Former pilot steers his way to 50 years in Freemasonry

Brother Jeffrey George Melia received his 50-year certificate from PGM Dave Wheeler at St. Matthew lodge No.1447, which was celebrating its 150th anniversary meeting.

Jeff was initiated on 22nd February 1942 in to the James Thompson Lodge No. 3653, in Cheshire.  He was a Pilot on the Mersey Ferry, and in 1975 he relocated to become a Humber Pilot, joining St. Matthew Lodge on the 15th April 1975.

Jeff, who is a very young 80 years old, was invited to say a few words in the lodge meeting and recalled many trips on the Humber Pilot boat, visiting lodges on the north bank and those visits being reciprocated by north bank masons visiting St. Matthew lodge by the same mode of transport!

He also recalled that, at his initiation in Birkenhead there was a lot of drinking at the festive board, mainly from ‘party seven’ cans of beer and afterwards, everyone went to the pub!