A Celebration of the life of
Our Past Provincial Grand Master / Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
RWBro Jack Price
A Celebration of the life of Brother / Companion Jack Price was held at Freemason's Hall, Manchester on Sunday, 20 November 2011 at 2.00 pm, which was followed by Light refreshments.The Order of Service sheet for the Memorial Service can be viewed / downloaded here.
The service was held in the Derby dining room which was full to capacity. Dorothy Price was accompanied by their son, Jonathan, daughter, Janet, Grandchildren, Milo and Lola, Jack's sister, June and many family friends and acquaintances. Freemasons from across the Province also attended what proved to be a most warm, moving and uplifting service. RWBro David Kenneth Williamson, the Assistant Grand Master attended the service and was a most welcome guest; RWBro Williamson installed RWBro Jack Price as Provincial Grand Master / ME Grand Superintendent in 2008 and many were able to fondly remember that day.
WBro Martin Roche introduced each of the speakers in turn, after first welcoming all to the gathering arranged to give thanks and celebrate the life of Jack Price:
"Ladies, gentlemen, Brethren and Companions.
May I first of all extend a warm welcome to you all to Freemason’s Hall, Manchester, for this, our opportunity to give thanks for and to celebrate the life of, Jack Price. I also extend a particularly warm welcome to Dorothy Price, to Janet and to Jonathan and to the rest of the family. You will see from our order of proceedings that this afternoon we celebrate Jack Price in thought, in prayer, in reflection and in song. But I think above all else, and most importantly, we celebrate his memory and his achievements with a smile.
On the 23rd October, a light went out in East Lancashire. It was a light that had been a constant in all our lives for so long. It was a light that shed positive influence into every corner of our Province and much, much further afield - and way beyond Freemasonry. It was a light that brought knowledge, kindness, caring, understanding, humour, good nature, wise counsel, friendship, sincerity and genuineness. It was a light that filled a room and whose consequence remained long after he had left it. It is a light whose influence is as strong today and leaves a legacy that will live on for many years to come. And today we will have an opportunity to share and consider how much Jack Price contributed to so many things, so many people.
I would first like to invite the Reverend Donald Pryce to address us and lead us in our prayers and reflections after which we will all join in singing ‘Guide me, O though great Redeemer’
RWBro Norman Thompson then spoke of the working life of his friend and colleague, Jack:
Jack the Governor
In 1954 at the age of 17 Jack entered the RAF where he served for five years. In the 1950s many men who left the forces took up a new career in Her Majesty’s Prison Service and that was the case with Jack who changed his vocation in 1959. In those days would be entrants first had to sit an entrance examination at a prison near their home and if successful an interview followed with a Governor Grade, Chief Officer and a representative from Management Services. Following the interview you were informed that day if you had been successful. A wait ensued until a letter of appointment was received with instructions to report to a prison near your home for usually one months training. At the end of that month you were told if you had been selected for further training or in some cases you were shown the door!
Eight weeks training at one of the Prison Officers Training Colleges ensued. Again after four weeks you were interviewed and informed that you had passed the first part of the course, failure meant you were out of a job. During the next four weeks you were advised of your posting and that could be anywhere in England or Wales, once again at the end of the second four weeks you could be shown the door and be out of work.
Jack was posted to H M Prison Stafford, aptly situated on Goal Road. The prison housed over six hundred prisoners and was established in the late 12th century, the present prison being built in 1794. Jack and Dorothy were fortunate that there were no official prison quarters available and this enabled them to purchase their own property. Jacks duties at Stafford covered the full range of officer duties including supervising prisoners in workshops on association and court duties. After six years Jack was posted to Risley Remand Centre near Warrington. This was a fairly new establishment built to hold remand prisoners and serving the courts in the North of England. Officers were required to work long shifts often starting before 6-00am and not returning home until 9-00 or 10-pm. A young man with a young family saw little of his children, we left for duty before they were up in the morning and by the time we returned home they were in bed. Like me Jack regretted this in later life as we missed a lot not seeing our children growing up, that is how it was and you had no choice.
Following ten years and passing more exams and convincing Promotion Boards he was suitable for promotion Jack moved to Strangeways Prison, now known as Manchester Prison, on promotion to Principal Officer. This rank equates more or less to that of Police Inspector. Some nine years later Jack was again promoted to the rank of Chief Officer and he remained at Strangeways. Strangeways was and still is a large establishment and during Jacks time it housed remands, convicted adults and young prisoners. Jack remained at Strangeways for a further four years after which he was moved just down the road from here to Prison Service North Regional Office. He worked on manpower and security operations for the north of England. During his time at Regional Office he arranged many meetings for Prison Service Personnel here at the Masonic Hall thus saving money for the Prison Department and raising revenue for this building.
