The brethren of the Fylde coast gathered at Fleetwood Masonic Hall and for one night only, the hall was transformed into a small part of Wales, with the dining room festooned in the colours and flags of Wales. All this was to celebrate the life of one extraordinary man, Glyn Thomas Lloyd.
Poulton le Fylde Lodge No 4040 was opened by the WM Michael Lumby, who duly completed all necessary lodge administration. Michael proceeded to open the lodge in the third degree. Then, on a report, Philip Renney, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, announced that Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Barr stood outside the door of the lodge and demanded admission. David entered the lodge, preceded by grand officers Keith Jackson and John Robbie Porter, South Fylde Group Vice-Chairman Ian Park and Provincial Grand Pursuivant Adam Simpson.
Mike formally welcomed David to Poulton le Fylde Lodge and as protocol demands in these ceremonies, Michael offered David the gavel of the lodge, which David politely accepted and proceeded to occupy the chair of King Solomon. After the necessary salutations had been given, David’s first action was to close the lodge in the third degree and return to the first degree and requested the inner guard to admit the tyler.
David then asked for celebrant, Glyn, to be placed before him. The lodge room was alive with the sound of music, or to be more precise, the sound of David Barr’s fascinating story of Glyn Lloyd’s amazing musical life, from the valleys of his hometown in Wales to the bright lights of Blackpool, playing in bands with some of the most famous artists of the day.
The journey started with David recounting Glyn’s early life, being born in 1942 to Glanville and Jane in the mining village of Gilfach Goch in the Ogmore Valley (next to the Rhonda Valley). Glyn’s home was Welsh-speaking, which did lead to difficulties when you started school as all educational subjects were only taught in English.
At school, Glyn was keen on the two great Welsh staples, music and rugby, sometimes combining the two. When Glyn left school, he went to study at the Welsh College of Music and Drama at Cardiff Castle. Glyn remarked on the difficulties of getting a trombone up the spiral staircase to the rehearsal room in one of the turrets. In 1960, Glyn was proud to become a Freeman of Llantrisant, an honour handed down from father to son, all the way from the original bowmen at the Battle of Crecy.
Between 1961 and 1963, Glyn attended the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire (now Cardiff University), studying music and finally a further year with a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London, finishing up with a degree in music.
From university, Glyn’s main career was as a peripatetic music teacher and playing music in general, which has obviously been his vocation throughout his working life. Glyn taught music from Skelmersdale in the south to Ulverston in the north, over to Accrington, Nelson and Colne in the east and onto the Fylde, mainly because there were very few people in those days who were peripatetic teachers. Glyn’s biggest job was at Hodgson School, where he had eight full-time staff, performing concerts at Blackpool Winter Gardens and the Opera House. Glyn retired in 1996 after a long and glittering career, having inspired future generations to pursue careers in music.
Glyn met his wife, Marylin, at a university ball in 1961. She was also studying music; consequently, love and romance blossomed. They were married in 1965 in Bassaleg near Newport and they have been blessed with three children and will soon be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.
David then moved to the part of Glyn’s life story that led to him coming to Blackpool and performing with some of the most famous stars of the era. During his university years, he actively participated in classical trombone performances, interspersed with engagements at the new theatre in Cardiff. This experience led him to meet a diverse group of travelling musicians who occasionally augmented the orchestra. Glyn was subsequently approached by the Grade organisation (one of the biggest dynasties in British entertainment), and prior to assuming his teaching position in Birmingham, he dedicated a period to working for the organisation at Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.
At the end of the season, Glyn started teaching and conducting, working at the Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham, with the Tom Jones Show, among many other artists. At the end of the school term, Glyn had a letter from Bernard Delfont’s office inviting him to work at the North Pier, Blackpool, for more money and a longer season. An offer that Glyn could hardly refuse, as he had already identified a teaching job with the Lancashire Education Department. As Bernard Delfont was the brother of Lew and Leslie Grade, his decision to come to Blackpool instead of going back to Great Yarmouth did not go down well with the music fixers. Glyn set up home in Blackpool, and the next phase of his life started.
During his sparkling musical career, Glyn has worked on tours with groups such as the Seekers, Supremes, Frank Ifield, Tommy Steel, Joe Loss, Cliff Richard, and Tommy Steel. A true music man, Glyn has also performed for the likes of Elton John, Mike Yarwood, and John Broome, the founder of Alton Towers theme park.
Glyn was introduced to Freemasonry by Cyril Proctor, a trumpet player in his band and a member of Poulton-le-Fylde Lodge. Glyn was initiated into the lodge in 1974 and, after passing through all the offices, was installed as WM in 1984, a post to which he returned in 2010. Glyn’s first appointment in Provincial Grand Lodge was as Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon in 1990, promoted to Past Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works in 2010, and in 2016 to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer.
David rounded off Glyn’s Masonic journey, saying that he was exalted into Chapter of Fidelity No 1256 in 1977, becoming the first principal in 1992. Glyn transferred to Tithebarn Fidelity Chapter No 8446 after the chapters merged in 2023. In Provincial Grand Chapter, Glyn was appointed to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Sojourner in 1999, promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 2005, and promoted again to the high rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2012.
To round off a truly fascinating history, David requested John Robbie Porter to read aloud the certificate celebrating Glyn’s 50 years in Freemasonry from the Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews. The South Fylde Group Vice Chairman, Ian Park, proudly presented Glyn with a badge marking the magnificent milestone that he had reached.
Having completed his presentation, David then returned the gavel to Mike and requested that he resume his rightful place in the lodge. Mike then completed the routine business and proceeded to close the lodge. The brethren then retired to the dining room, where they were treated to a four-course meal of potato and leek soup, roast Welsh lamb, Welsh cakes (made by Glyn’s son), and trifle.
