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William Brockman Allied Masonic Degree Jewel
This Jewel, now in the Hayle Museum collection in Cornwall, was presented to the Edgecumbe Council by William Brockman of “Tachbrook”, Greenbank Avenue, Plymouth who served in the Royal Navy. He was listed as a Lieutenant serving at Plymouth on board HMS Talbot which was an Eclipse Class protected Cruiser (see photo). William was born in about 1856. He was Initiated on 4 Oct 1888 into Lodge of Fidelity No 230 (Devonport) aged 32. At the time he was listed as a Warrant Officer. He became a FC on 1 Nov 1888 and a MM on 6 Dec 1888. Other Lodges he appears to have been involved with are United Brethren Lodge No 1923 at Malta in 1896, Philammon Lodge No 3226 at Devonport in 1907, Royal Naval Lodge No 3337 at Devonport in Nov 1908 and Royal Navy Lodge No 191 at Deal. William died at the Royal Cornwall Sailors Hospital, Falmouth on 11 September 1914 and is buried in Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth (Grave Ref LA 12.37). The jewel is engraved “Edgecumbe Council 1907. Presented by Lt William Brockman RN. First Ill Som May 1907” Edgecumbe Council 35 TI is an Allied Masonic Degrees Council which used to meet at Plymouth from 1910. It now meets in Freemason's Hall, Castle Street, Tiverton EX16 6RE. The Jewel is unusual and quite rare. There are only 3 councils that can award it, these are the Plymouth councils (33TI, 34TI and 35TI ). The apron, which is also part of the museum collection, can only be earned by being the Candidate or the Master working the Knights of Constantinople degree, additionally this apron can only be worn in one of the three Plymouth councils. It cannot be worn in any other council. |
Meet Our Team
This is a new page and there will be more personal stories to follow in the next few weeks.
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John Penpraze (Deputy District Grand Prefect) and Angus Herdman are both members of Cornwall Masonic Car Club and are shown here with John's 1972 V12 Cobra at a Masonic Garden Party last year.
John is also Provincial Prior of St Thomas of Acon and Angus is the Deputy District Grand Master of Royal and Select Masters for Devon and Cornwall. |
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Another of John's car projects is shown on the right.
He also enjoys boat building and being on the water (left) - sometimes even when it's cold and wet! |
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Our previous District Treasurer, Derek Mills is also Provincial Grand Master of the Cornwall Province of The Royal Order of Scotland and Provincial Preceptor of the Westcountry Province of The commemorative Order of St Thomas of Acon.
He is a keen biker and has been riding since 1966. He has owned Harley-Davidson's since 2002 and is now riding his 8th bike, as you can see from the picture it is a touring model.
He says, Judith and I have now toured many countries on our bikes; France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Corsica, I think I've covered them all. Owning a Harley is very rewarding as wherever you go there is always complete strangers who come and talk to you and admire the bike!
As well as belonging to the Harley Owners Group we belong to two Harley Chapters, Plymouth Chapter UK and Cornouaille Chapter Quimper France.
We attend Harley Rallies all over Europe usually three or four a year. The Harley family is very special, no borders, always a friendly welcome and new friends wherever you go.
This year obviously has been challenging, a new bike on January 1st with less than 5000 miles on the clock, thankfully we did get a whistle stop tour in the Cognac region of France this summer. You will all probably know that in March Judith and I got caught in the first French lockdown, a weeks stay at our French house turned into three and a half months! We are both looking forward to next season with Rallies booked in Brittany, Paris and Liege and a ten day tour of the Alps visiting eight countries and riding all the passes. One of our mottos is “ Keep the rubber on the road and the shiny side up”
He is a keen biker and has been riding since 1966. He has owned Harley-Davidson's since 2002 and is now riding his 8th bike, as you can see from the picture it is a touring model.
He says, Judith and I have now toured many countries on our bikes; France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Corsica, I think I've covered them all. Owning a Harley is very rewarding as wherever you go there is always complete strangers who come and talk to you and admire the bike!
As well as belonging to the Harley Owners Group we belong to two Harley Chapters, Plymouth Chapter UK and Cornouaille Chapter Quimper France.
We attend Harley Rallies all over Europe usually three or four a year. The Harley family is very special, no borders, always a friendly welcome and new friends wherever you go.
