatt as Senior and Junior Wardens. Len’s father acted as Senior Deacon.

In those days Great Marton was a large, vibrant and exciting lodge of which to be a member, with a long waiting list of candidates for admission. As a consequence Len found it easy to settle down in such a happy and rewarding atmosphere, particularly given that he was one of a long line of Lewis’ who became and are still members of the Lodge.

Len was installed into the Chair of Great Marton Lodge in February 1977 when 74 Brethren assembled at Adelaide Street to support him. In the absence of his father he was presented by his uncle John Hellon, who also delivered the address to him as Master.  His Ladies Evening was held at the Winter Gardens with an attendance of over 240, as was so often the case in those days, complete with a Whist Drive in the afternoon and the then obligatory full English breakfast after midnight.

Along with his late wife Brenda, Len has been a great supporter of Lodge social functions. He will long be remembered for his recitations at Festive Boards, particularly of those made memorable by Stanley Holloway.  His service to Great Marton Lodge since his Mastership has been one of exemplary commitment. Significantly, after five years as Almoner from 1981 to 1986 he then served as Chaplain for nine years - 14 years in all. Len was first appointed to PPrAGDC and in 1998 promoted to PPrDGSuptWks.

Assistant Provincial Grand Master Terry Hudson finally commented that over the years Len Hellon has proved himself to be a man of consummate integrity and commitment and wished him the very best of good health and happiness for many years to come. He concluded proceedings by offering him his warmest personal congratulations on achieving this wonderful milestone in his Masonic career.