Gerry Shotton

Gerald Duncan Shotton (1928 – 2017)

Co-Founder and first Director of Ceremonies for the Lodge.

Gerry completed sixty-six years in Freemasonry before he sadly passed to the Grand Lodge Above on the 21st April, 2017 – ironically the day of our Lodge meeting.

When we launched our website many years ago he shared his memories about the meetings that took place before the Lodge was formed.

“When the lodge was formed we had a very active social committee that often used to meet at Tom and Nancy Moffat’s house.  This had added advantages as Tom was a wizard at home brew wines and it was not unusual to see at least one member setting away from Tom’s house after the meetings – clearly having enjoyed the hospitality!

Originally, around twenty of us got together to form the lodge.  I remember that once we had the date fixed my wife, Jean, asked me if there was anything that the founders’ ladies could do to commemorate the event.

After giving it some thought I came up with the idea of a set of Deacons’ Wands. Jean then either phoned or wrote to all the ladies and started collecting monies – none of the other founders knew anything about it except Les Creswell, himself a widower, who made a donation towards the costs in memory of his late wife.

Two weeks before the Consecration ceremony, all the founders and their wives got together – thirty-nine in total – for a celebratory meal at the Lambton Arms which was historically the place where all Masonic  meetings in Chester-le-Street were held before the Masonic Hall was built. 

After the dinner and the Loyal Toast, and to the surprise of all but two of the assembled founders, Jean Shotton stood and announced the donation of the wands on behalf of the Ladies.  Joe Cowie was for the first time in his life left speechless.

The name Lodge of Progress was agreed upon after much discussion and looking at possible Roman names associated with the town but was agreed as the most suitable for a new lodge – with new ideas.”