Page 5 - Triangle summer 2017 Issue 22

W.Brother James Joseph Vincent Allen

100 th Birthday Celebrations
Exactly a century after he was born on 7th April 1917, James Exalted into the Holy Royal Arch Chapter in Brownrigg
(Jim) Allen, in some style, was able to celebrate the wonderful Chapter No.1424 in October 1948, he was Most Excellent
th
occasion of his 100 Birthday with his dear wife Pauline and Zerubbabel some 19 years later; he joined the William
family at their home in Higher Ansford, Castle Cary, Kingston Chapter No. 407 in October 1981. At Provincial
Somerset. Along with 3 other Masonic friends, WBros Tony level, in Hants and Isle of Wight, he was appointed Past
Wilcox, Steve McCarthy and John Allan, I was very pleased Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in 1975, and promoted
to attend a morning reception at their home in the company Provincial Grand Registrar in 2003.
of a small group of friends and relations, for nibbles, birthday At his birthday party, we presented Jim with signed cards
cake and a glass of “bubbly”. from the Science Mark and Herbert Fuller RAM Lodges, from
Unbeknown to us they had received another similar sized the Mark PGM and the 2016/2017 Provincial Mark team, as
group earlier that morning and, indeed, had other groups well as Royal Naval Lodge No.2761 in Yeovil. Amongst the
coming after lunch and, for those at work during the week, a multitude of those others he had received was the a very
th
final gathering the next day on Saturday 8 . special one from Her Majesty the Queen, one from the
I was privileged and delighted to hand over a scroll certificate Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and also cards from
from Mark Grand Lodge signed by the Most Worshipful Somerset Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge and from Union
Grand Master, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, and by the Grand of Malta Lodge.
Secretary, celebrating Jim’s very special birthday, and his Jim and Pauline were certainly delighted to receive the two
long service to the Mark Degree. In addition, we presented a special Masonic Certificates and clearly appreciated all the
certificate in similar vein from Right Worshipful Brother John warm greetings extended to them by their Masonic friends on
Graham Morgan the Mark Provincial Grand Master for this very special day. Although these days Jim is a bit limited
Somerset, where Jim is a very popular and much respected in his personal mobility, this is not so when he climbs aboard
elder statesman in both the Mark Degree, as a Past Provincial his ‘all-weather’ scooter and is a sight well known locally as
Grand Senior Warden and a Past Master, and Honorary he scoots around the town. Indeed, throughout our visit –
Member of Science Mark Lodge no.128 at Wincanton, as well standing all the time – it was amazing to see how well he
as being a holder of Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand looked for a sprightly 100-year-old.
Rank as a Past Commander of Herbert Fuller RAM Lodge Copy by……Mike Waterman 16 April 2017.
th
No.128 also in Wincanton. Pictures courtesy…Jane Russell.
Commencing his working life as a Civilian Officer in the
Navy Department of the Ministry of Defence in the Chatham
Dockyard, in Kent, Jim went on to serve in several areas
including Gibraltar, Malta, and at the Naval Law Department
in London, during which time he achieved several promotions.
On his retirement, after almost 40 years’ service, in 1977, he
was the Civilian Administration Officer at RNAS Yeovilton,
in Somerset with the additional appointment as the Adviser
on Civilian Matters to the Flag Officer Naval Air Command.
As a Freemason, at the time of writing, Jim has enjoyed a long
and distinguished career extending almost 70 years. He was
initiated in Brownrigg Lodge of Unity
th
No.1424 in East Kent on 16 October
1947, where he remained a member until
th
30 September 1998 - some 50 years. He
joined Union of Malta Lodge No. 407, in
st
Malta, on 1 January 1958, and, in what
must be a record, was installed as
Worshipful Master two months later! Jim
was made an Honorary Member of that
Lodge in 2014.
On moving to Somerset, Jim joined Royal
Clarence Lodge No.976 at Bruton in 1975,
where he was a member for 17 years.
Subsequently, he joined Somerset
Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge
th
No.9189 on 19 May 1990 and was
installed as its Master in October 2000.
Made a Provincial Grand Steward in East
Kent in 1955, he was later appointed Past
Provincial Junior Grand Warden in
Somerset in 1991.

5