Yesterday evening ( September 5th ) Allan Collier celebrated 50 years of Freemasonry at the meeting of Hadfield Lodge 3584 at the Masonic Hall, Hague Street Glossop. The Assistant Provincial Grand Master Ian Copestake addressed the members assembled and in a packed meeting room gave an account of Allan’s life. The Provincial Grand Secretary Martyn Bailey read the certificate in full and this was presented to Allan, along with a 50th lapel badge which he will no doubt wear with very great pride in the coming years. The turnout was tremendous and Allan, at times somewhat emotional was clearly very moved by the support shown, not only by his friends but also by a good number of Grand and Provincial Officers including both of this year’s Provincial Wardens.
It was obvious to all those attending that Allan is a very popular and charismatic Freemason and this was a tremendous evening of Freemasonry – one that will never be forgotten by Allan and his many friends and colleagues.
Allan, along with his identical twin brother Dennis, was born in Ashton-under-Lyne maternity hospital on 30th June 1941.
For the first few years of his life the family lived in Droylsden. The family moved to Bolton in the late 1940s as a result of his father’s work and eventually relocated to Hadfield in 1950 for the same reason. Both boys attended Hadfield Castle School
Allan attended St Andrew’s Church, and joined the choir remaining a participant for many years. He also joined the Scouts and eventually achieved the rank of Queen’s Scout. Following on from this he joined a group called the Rover Crew, which went on to form the Glossop Mountain Rescue Team. Allan remained a member of this organisation for many years.
Allan started work at Hyde Borough Council. After local government reorganisation in 1974, he secured a post with the Greater Manchester Council in the section responsible of administration of the GMC pension fund. With the abolition of GMC in 1986, administration of the pension fund was passed to Tameside M B C. The staff relocated to Droylsden in 1988 and Allan remained there until his retirement in January 2001.
It was here that Allan met his present wife, Janet, as they gazed wistfully at the details of the pension fund! (They have been happily married for many years)
Allan has many hobbies including Freemasonry. He is a keen philatelist often visiting stamp fairs with his friend Gordon Rowell. Model and main line railways, gardening and strangely the Isle of Man Steam Packet company where he has a large collection of postcards and other documents referring to the boats which have been part of the company’s history. There is a ‘down side’ to these good hobbies he is a keen pool player and likes the odd game of cards.
To say Allan is a Freemason is possibly an understatement since he is active in all branches of the organisation and taking up many offices which he carries out with vigour.
Allan is a Masonic Lewis, being proposed by his father W Bro H Collier and seconded by W Bro F Ashton. Allan was initiated on 4th September 1969 by his father, W Bro H Collier, assisted by Bro G Broughton SW and Bro E Thorley JW. He was passed to the rank of a Fellowcraft on 6th November 1969 and raised to the degree of a Master Mason on 1st January 1970. Since then he has joined many orders and side degrees.
