50 YEARS CERTIFICATE FOR QUEEN’S COLLEGE’S RICHARD LEWIS
W.Bro Richard D Lewis, a former pupil of Queen’s College, Taunton was initiated into Queen’s College Lodge 6988 in November 1970. He became WM in 2007. He is seen here being presented with his Somerset Provincial Grand Master’s Certificate, commemorating his 50 years as a Freemason, by W.Bro Martin Slocombe, APGM. W.Bro Richard was supported by his son, Bro Alex and also his life-long friend, W.Bro Brian Richards.
Running his own business in the centre of Swansea and with a great sense of public duty taking him into local politics, Richard won a seat on Swansea City Council in 1973, on which he still serves, having been a member of many committees. He previously served two years with the RAF and is still on their Civilian Committee.
During the 1980’s and 90’s there was much speculation and ill-informed media attention focused on Freemasonry. Not being a ‘shrinking violet’, when asked in 1997 to assist in a documentary TV programme on Masonic life from a Cardiff Lodge perspective, entitled ‘Answering back’, W.Bro Richard spoke strongly in defence of Freemasonry. As a result of this, he was invited to join Edgar Rutter Lodge 7196 in Cardiff. He later became their Treasurer then WM in 2003. Richard was subsequently rewarded with a first Provincial Honour of PPrJGD (South Wales) in 2008.
In 2010, Richard was honoured to become Lord Mayor of Swansea, with his wife Angela as Lady Mayoress.
The late Bro Martin Wallace-Jones, also a former ‘Old Q’ and Brother of Queen’s College Lodge was one of their honoured guests at the inauguration ceremony.
Richard and Angela enjoyed a very busy and varied schedule of engagements during their year in office whereby they were instrumental in raising over £90,000 for Charity.
At that time, he also held the distinction of being the first Freemason to be Lord Mayor of Swansea since 1981.
The RAF Cadets, an organisation close to Richard’s heart, were also present in numbers at Richard’s inauguration as Mayor. As an RAF Cadet herself, his daughter, Francesca, addressed the Lodge members at the 2007 Queen’s College Lodge December meeting, the Lodge having supported the Cadets as the WM’s chosen charity for the year.
The Brethren of Queen’s College Lodge congratulate W. Bro Richard for the decades of tireless work he has carried out on behalf of many excellent charitable and community causes, and for this recognition of his half century as a Freemason.
Article submitted by W.Bro Richard Baker LCO. Queen’s College Lodge, assisted by Bro Alex Lewis.
Lodge photos supplied by W. Bro Jim Wiltshire.
Posted by Andy Baird. PGLS ACO SW.
