Blackpool Group of Lodges
W.Bro. Tom Bailey, PPrSGW
Eulogy given by
W.Bro. Steven P.J.Reid, PSGD, Asst PGM
Some time ago I attended a funeral being held for a 98 year old - including the vicar and myself only ten people were there - but as someone pointed out all her contemporaries had gone before her so the small number attending wasn't surprising.
All Tom's contemporaries have gone before him - his school friends - his work colleagues - his golfing partners.
Yet this sizeable church is crammed with those compelled by a need to be here today to bid farewell to this remarkable man.
An overwhelming majority of those here today are Freemasons and their families, as it has been that setting that Tom has immersed himself since his wife died in the early 1980's and many of the aspects I will mention will strike a cord with them.
I hope that those not linked with Freemasonry will also get an uplifting insight into the contribution Tom gave to an organisation that was tailor made for him - concerned with not just being compassionate for others in distressed circumstances but more importantly stretching out a hand to help them - concerned with instilling in others an urge to lead a good life based on high standards of behaviour - concerned with transmitting to younger men an awareness of how much his own life had been enhanced by his membership.
Tom was born in Cunliffe Rd. Blackpool in 1910 only nine years after Queen Victoria's death and fewer since the end of the Boer War. He was one of those few people who you could say with confidence was born a Freemason - it wasn't a matter of if but when. In retrospect it is remarkable that he only took those stumbling steps a few days after his 50th birthday.
Yet even before the it was evident that his life was going to be based on laudable principles. It is no coincidence that the Co-operative movement was born here in Lancashire where it sought not only to offer a good supply of commodities but sought to give something back to those who showed loyalty and often were those living in a degree of adversity that made queuing to collect their divvie worthwhile. And it is no coincidence that his working life was with the Co-operative movement - starting out as a barrow boy delivering to houses and rising to managerial responsibility culminating in his being the manager who opened the first Supermarket in Blackpool. In his work his reputation for straight dealing and integrity was widely recognised.
When the Second World War came along Tom was in his forties and could have sat back and let younger men answer the call but in keeping with his merits he put country before self. He was with the Royal Signals with the Eighth Army but was a little elusive about his theatre of action. I did ask him one time if he had kicked Rommell out of North Africa and his reply was I wasn't quite a desert rat.
He subsequently admitted that he had been teasing me when he said that he sustained the injury to his right elbow arm wrestling with Mussolini but the service he saw in the war mainly in the Holy Land is something we should acknowledge today.
The residual problems he had with his elbow would have prevented a lesser man playing golf to any decent standard butTom overcame his difficulties to become not just a decent golfer but to play to 4 handicap for many years and he was still playing a few holes at the age of 91
Some men here today may on occasions harboured less than affectionate thoughts about their own mother-in-laws - if so they will be startled to learn that it was through his mother-in-law's encouragement that Tom found his way into Freemasonry. She not only directed him towards the order but also arranged for her friend Charlie Pollard to propose him. So mothers-in-law can come in useful and in this instance certainly came up trumps.
Although he came to Freemasonry rather late in life, once in he certainly did not spare himself. There is hardly an area in which he did not contribute. Such was his precision and command of ritual that he was able to make complex and convoluted language lucid and also comprehensible. Anyone who received the explanation of a degree from Tom was fortunate indeed.
In the Lodge of Instruction he is only one of three since 1968 to deliver a totally perfect ceremony. Over several decades he gave expositions of work that were valued by all who heard them and was still doing so after his 90th birthday when no one could have blamed him for retiring to the back benches.
In his beloved Symphony Lodge he was Master in 1970 and derived great joy in doing all three ceremonies for son Phillip in 1972/3 and putting Phillip in the Chair of Symphony in 1983 when he himself was over 70 years of age.
He took on so many different roles - Group Representative auditor chaplain - that the word indefatigable might have been invented for him. A man of simple but deep faith he illustrated how comfortably his Freemasonry sat with his religion - each supporting the other. As Director of Ceremonies in Symphony from 1976 to 1981 he set standards which are still in evidence today.
In his latter years until his health failed the role that gave him the deepest pleasure was as Tyler - outside the Lodge helping candidates in their preparation. Many men here will have cause to look back and be grateful to Tom for his kindness, his encouragement and his wisdom when they stood outside awaiting admission. He was Tyler for 13 Lodges and the equivalent in 7 Chapters and all acknowledge the debt they owe this splendid man. His promotion to the very special rank of Provincial Grand Warden was recognition of his merits.
In the last few days I have had before my eyes and irresistible image of Tom standing outside the pearly gates and on them sounding three firm knocks.
St Peter opens the gates and asks Whom have you there? Comes the reply in a far from strong voice It's me Tom Bailey and I've stood outside for so long - I'm tired and now I really do want to come in for good.
But as he passes from our view to his eternal rest we sense how this ever darkening world is in truth a poorer place without this man out of whom shone the light of a good and virtuous life.
He was at once the friend of saint and sinner, a twentieth century Sir Galahad who not only found his very own cup of life's riches and drank deeply of its precious contents but then he filled others including so many in this congregation with an uplifting intoxication.
The trumpets will surely sound in the Celestial Grand Lodge above when this brave soul enters to meet the King of Kings. We can all be certain that he will hear those wonderful words from the Throne of Grace 'Well done thou good and faithful servant - enter thou into the joy of thy Lord'