Yorkshire North & East Ridings Freemasons

Steve Walker, "My Grandfather's Apron"

steve walker

Bro Steve Walker, the Cornerstone Circle Lead for the South of our Province runs a business in Goole with his Dad, also Steve. They are perfectionists and restore classic cars and motorbikes to a very high degree of perfection. Steve Jr applies the same enthusiasm to his Freemasonry.

Steve’s Story

My reason for joining Freemasonry was curiosity for almost as long as I can remember.

I was re-introduced to Freemasonry in 2019 when a friend of the family came round to see us at work, he had dropped his walking cane and damaged the top. I suggested I replace the damaged cover with a Square and Compass and it came out lovely. He also said his Brothers wanted me to make a few more up for his Lodge members.

Since then I couldn’t get it out of my mind and in December I finally decided to apply through the Provincial Website and met with Mike Cheeseman for a drink and an explanation of what Freemasonry is all about. I brought my Grandfather’s case with me to ask Mike what the aprons were for and he also told me not to read that little blue book so it doesn’t spoil the experience for me.

I Chose Technical Lodge 5666 as they meet on a Saturday evening which works out perfectly for me.

Sadly, I was delayed in my joining process due to Covid 19 but that didn’t stop the Brethren at Technical Lodge keeping me interested by inviting me to their Zoom meetings and getting to know them. I was introduced to Paul Hilary and he Seconded me before my virtual interview.

Proud

I was proud to finally be Initiated in 2021. In May of 2022 Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts were invited to the annual convocation for the first time and I organised a coach to pick up brethren from Hull and Beverly, on the coach I was able to talk with like-minded brothers that wanted to visit different places more and arrange family days. From there the Idea of the Cornerstone Circle was formed not long after starting in the originally named Local Light Blues I received a phone call from Pat Cambage and Tony Stevenson informing me that Province was thinking of doing something similar and after seeing some of the successful events and joint lodge visits they could see that we were going in the right direction.

Later in the year I received an email asking any interested members if they’d like to be an AMO. After going through that joining process myself I was delighted to apply for the role and so happy that I could potentially give someone the same experience I received from Mike Cheeseman on that night in the pub.

Grandfather’s Apron

In April 2023 I was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason and I was invested by my Proposer with my Grandfathers Apron and my Seconder carried out a wonderful word perfect piece of ritual that made the whole night even more perfect. I now wear that apron with Pride and I’m now allowed to read a little further into that little blue book.

Ukraine

Steve helps to raise funds and supply goods for his Dad who has made several trips to the Ukraine where he works with the Red Cross to distribute clothing for adults and children. They also use donated money to purchase large quantities of food staples from the local supermarkets to distribute such as cooking oil (astonishing – Ukraine home of the sunflower) and porridge oats.