A celebration was held at Southport Masonic Hall for a well-travelled and extremely popular member of Southport Lodge No 4034, Geoff Wilcock. Geoff has been a long-time example to all, having travelled extensively but with Freemasonry always at the heart of his life.
Geoff’s popularity was on full display from the moment evident even before proceedings began with the brethren of Southport Lodge surpassing even their renowned warmth and fraternal spirits atmosphere. The brethren were joined by a large number of well-wishers who had made the special effort to pay their respects to Geoff. This included Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Thomas and his team who had come to make the formal presentation, the group chairman Phil Stock and a rather impressive volume of distinguished grand officers.
The lodge was first opened by the WM Peter MacPhail, who promptly conducted the business of the lodge including the elections for the next year, Peter himself showing his appetite for hard work by being elected as treasurer straight from the chair. This being concluded the lodge was opened in the third degree and the Provincial contingent then proceeded in with great fanfare. Having taken the gavel in the usual style, David called for Geoff to be brought before him, and all settled in for the story and anecdotes of Geoff’s extraordinary life.
Geoff was born on the island of Malta in August 1938. Tragedy struck early when his mother passed away only 3 days later and at the tender age of only 2 weeks old, Geoff took the first of many long voyages as he sailed from Malta back to Southampton. Coincidentally they arrived on 7 September, the same day Geoff’s future wife Audrey would be born. Due to his father being in the Navy and with the war, Geoff was brought up by his grandparents in Blackpool until his father remarried in 1940. His fathers job meant the travelling continued, and he recalls living in places as far apart as Arbroath Scotland and Kings Worthy Hampshire.
These early years travelling proved prophetic for his future life, with Geoff’s chosen career in engineering affording him a number of opportunities. It began traditionally enough, as at age 17 when he became an apprentice lathe turner in Preston. This led to a number of opportunities, including glamorous work on aircraft and naval vessels. Most fittingly it also enabled him to visit nearly every country in Europe and a number beyond, all while being paid. The highlights were many, including a two-week project in Israel incorporating a full tour of the Holy Land and a ride on a camel, and being in Berlin only two weeks before the wall came down. It must be said the brethren were left enraptured by the tales of Geoff’s career and travels, and when Geoff finally called time on his illustrious career in 1998, it cannot be argued he had lived a life many can only dream of.
Throughout these adventures the great constant in Geoff’s life was family. His first date with his wife Audrey was in July 1956, and indeed this forward-thinking couple went Dutch. It proved a superb match and they married in September 1960 in Bury. They went on to have two children who fittingly for this adventurous couple were born in different places. Deborah was born first in 1962 in Derby, followed by Roger in 1965 in Bolton. The couple also travelled extensively, and after taking their first cruise in 1985 for their silver wedding anniversary, became particularly enamoured with vacationing at sea. Locations included Norway, Alaska, USA, China, South Africa and Australia. Sadly, Audrey passed away in 2022, but not after having seen the 60th wedding anniversary card sent by the Queen.
Geoff also enjoyed being at sea for his hobbies, being a keen sailor and once having the chance to take the helm of a 12-foot yacht that was the Canadian early entry to an early Americas Cup Yacht Race. Geoff also enjoys golf, family history (where he has got as far back as the late 1600s), photography, cooking and of course travel.
It cannot also be denied that Geoff has enjoyed his Freemasonry, though perhaps not as much as the brethren he has met have enjoyed his company. Geoff was initiated into Vigilance Lodge No 6236 near Ashton-in-Makerfield on April 14, 1975. He then became a member of Paton Lodge No 3738 in Southport, where he was WM in 1987 and 1990, before joining Southport Lodge in November 2006. He was also a member of Silver Jubilee Lodge of installed Masters No 8818. Geoff brought the same enthusiasm and zest for life into his Freemasonry he had in other areas of his life and was a founding member of the 3 Degrees Club, Secretary of the Southport Masonic Discussion Group and member of the Lodge of Instruction. Geoff’s assorted activities led to a number of promotions, culminating in his rise to the high rank of PPrGSwdB in April 2020. This has not led to his slowing down and indeed he joined County Palatine Lidge No 2505 in January 2023.
Geoff also enjoyed his Royal Arch Freemasonry, being exalted into Southport Chapter No 1070 on 16 February 1989. He took the first principles chair in 1998, 2020 and 2021 as well as serving as director of ceremonies for 5 years. A succession of promotions led to him rising to the rank of PPrGSN in 2011.
Following David’s presentation, Phil Stock stood to read and present the certificate to Geoff. The ceremonies concluded with Geoff showing why he is so well liked as he quipped that he was looking forward to another 10 or 20 years to much mirth.
The evening proceeded to the festive board and a description of the evening cannot pass without reference to the speeches. Phil first rose to thank David for coming and conducting the presentation in such a knowledgeable and heartfelt way. David, after thanking Phil, the grand officers and his own team then seamlessly turned to toast the principal guest of the evening. Geoff’s old friend Paul Kevan then proudly rose to give the toast to the celebrant.
Paul commented about how the ethics and teachings of Freemasonry were present in every aspect of Geoff’s life, and how he was an exemplar of what a Mason should be. He still recalled joining Freemasonry and Geoff dragging him enthusiastically along to the 3 Degrees Club and discussion group, as well of course for some golf! He also recalled how since then he has observed that Geoff has always been willing to stand in and help the lodge in any way necessary. Most of all though he thanked Geoff for his friendship, a sentence that was met with warmth and nods around the room. As a final gesture, Geoff was presented with a 50-year badge, a beautiful silver salver and a card most busy with messages.
The final words of course belonged to Geoff who rose and, someone fittingly, first made it about the brethren of Southport Lodge by thanking them warmly for their friendship. He also thanked David and the others for their hard work and kind words, Southport Lodge’s great secretary Chris Halewood for organising the evening and the WM for his call and gifts. While he noted the importance of Freemasonry in building confidence the overriding theme of his speech was family, speaking with great affection about the outstanding support offered by his lady wife and entertained the brethren with anecdotes focusing on friends and family, and how involving them in Masonic events had given them such a wonderful life. In the end the celebrations continued long into the evening as all applauded this most excellent of Masons, and the incredible life he continues to lead.