W Bro. Nigel Glew of Beacon Lodge No. 4362 at Pocklington made a trip to the Philippines for his son’s wedding in December 2024.
Whilst in the area Nigel made a visit to the home of Mrs Lilia Rebolledo at Paniqui, Tarlac. Mrs Rebolledo is the mother of the late W Bro. Larry Rebolledo, another past Master of Beacon Lodge in Yorkshire North and East Ridings who sadly passed to the Grand Lodge Above in York Hospital of COVID complications in 2021.
Larry was a Lewis, the son of W Bro. Charles Rebolledo a Grand Lodge Officer in the Philippines who also sadly died in December 2023. Larry’s grandfather was also a Past Master in the Philippines.
A certificate signed by the Craft Provincial Grand Master and Deputy Provincial Grand Master ’In recognition of your dedication, contribution and commitment to the order of Craft Freemasonry in general and the service you have given to the Beacon Lodge No 4362 in particular’ and Master Mason’s Apron was also presented to Mrs Rebolledo and Charles Rebolledo, which had been presented in Larry’s memory to Beacon Craft Lodge in 2022. On the back of the apron was an embroidered label saying, “Presented in memory of Bro Larry Rebolledo by V. W. Bro Clive Copley Deputy Provincial Grand Master N&E Yorkshire Mark Degree”.
V. W. Bro Clive, being previously a member of Beacon Craft and a current member of Beacon Chapter attended Larry’s funeral to be part of his guard of honour. Due to the then social restrictions, they could only stand at the entrance to York Crematorium standing to-order as the hearse and funeral precession entered the Crematorium grounds. He was greatly moved when Larry’s wife and children stepped out of the car and turned to wave at the brethren in appreciation, prior to following the coffin into the Chapel.
But it was a few months later when Bro. John Hartland, the Beacon Chapter Almoner, in his usual informative report, stated that during his many visit to Larry’s wife and children, Larry’s son, who is a selective mute, shocked them all when after his mother spoke of sending Larry's Craft aprons back home to his father and family , said "what will I wear, when I join" that nearly brought tears to many in the in the lodge room and it was after John's report that Clive knew he had to purchase a new apron and present it to Beacon Craft Lodge for use at the discretion of the Almoner and he was delighted when the Almoner and his Chapter Scribe contacted him last year to ask if he had any objections to Nigel taking the apron with him when he visited the Philippines.
Nigel said that whilst driving round the Philippines a lot of cars were seen bearing Masonic badges showing the Lodge of the owner. It is a recognised thing to do there!
He and his family were also able to take part in a magnificent lunch of fish, pork, beef and chicken provided by Mrs Rebolledo which he said would have put most Festive Boards to shame.
Larry was not a member of the Mark, but at that time V. W. Bro Clive was a Ruler in the order and felt it appropriate to present it from the Mark degree, to show what he hoped for and now truly believes is a strong working relationship between the Craft and the Mark under the leadership of R.W. Bro Dr David Chambers and R.W. Bro Bob Clancey.
