W Bro Douglas Woodman passed away on Sunday 1st May 2011. He will be sadly missed not only by his family, of whom he was immensely proud, but also by many masonic brothers with whom he became so close both in Evesham and back in Bromley, where he first became a mason.
Douglas and his wife moved the family to Gloucestershire sometime around the seventies, living in St Margarette’s Drive, Alderton. His many neighbours became close friends and Douglas and his family soon became part of the social scene within the local community.
He became a very close friend of the late Charles Ireland, who was no doubt responsible for Douglas becoming a joining member of Elmley Castle Lodge. He played Golf at Broadway along with many other members of our lodge.
Douglas was initiated into freemasonry on the 11th December 1951 into Godyngton Lodge No 7049, Bromley in the Province of West Kent.
He joined Elmley Castle Lodge on the 1st April 1978. He was a very valued member who was always at the front of the queue for something to do when Past Masters nights rolled round.
He celebrated fifty years in Freemasonry in December 2001 and to mark this special occasion his mother lodge invited him to become Worshipful Master for the second time as a mark of respect for his service to both the lodge and masonry in general. Douglas being Douglas accepted the honour provided the lodge would permit him to bring many of his friends from Elmley Castle Lodge at Evesham. Having got acceptance Douglas then informed them that he wished for the Elmley Castle team to install him into the chair of the Godyngton Lodge with the full or extended workings in regular use in Elmley Castle but seldom seen in the London Area. This being similarly accepted attracted a large attendance to witness Douglas being installed into the chair and for some the first opportunity to observe the extended workings.
Many will remember Douglas and his wife when attending the garden parties which W Bro Charles Ireland and his wife Yvonne used to hold at their home in the same village of Alderton. Much later than those parties my son moved into St Margaret`s Drive thus becoming a near neighbour. Douglas and his Wife became close friends and loved their children. When my grand daughter was christened Douglas and his wife joined us for a little family celebration. On returning from the village church we were sat in the garden enjoying the warming Sun and waiting to be fed when I asked Douglas what he would like to drink.
“Whiskey” he said. “A large one” I enquired. Douglas looked at me with a serious look on his face and said “Do they come in any other size? ”
Douglas remained at Alderton for a few years after the sad loss of his wife but eventually age caught up with him and he felt it best to move close to his daughter who would be able to care for him.
He continued to have a full and happy life right up to his death just a few months short of the completion of 60 years in Freemasonry for which he would have received the presentation of a very special certificate from the Grand Master.
Douglas Woodman was a true gentleman who many are proud to say, I knew him well.
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This article was forwarded on to me by my good friends Peter and Marylin Hogg. I am the younger daughter of Charles and Yvonne Ireland who are both mentioned in this article and remember both Douglas and Kay Woodman well. When my father first joined Elmley Castle Lodge, I was very young and can remember enquiring why Daddy was always out on my Brownie night. Hence Masons in our house became know as Brownies – a name which stuck and which Douglas subsequently embraced too!
I will never forget the support shown to my father by members of the Lodge, firstly when my mother died suddenly and then when he later died. It is good to know that the values of Friendship remain.