This is a true story of how the Order, and in particular the efforts of one Brother, influenced the lives of a Buff and his family.
Bro William Thomas and his son Bro Philip Thomas R.O.H
In 1931 Mr William Thomas was initiated in the Earl of Beaconsfield Lodge No.86.
Bro. Thomas was Raised to the 2nd Degree in 1933.
Tragically, in 1935 he passed away.
Mrs. Annie Thomas was then left with a family of four boys and 2 girls to bring up and was due to give birth to another child in a few weeks time and this was another girl.
There was twins Andrew and William, Philip, John, Nancy, Ruth and Maureen being the daughter who was born a few weeks after his passing away.
Nancy Left home at 17, to work in the NAAFI. Andy and Bill had just left school. This left Philip and Ruth still at school and John and the new baby Maureen at home.
A few months later Philip left school. Bro. Arthur Richardson then got him a job as a mess-room boy on the SS Yearby.
It was 1936 when Bro. Arthur found places in the Orphanage for Ruth, Maureen and John. It was there that Maureen learned to play the piano and Ruth trained as a confectioner at Carrick's the Bakers. After the war, when they returned home, Ruth was Assistant Manageress at a Carrick's shop.
When World War II started Andy, Bill and Phil were called up, and managed to serve in the same unit until 1940-41 Andy was then sent to the Far East. Bill and Phil stayed together until 1943. They were serving in Algiers when Phil left to serve in the Parachute Regiment. At the end of the war Andy returned from the Far East while Bill from Germany and Phil from a P.O.W. Camp (he had been taken at Arnhem.) In between all this, Bro. Arthur Richardson was instrumental in getting a job for John as an apprentice at Smith Docks,
where he finished up as a Millwright.
Bill and Andy were Initiated in 1946 and Raised to 3rd & 4th together.
Philip was Initiated in 1947, and John 1953-54.
Bill was President of Knights Chapter in 1959. He was president of ROH Assembly in 1972. Andy was President Of Kts Chapter in 1971 and John was President of Kts Chapter 1973.
Through work commitments Philip progressed more sedately, attaining 2nd Degree 1968, 4th Degree in 1975. Philip is an Honorary Member, and has been in compliance since 1947. He is also a founder member of the Pioneer Lodge.
Sadly Bro Philip died October 15th 2009
at the grand young age of 88,
he had 4 children (one of which is our very own web-mistress Yvonne.)
10 Grand children, and 10 Great Grand Children
This is a truly remarkable story, and highlights the part our Order played in the fortunes of the Thomas family and surely this is what Buffolism is all about.