Progression to the Governor Grade followed and Jack was posted to Hindley Youth Custody Centre where he worked as Deputy Governor, second in command. In most cases the Deputy Governor ran the establishment as the Governor was often away from the prison on other duties. Hindley was being re-rolled from a borstal to Youth Custody and at that time many of the young prisoners who had been involved in the Strangeways riot were moved to Hindley. Unfortunately the Governing Governor died not long after Jack arrived and he was left with the mammoth task of reorganising the prison.
A new Governor was posted in and together they managed the necessary changes.
I spoke with Alf Jennings only last week, he was the new Governor posted to Hindley at that time. He told me that Jack was the most loyal colleague any one could wish to have, he was a rock. He again proved himself as he negotiated changes to working practices with the Prison Officers Association and other staff unions. He was also seen by younger staff as a father figure who was approachable and considerate.
Further promotion followed when Jack was appointed the Head of Operational Training for England and Wales where he was responsible for running five training units. His responsibilities in this area included training of staff in riot control, hostage negotiation and incident management, this involved advising both Gold and Silver Commanders in managing serious incidents.
Jack also had managerial responsibility for some 400 dog handlers and of course their dogs, an immense task. In 1995 Jack hung up his keys and retired from Her Majesty’s Prison Service. Prison Officers come from all walks of life, backgrounds and have different personalities. This is necessary for the smooth running of prisons. For those of you who have watched the television series “Porridge” you will know what I mean. This series is very true to life and may well have been based on my last prison, Haverigg. As in all prisons we had our Principal Officer McKay’s and Officer Barrocloughs together with prisoners like Fletcher and I could tell you many tales of life in prison that Jack and I shared but this must wait for another time.
Jack brought his managerial skills and integrity to his many Masonic offices but I leave you with one last comment; I started my address with the words Jack the Governor. That he may have been at work but like me he was not the Governor at home! Is that right Dorothy?
EComp William Porter, the Deputy Grand Superintendent then gave a reading:
He is Gone:
You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow because of yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he’s gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Following the next hymn, 'The day Thou gavest, Lord is ended', WBro Derek Thornhill, Deputy Provincial Grand Master in charge gave a reading:
The Premature Death of a Virtuous Man
[Wisdom 4 v7 to 15]
The virtuous man, though he die before his time, will find rest.
Length of days is not what makes age honourable,
nor number of years the true measure of life;
Understanding, this is man's grey hairs,
untarnished life, this is ripe old age.
He has sought to please God, so God has loved him;
as he was living among sinners, he has been taken up.
He has been carried off so that evil may not warp his
understanding or treachery seduce his soul;
for the fascination of evil throws good things into the shade,
and the whirlwind of desire corrupts a simple heart.
Coming to perfection in so short a while, he achieved long life;
his soul being pleasing to the Lord, he has taken him quickly from the wickedness around him.
Yet people look on, uncomprehending;
it does not enter their heads that grace and mercy await the chosen of the Lord.
RWBro Keith Dalrymple, the Provincial Grand Master for the Isle of Man, spoke of Jack's life of service to Freemasonry and his work for SAFFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces Help):
"It is my great honour to be invited to speak today, but to speak about our friend Jack is an emotional and daunting challenge. Jack was the consummate public speaker I only hope that I can do him justice. When considering my words I have carefully noted all that has been said in recent weeks and, indeed, by those who have already spoken today. There is a distinct thread, a common theme which I believe was evident in all of Jack’s activities and I suggest that these characteristics arose from his earliest days, perhaps from his very name.
Christened Jack Price – now consider the name, consider the man – solid, strong unembellished without pretension short – but never diminutive!! R.W. Provincial Grand Master for and Most Excellent Grand Superintendent in and over the Masonic Province of East Lancashire – Jack Price needed no grand title, no gold chain and no big apron to command respect. In his Masonic career Jack’s own endeavours earned that respect and the very name Jack Price became synonymous with achievement.
Jack was initiated into Justice Lodge no 4632 in 1972 within a year of my own initiation on The Isle of Man but it would be 25 years before our paths crossed and we began our Masonic Journey together.
We are all united here today by our travels with Jack – what a journey – what a privilege, what a life, what a man! Collectively we have travelled thousands of years with Jack, so numerous and varied were the lives he touched, but Jack didn’t just touch your life, he didn’t just make a difference to your life he had that rare quality amongst men, he inspired you to make the difference to one’s own life and the lives of those around you.
Many of you when involved in Masonic ritual, speaking at a festive board or organising a committee will have experienced the desire to please Jack, not because you wanted him to be proud of you, but because we all knew Jack wanted us to be proud of ourselves. When those twinkling blue eyes directly engaged yours, the hand gently rested on your arm, that wonderful smile spread across his face, and he spoke those words ‘my dear boy’ you knew that you had done well.