This year obviously has been challenging, a new bike on January 1st with less than 5000 miles on the clock, thankfully we did get a whistle stop tour in the Cognac region of France this summer. You will all probably know that in March Judith and I got caught in the first French lockdown, a weeks stay at our French house turned into three and a half months! We are both looking forward to next season with Rallies booked in Brittany, Paris and Liege and a ten day tour of the Alps visiting eight countries and riding all the passes. One of our mottos is “ Keep the rubber on the road and the shiny side up”
Our District Grand Senior Warden this year is W. Bro. Geoffrey Isaac. He is a very well known Mason locally and amongst his other high positions was Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Degree in Cornwall from 2004 to 2014 as shown in the photograph on the right.
A Past Master of Carew Lodge, Geoffrey has been a holder of Craft Grand Rank for 14 years and is also a member of several other Masonic Degrees.
Outside of Masonry, he worked in a local firm of Solicitors for many years, ending up as a Senior partner and retiring at the age of 70. His interests include being a Governor of 2 local schools and Chairman of Governors of one. This duty led to a meeting with Princess Diana. He is also a keen member of the
Rame Peninsula Male Voice Choir which has received the Queens Award for voluntary service.
In June Geoffrey celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with Christine and has 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren.
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Our District Treasurer is Mike Daniels. Mike had successful career with various financial posts in Schweppes Foods, Co-op Bakery Division, various ceramics manufacturers and eventually with 30 years at Wedgwood China and Waterford Crystal group where he had a global financial role, regularly visiting France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Australia as well as the home bases of England and Ireland.
Outside of work his 2 hobbies were cycling and freemasonry. He started cycling at 13 years old with the Cycle Touring Club (CTC), and started to take an interest in racing. He progressed through the ranks, eventually taking a year off work to try the European racing circuits, during which he earned twelve times what he had earnt in England as a young accountant, and was covering around 30.000 miles per year. Mike says that It certainly taught him single minded focus and dedication to purpose. Mike was admitted into the Craft in Staffordshire in October 1974 and was appointed the Provincial Grand Treasurer from 1998 to 2004, followed by being appointed to Grand Rank as PAGDC and Provincial Grand Secretary in Staffordshire & Shropshire Mark. In 2009 Mike and his Wife Joan moved to Devon where his Masonic ranks have included:-. Secretary/Treasurer of the DMCA, Provincial Grand Charity Steward, Grand Senior Deacon and Grand Senior Overseer. In 2016 in the Mark Degree. He oversaw the Provincial Festival in aid of the MBF. In the Allied Masonic Degrees, Mike was Junior Warden in 2019. In 2020 he was appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer. Mike is currently a member of seventeen different Orders of Freemasonry and holds Grand Rank in eight of them. |
Hello, I’m W. Bro Andy Chapman of Red Cross council 34TI . This photo is about 2 years old and is of my and my brothers pet dog. Her name was Domino. I became a Devon mason in 2016, having been a London mason since 1993. I’m the District Grand Standard Bearer for 2020 and this is my first Devon and Cornwall District Grand Rank. I look forward to visiting as many councils as is possible when we are able to. Keep well and safe, Andy |
MEMBERS UPDATE
June Vickery, the wife of Anthony Vickery (our past District Grand Prefect) has finished her course of treatment and remains as always cheerful and positive.
Jim Evans is awaiting further tests and a scan and we wish him well. He has not lost his sense of humour and continues to relate various interesting tales to anyone who chats. While he is at home and unable to attend meetings he always welcomes phone-calls from Brethren. If you are a Cornish member be aware that he will stoutly defend the "other side of the Tamar"!
Bill Lissamer is also restricted to his home at the moment and has difficulty walking. Twice a a day he is visited by a home help and his meals are organised for him. He is being well looked after and in contact with several Brethren. Due to his deafness he does not answer the phone, but always welcomes visitors. If you want to visit him please go around the side of his house and knock on the side door as he will not hear you at the front door.
Nidrel Walsh. Our District Grand Prefect visited recently and found Nidrel up and about and in good spirits. His health is variable though, so as well as the good days, there are occasions when he spends part of the day in bed. Nidrel's sense of humour has not been affected and he still has a wealth of amusing stories for anyone who contacts him.
Peter Blackwell-Smythe. After spending time in hospital after contracting Covid-19, Peter is now at home and is gradually regaining strength and returning to normal health.
Ed Purkis. Ed is recovering well after slipping and "banging his head" at home a few weeks ago.