W Bro Fred Hetherington PPJGW celebrates 50 years in Freemasonry. Fred was Initiated into Pinner Lodge by his father Joe who had been WM in 1945, on 19 March 1960. After serving in each of the progressive Offices, Fred was Installed into the Chair of the Lodge in February 1974. After the Chair he served as Treasurer for 9 years from 1976 - an office his father had held for 14 years. He was a stalwart of the Lodge and regular attender until he began to be affected by macular degeneration and has felt unable to journey out quite as much – and particularly he doesn’t like to be out at night.

W Bro Steve Mather APGM was due to present Fred with his 50 year Certificate at the Lodge meeting on 20 March. Having suffered a bad fall in the ice during the winter, Fred was unable to attend. Steve very kindly agreed to visit him at his home in Woodthorpe on 1 April. I joined him together with W Bro Patrick Elvin and W Bro Alec Barker, Lodge Almoner. On behalf of the Lodge I had the pleasure of presenting him with a gift and of course our sincere congratulations!

As you will see from the photograph taken by Patrick, he has recovered well from the fall, he looks in remarkably good health and is looking forward to celebrating his 90th birthday in August. We hope too, to tempt him back to a Lodge meeting in the autumn.

Tony Allwood