W. Bro. Stanley Hudson - 60 Years in Freemasonry

Worshipful Master and Brethren,

I also have the very pleasant duty of presenting a 60-year certificate and badge to W Bro Stanley Thomas Hudson.

50 Years in freemasonry is a very long time, but 60 years in freemasonry is 20% longer and quite a rare achievement. I had a quick look back over the certificates from the last 20 years and there are only 3 or 4 recipients of a 60-year certificate.

I would like to thank Stan for very kindly providing me with some notes to base my address on and I would like to thank Gary Hicks, although he can’t be here this evening, for kindly popping round for a chat with Stan to get those notes.

W Bro Stan, you were born in Milford Haven in March 1935. You have a twin brother called Bob who lives in Somerset.

You were raised in Milford Haven where your parents ran the Lord Kitchener Pub between 1941 and 1968. I don’t know if it sparked your interest in freemasonry, but RW Bro Lord Herbert Horatio Kitchener was a very eminent freemason.

You attended North Road Boys School and Milford Haven Grammar School, which is where you met and fell in love with your wife of 62 years Joyce.

After you left school, you joined the RAF to do your National Service. After Basic Training in Staffordshire, you were conveniently posted back to RAF Pembrey. You used your contacts from the pub to get lifts to and from Milford Haven with the Fish Hawkers you knew from working behind the bar.

When you finished your National Service, you trained to be a teacher at Trinity College Carmarthen.

You were Proposed into Freemasonry by W Bro Trevor Ingram, a Milford Haven trawler owner and initiated into St David’s Lodge on 2nd April 1963. Both your father-in-law Alf and his brother Stan were members of Old Priory Lodge and I daresay there were a few raised eyebrows when you joined the other lodge.

You filled all the progressive offices, finally becoming Worshipful Master in 1973 and as I have already mentioned, one of your first responsibilities was to initiate Bro Gordon.

In Provincial Grand Lodge, you were appointed to the acting rank of Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1979.

You have always been keen on the ritual, and you continue to deliver the Traditional History when the opportunity arises. You have also been very keen on the social side of freemasonry and always enjoyed Friday nights in the Milford Haven Masonic Club.

You were keen to make your life in Pembrokeshire and thanks to your old school friend Colin Whitmore you managed to get a job as an Assistant Master teaching General Science at the County Secondary School, which later became Sir Thomas Picton School and is now Haverfordwest VC High School. After a very successful career, you finally retired as Deputy Head of Sir Thomas Picton School in 1994. Your involvement with school continued after your retirement as you became a School Governor and latterly Chairman of the Governors. You were Chairman of the Governors when I served four years as a Parent Governor, mainly while Joan Beasant was the Head Teacher. Your long connection with the school means that you not only remember my wife Helen as a pupil, but also our children, Henry, Oliver, and Marcie. Helen also served as a Governor of STP under your Chairmanship.

In addition to a successful career in teaching, acting as Chairman of the Governors and your masonic & family commitments, you also served for a total of 46 years on Milford Town Council, Preseli District Council and Pembrokeshire County Council. Your distinguished service to the community and local politics was rewarded when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded you an MBE in 1994.

W Bro Stan, your dedication to your family, your work, your freemasonry, and your community are truly remarkable. I am delighted to be the one presenting you with this certificate and badge to mark 60 years’ continuous service to freemasonry. I congratulate you most sincerely on all your many achievements and I look forward to being here when you receive your 70-year certificate.

Many congratulations.