At the regular meeting of Royal Cumberland Lodge on 4th December 2014, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V.W.Bro Ray Guthrie presented W.Bro Bernard Cox with a certificate celebrating his 50 years in Freemasonry.

Bernard spent his working life at Stothert and Pitt in Bath and has lived in Keynsham for over sixty years.  He will celebrate his 90th birthday on Boxing Day!  He has always been very active as a Mason, a founder member of Somerset Stewards Lodge, he was appointed the Lodge Almoner by the first Master, Gilbert Parrott, a post he went on to hold for over twenty years. He has been Almoner, DC and ADC of Royal Cumberland and was Deputy Provincial DC in the Province, a record to be proud of!

The Deputy PGM then went on to present the Lodge Charity Steward, W.Bro Martin Cox (yes son of Bernard!) with the Lodge’s second ashlar award in recognition of the contribution made by the Lodge to the 2020 festival in support of the Freemasons Grand Charity.

In the photo above W.Bro Bernard Cox together with W.Bro Donald Pearce who between them have more than 100 years membership of Royal Cumberland Lodge.  Bernard was initiated in January 1965 and Donald in January 1961. Although living in Worcester and despite being 85 years young Donald still travels to most Royal Cumberland meetings.