Our January 2023 meeting, saw our recently retired Treasurer, WBro Richard Fardon reach a very special milestone when he celebrated
50 years as a Freemason.
To mark the occasion, he was presented with a Certificate on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master RW Bro Ian Kingsbury JP by none other than our own
WBro Frank Handscombe BEM, PJGD.
Richard’s first step on the road to his “half century” began on the 20th January 1973, when he joined Coningsby Lodge No 6383 in Hereford. In 1979, having moved to the Province of Middlesex, he became a joining member of Byron Lodge No 7426, a membership with continues to this day. He has served twice as Worshipful Master, in both 1984 and 1998.
Eventually, having moved to Devon, he joined our Lodge,
The Loyal Lodge of Industry No 421,
in 2003. He became the Lodge’s Treasurer in 2004, a post he held continuously until his retirement in October last year.
Richard has also been an active Royal Arch Freemason having joined Corinthian Chapter No 4917 in 1977. He served as First Principal of Byron Chapter No 7426 in 1992 and also of Wimbledon Chapter No 3160 in 2002. He holds Provincial Grand Rank in both Surrey and Middlesex.
Referring to Richard’s extensive and comprehensive CV, Frank Handscombe expressed astonishment at the sheer number of offices Richard has served in over the 50 years. He has set a fine example to younger Members setting out on their own masonic journey, as someone who epitomises the motto
“Service before Self”