On 19th September 2023, the Deputy Grand Superintendent, E Comp David Hampton had the pleasure of presenting Comp Denis Ellmore, member of Charles Edward Keyser Chapter No 2518 with a 50 years’ Service Certificate at Halsey Halls, Cheshunt.
“Denis Seymour John Ellmore was born in King Georges Hospital, Newbury Park, Ilford on 16.12.1927. He Started School at Stains Road Infant School at the age of five.
He moved to Rainham and Rainham School in 1937. In 1939, 450 Pupils were evacuated to Kingsbridge in Devon, which involved a 16-hour train journey. Denis and his brother lived and worked on a farm and were not able to attend school for the first year.
Denis returned home at the age of 14 and joined the Midland Bank Head Office, as a Junior Messenger.
In December of 1945 was called up for National Service and joined the RAF. During his time in the RAF, he was stationed at Bletchley Park where he worked as a Telephone Operator. Denis was demobbed in late 1948 and immediately joined Pinchin Johnson, later known as International Paints, as a Trainee Wages and Costing Clerk. After some years of training and experience in 1961 Denis qualified as an Accountant. He then moved into Personnel and in 1965 qualified with the Institute of Personnel Management.
In his younger days Denis was a keen cyclist, winning Time Trials over 25 and 50 miles. Until recently has regularly played golf albeit to a Par 3 Standard.
In the Craft, Denis was interviewed by members of the Ilford Castle Lodge no. 7144 in the Cauliflower Pub, Ilford and initiated into the Lodge in the Province of Essex on Saturday 28th September 1968 at the age of 40, a notable day as the No1 hit in the USA was “Hey Jude” by The Beatles, which stayed there for 9 weeks, and in the UK, topping the Charts was “Those were the Days” by Mary Hopkin. Denis was subsequently passed and raised and installed as the Junior Warden on 23 rd February 1990. Due to health issues, he was advised not to progress further.
In the Royal Arch, Denis was invited to join the Chapter by his good friend, W Bro Norman Bradshaw and was Exalted into the Charles Edward Keyser Chapter, No 2518 on Tuesday 15 th May 1973, which was also a notable day as the No1 hit in the USA was “You are the Sunshine of my life” by Stevie Wonder and in UK, topping the charts was “See my Baby Jive” by Wizard. Unfortunately, he was unable to progress through any of the Chapter Offices.
Companions, for his continuous 50 years’ service and dedication to the Royal Arch in General and Hertfordshire and this Chapter in particular, I am pleased to present to E Comp Denis Seymour John Ellmore, a 50 years’ Service Certificate”. The DGS then read the citation before presenting the certificate to Comp Denis Seymour John Ellmore.