W. Bro. Donald Rushton PPSGW
1928 - 2023
It is with deep sadness we have to announce the passing of W.Bro. Donald Rushton, Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden.
Donald Rushton was born in Blackpool in 1928.
The family moved South in the early 1930’s, returning to Blackpool at the outbreak of the War in 1939.
When leaving school he worked for a well known firm of Solicitors in Blackpool for 3 years before returning South with the family in 1945.
He volunteered for Army service in 1946 and trained as a Shorthand-typist in the Royal Army Service Corps (as it then was).
He was sent to Germany and attached to the Bridge of Guards in Schleswig Holstein. Northern Germany.
Later he was attached to the 16th Independent Parachute Regiment and whilst the Berlin airlift was taking place, early in 1948, was attached to the 482 Norwegian Brigade, when there was a little trouble with the Russians (at the start of the “Cold War “).
Following demob, Don joined the Civil Service and was employed as Secretary to the Ecclesiastical Secretary at the House of Lords.
Later he transferred to the Lord Chancellor’s Department and worked for the Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand for 34 years.
The Official Solicitor (inter alia) represents children in the High Court and the work involved interviewing all parties and preparing reports for the Judges in custody, access, Wards of Court and High Court adoptions.
He met Doreen, who also worked in the Official Solicitor’s Department, and they married in 1959. They have a daughter, Lesley-Anne, who is a Senior Partner with Girlings Solicitors.
Finally appointed Chief Clerk to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Downing Street, London SW1, he remained there for 8 years, retiring in 1990, after 42 years in the Civil Service.
Donald Rushton - Masonic Career
2 October 1953 - initiated into Teddington Lodge No. 4528 (Middlesex)
1962 - Master Teddington Lodge 4528
1965 - Joined Ethelbert Lodge 2099
1969 - Past Provincial Assistant G Registrar (Middlesex)
1970 - Master Ethelbert Lodge 2099
1971 - Exalted into St George’s Chapter No 2099
1974 - Almoner in Ethelbert lodge for 7 years
1981 - M E Z in the Chapter
1983 - Became a Trustee for the lodge - served in this capacity for over 30 years
1987 - Secretary in Ethelbert Lodge for 13 years
1993 - Joined Nicholas Ridley Lodge 8094
1994 - Promoted to Past Principal G. Soj. in St. George’s Chapter
1996 - Master of Nicholas Ridley Lodge 8094
- Various promotions in Kent and East Kent throughout the years , and finally -
1998 - Promoted Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden (East Kent)
A Freemason for 70 years he was a Trustee for the Ethelbert Lodge 2099 for more than 30 years, and was responsible for setting-up “The Herne Bay Masonic Centre Benevolent Trust” at the Masonic Temple, Cecil Park, Herne Bay.
W. Bro. Donald past to the Grand Lodge above on 17th of November 2023, a few weeks after his beloved Doreen.
Donald Rushton was born in Blackpool in 1928.
The family moved South in the early 1930’s, returning to Blackpool at the outbreak of the War in 1939.
When leaving school he worked for a well known firm of Solicitors in Blackpool for 3 years before returning South with the family in 1945.
He volunteered for Army service in 1946 and trained as a Shorthand-typist in the Royal Army Service Corps (as it then was).
He was sent to Germany and attached to the Bridge of Guards in Schleswig Holstein. Northern Germany.
Later he was attached to the 16th Independent Parachute Regiment and whilst the Berlin airlift was taking place, early in 1948, was attached to the 482 Norwegian Brigade, when there was a little trouble with the Russians (at the start of the “Cold War “).
Following demob, Don joined the Civil Service and was employed as Secretary to the Ecclesiastical Secretary at the House of Lords.
Later he transferred to the Lord Chancellor’s Department and worked for the Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand for 34 years.
The Official Solicitor (inter alia) represents children in the High Court and the work involved interviewing all parties and preparing reports for the Judges in custody, access, Wards of Court and High Court adoptions.
He met Doreen, who also worked in the Official Solicitor’s Department, and they married in 1959. They have a daughter, Lesley-Anne, who is a Senior Partner with Girlings Solicitors.
Finally appointed Chief Clerk to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Downing Street, London SW1, he remained there for 8 years, retiring in 1990, after 42 years in the Civil Service.
Donald Rushton - Masonic Career
2 October 1953 - initiated into Teddington Lodge No. 4528 (Middlesex)
1962 - Master Teddington Lodge 4528
1965 - Joined Ethelbert Lodge 2099
1969 - Past Provincial Assistant G Registrar (Middlesex)
1970 - Master Ethelbert Lodge 2099
1971 - Exalted into St George’s Chapter No 2099
1974 - Almoner in Ethelbert lodge for 7 years
1981 - M E Z in the Chapter
1983 - Became a Trustee for the lodge - served in this capacity for over 30 years
1987 - Secretary in Ethelbert Lodge for 13 years
1993 - Joined Nicholas Ridley Lodge 8094
1994 - Promoted to Past Principal G. Soj. in St. George’s Chapter
1996 - Master of Nicholas Ridley Lodge 8094
- Various promotions in Kent and East Kent throughout the years , and finally -
1998 - Promoted Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden (East Kent)
A Freemason for 70 years he was a Trustee for the Ethelbert Lodge 2099 for more than 30 years, and was responsible for setting-up “The Herne Bay Masonic Centre Benevolent Trust” at the Masonic Temple, Cecil Park, Herne Bay.
W. Bro. Donald past to the Grand Lodge above on 17th of November 2023, a few weeks after his beloved Doreen.