At the March 2023 meeting of William Fleetwood Lodge No 2814 many brethren witnessed the 50th year celebration of Peter Thomas Sayle in Freemasonry. Assistant Provincial Grand Master Andrew Whittle was in attendance accompanied by Mersey Valley Deputy Chairman David Atkinson, group vice chairman John Gibbon, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Peter Littlehales, who kept the proceedings on track assisted by the lodge director of ceremonies Jim Thomason. There were also a number of other acting Provincial grand officers in attendance.
The WM David Brooks offered the gavel of the lodge to Andrew Whittle, which on this occasion he accepted and immediately requested that Philip Sayle be placed in a seat before him. Andrew then gave a brief resume of Philip’s life.
Philip was born during the early part of the Second World War years in Redruth Cornwall. After moving up to the Liverpool area, Philip’s main employment was with the Ford Motor Company of Halewood, where he rose to be a production coordinator. He spent a lot of time working with the Scouting Association and a number of other charities over the years, but not least the Tithebarn where he was a regular fund raiser, he also raised funds for dementia groups.
Philip was initiated into Blenheim Lodge No 7519 at Hope Street on 22 March 1972. He rose through the ranks and was installed as WM in 1981. With all his charitable works he was to be appointed to the Provincial rank of PPJGD in 1989. Due to his work commitments, he found his way to William Fleetwood Lodge where he is still after many years both the charity steward and almoner.
Over the years Philip has travelled considerably and is very proud of the fact that whenever he has been in the southern hemisphere, namely Australia and New Zealand, he has taken the opportunity to visit many lodges in the area.
After all the information was presented, Andrew requested that David Atkinson read out the certificate for the benefit of all present. Following this, Andrew presented the certificate to Philip. The lodge was then closed in due form and all retired to the dining room to enjoy a very nice festive board and to continue the celebration Philip’s 50 years in Freemasonry.
