100 Years of Freemasonry

Thursday 7^th November was an auspicious day for The Royal Cumberland Lodge. Two members. Mervyn Bryce and Trevor Quartermaine, each celebrated 50 years in Freemasonry and were presented with their certificates by Tony Guthrie.

Vince Baughan reports:

They were both born in times of great change for the country.

Mervyn was born in Cheltenham in 1944, at the same time V1 rockets were raining down on London and Winston Churchill was winning the war. Trevor, on the other hand, was born in Harrow in 1949, when Clement Atlee was winning the peace and Harry S Truman was establishing a rocket test range at Cape Canaveral to send rockets into space.

Mervyn’s and Trevor’s backgrounds are as different as it is possible to be, and so are their characters. However, they both displayed unparalleled loyalty, or possibly staying power, to their employers.

Mervyn left school at 15 and trained to be an electrical engineer at the Midlands Electricity Board, and stayed with them for almost all of his working life. Since retiring, he has continued his interest in matters engineering. He is a steam railway enthusiast, and is involved in the running of The Industrial Museum in Derby’s historic Silk Mill, now called “The Museum of Making”.

Trevor was born in Harrow, and joined the Metropolitan Police straight from school, in which he was to serve for 30 years. I once phoned Trevor’s house for some information, and Trevor’s partner answered the phone and told me that Trevor was out, but that he would have a look on Trevor’s desk. As he was sifting through the contents of the desk, he said to me : “He writes everything on little scraps of paper. I don’t know how he managed to solve any crimes in the Met!” Trevor is also one of the few people in the world to have profited from an encounter with Prince Monolulu (famous racing tipster). When he was a small boy, Monolulu gave him a tanner (that’s six old pence to those unfortunates who have not experienced real pre-decimal money, equivalent to two-and-a half new pence) at a race meeting! Both have seen great changes in the world, raised, as they were, during post-war austerity and rationing, moving from a “hot” war to The Cold War, experiencing the space race, the arms race, the Swinging 60s, decimalisation, The Three Day Week, increased threat of nuclear Armageddon and economic boom and bust. They have been around so long they have seen those things happen more than once, as we enter a new cold war, with its associated arms race and increased nuclear threat, and a new space race, with privateers sending rockets up for billionaires to enjoy a few minutes beyond the atmosphere. And, although decimalisation won’t happen again, hard currency may soon be usurped by Cryptocurrency.

Mervyn was initiated into Royal Cumberland on 7^th November 1974, on the same day that Lord (Lucky) Lucan killed his children’s nanny – so he had a good alibi! He has been a loyal member of Royal Cumberland ever since. His attendance record alone is enough to inspire awe and respect. In 50 years, he has only missed five meetings! I hope he had a good excuse. He was passed on 5^th December 1974 and raised on 6^th March 1975. He was Master of the Lodge in 1985 and received Provincial Honours in the early 90s, in both Craft and Chapter.

Trevor was initiated into La Belle Sauvage Lodge No.3095 on 3^rd January 1975, just after America’s former Attorney General and Nixon’s political aides were convicted for their involvement in the Watergate Scandal. It is surprising to note that, the apparently robust Trevor, fainted during his ceremony. He was passed on 24^th October that same year, and was raised on the anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, 23^rd April 1976. An appropriate date, as La Belle Sauvage was originally the printers’ lodge, formed by publisher John Cassell, who published many of Shakespeare’s plays. Trevor received London Grand Rank in Craft in the late 90s, and in Chapter in the early “noughties”. He moved to Bath in 2005, joined Royal Cumberland, and was Master of the Lodge in 2013 and in 2018, ruling as he did throughout COVID lockdown.

Trevor was Chairman of the Bath Masonic Hall Trust for 15 years, and was instrumental is saving the trust from ruin, and saving the building for the Masons. He has since retired as chairman, but still does more than most members at Bath in running of the hall and its estate, for which we must all be grateful.

Both Trevor and Mervyn are very much respected within the lodge, both lending their own brand of authority to it. Trevor is forthright and no-nonsense. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and is not afraid to speak his mind – attributes, no doubt, acquired during his years on The Force, and ideal for his current role as Director of Ceremonies. But, it must be said, that despite his gruff persona, Trevor is always encouraging to new members, and is keen to help them progress.

Mervyn, on the other hand, exudes a quiet air of authority. He guards the Ritual and Traditions of Royal Cumberland jealously – something that is essential, when traditions are down-played in some quarters as anachronistic legacies from a bygone age, and his wisdom and advice on the subject are appreciated. Royal Cumberland is one of the most historic lodges in the country, and its ways are ways to be preserved. But even Mervyn knows that while we must preserve our traditions, we must also be pragmatic in our approach. He has been chaplain for many years.

The world of Freemasonry is the better for Trevor and Mervyn, and Royal Cumberland is a better lodge for their contribution. We congratulate them on their 50 years’ service to The Craft, and look forward to their next 50 years!