The Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Mark Constant, attended Ceres Lodge No 6977, to present WBro David Waddy with his diamond certificate, to mark his 60 years’ service in the craft.
The PGM presenting David Waddy with his Diamond Certificate
The meeting was the famous Old English Evening which Ceres Lodge hold each January, with roast beef for the festive board. First there was the matter of the meeting and the initiation of Andrew Fair, which was conducted in an excellent manner by the Worshipful Master and brethren of the Lodge, before the presentation of the certificate.
WBro David Waddy was born on 1 January 1939 making him one of the "silent generation", the PGM explained. The subsequent conversation with the PGM clearly demonstrated David does not live up to that label! The son of a doctor and father of a doctor, the PGM asked WBro David why he had not considered the medical profession, but David responded that he had instead spent 40 years contracting in the unsuccessful pursuit of profit.
PGM presents David Waddy accompanied by WBro Roger Blason, WM Charles Amstead, the newest mason Bro Andrew Fair, with the Lodge DC WBro Chris Moody and ADC WBro Andrew Greatrex
He was initiated into the Lodge on 1 December 1964, proposed by his father, who was a founder of Ceres Lodge and its third Master. He was passed in February 1965 and raised on 4 April 1965. David said he just took to Freemasonry. He joined his old school Lodge, Old Oakhamian Lodge No 8033 in the Province of Leicestershire & Rutland, in December 1965 and joined Coritani Lodge No 8079 in 1966, shortly after its founding. It was in Coritani Lodge that he first achieved the chair of King Solomon in 1975, followed shortly thereafter by becoming Master of Old Oakhamian Lodge in 1976 which he did again in 2018. He became the Master of Ceres Lodge in 1981 and went through the chair again in 2022. He was a founder of Buckby Castle Lodge No 8932 in 1980 becoming its Master in 2004. The PGM noted he had been chaplain in the three Lodges other than Ceres for a combined time of 26 years.
The Festive Board was a wonderful occasion with over 100 masons dining.