You will have your own memories and images of Jack. In uniform or civvies always immaculately turned out, comb in pocket, in fact so generous was Jack that he often offered me the use of his comb, I ask you! My own image is of Jack in Masonic Regalia and did he have some Masonic Regalia.
I’m sure it won’t surprise you that Jack amassed a cumulative total in excess of 130 years in senior office, not a bad overlap of time for a Masonic career spanning almost 40 years. It gives you an indication of the level of service, commitment, enthusiasm, dedication and sacrifice that Jack gave his Freemasonry and everything else he did, P.G.M., M.E.GSupt, Member of so many Masonic Orders, the Order of the Secret Monitor; the Allied Masonic Degrees; the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and Rose Croix, Mark Masonry and Royal Ark Mariners. He was a valued and valuable member of so many, and contributed whole heartedly to them all. Jack’s Masonic achievements are well documented and make fascinating reading. I urge those who have not done so to visit this Province’s excellent website. There were no half measures with Jack, his level of commitment was total and he expected the same from those around him.
He applied that commitment to SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) , the national charity helping and supporting those who serve in our Armed forces and their families. Their work is as vital today as ever. Their continually evolving support is driven by the current needs of the Service Community. As a Branch Training Officer, a Recruiting Officer , Chairman of the Management Committee of Greys Court, the Stepping - Stone Home in Manchester for separated Service Families and on the National Branch Support and Housing Advisory Committee Jack served SSAFA for fifteen years, in fact up to two months before he left us. SSAFA prides itself on helping anyone having ‘one days paid service’ in the Armed Forces and if anyone knew the value of one day it was Jack Price, it must surely have been Jack that Rudyard Kipling had in mind when he wrote ‘If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds of distance run’ Just how many seconds, minutes and hours did this man have in his day?
From Wigan Mining and Technical College, through service in the Royal Air Force, H.M. Prison Service and SSAFA this practical, level-headed Lancashire lad honed and developed his very special attributes and I believe that he found in Freemasonry a Fraternity having structure, principles and purpose within an ethos of Fellowship and shared experience which accorded with his personal beliefs, and the discipline and mutual support which he encountered and valued in his professional life. Whilst Jack was justifiably proud to have achieved high office it is his achievements whilst in office that will be his enduring legacy.
In this very building securing a strategy for its Masonic future, working with his team, and he always gave full credit to the Team. He also secured the future of one of your Lodges which was about to return its warrant to London. By demonstrating that in the true spirit of Freemasonry one of the largest Provinces can cooperate with one of the smallest to ensure that that Lodge lives on, albeit in Herefordshire, to the benefit of Freemasonry.
Jack was a Man’s Man, oh yes the ladies loved him, none more deeply than his beloved Dorothy. We could recount endless tales of our long standing relationships and of wonderful times spent in Jack’s company but as the Rev Donald Pryce said a fortnight ago “you had to have been there” The Province of East Lancashire is now at a cross roads on its Masonic journey, follow the sign posts erected by Jack Price and you won’t go far astray. How many men could address a gathering of 1,000 Freemasons, and without a hint of self-consciousness, urge them to love one another? Just one man in a thousand.
The Thousandth Man
0ne man in a thousand, Solomon says.
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend
On what the world sees in you,
But the Thousandth Man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin you.
'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him,
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.
You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings,
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all
Because you can show him your feelings.
His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men's sight
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot - and after!
Whatever the uniform, whatever the chain of office, there was only ONE Jack Price, A Man in a Thousand.
Dorothy, Janet and Jonathan thank you so much for sharing Jack with us. It has been a wonderful, memorable journey. "
Janet and Jonathan then talked from their hearts about Jack, their 'Dad' and Dorothy, their 'Mum'.
Martin Roche introduced the final hymn, 'Jerusalem'. "The final hymn is apt in more ways than we might first consider. “And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem and was printed around 1808. Today it is best known as the anthem "Jerusalem", with music written by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916. Jerusalem was a metaphor for Heaven, a place of universal love and peace. And Blake was not providing as some thought, a prophecy or prediction of the end of the world, but attempting to illustrate that through insight and the personal struggles which life presents, the world of men could be made a better place; stressing the importance of people taking responsibility for change and building a better society in England's green and pleasant land. How very appropriate in consideration of the man whose life we have this afternoon, celebrated: more than just a hymn, more than just a Mason. Please join now in singing, Jerusalem."
Finally, the Rev'd David Halford delivered the Bendiction before the Retiral which was accompanied by "Zadok the Priest (Handel). Organ accompaniment was ably provided by the Provincial Grand Organist, WBro Paul Bowen, througout the Service.
Dorothy, Janet, Jonathan and their family would like to thank everyone for their kind expressions of sympathy and for the
donations to the East Lancashire 2015 Festival.
They are most grateful for your support and the sharing of this celebration of Jack’s life,
especially during the difficult months surrounding this period.