A great man, a great mason and a great mentor for a Provincial Almoner. We will always remember you. Richard & Jackie
Donald Pilgrim (5 Nov 1921 - 13 Apr 2016)
Donate in memory of
DonaldThe Children's Trust
In loving memory of Donald Arthur Pilgrim who sadly passed away on 13th April 2016. The funeral will be held on 6th May at 4.15 at Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead. Afterwards we will meet at Leatherhead Golf Course, Kingston Rd. We have planned family flowers and welcome you to donate to the children’s trust charity instead. Don was 94 and had been mostly independent until October 2015. He had a long illness and was in hospital for 4 months. However he made it home at the end of Feb 2016. He was home for 7 weeks and was gradually getting better. On the last day of his life we went out for tea with daughter Jane. It was a lovely sunny day. He had a large piece of cake. Later after supper he told Jane that he'd had a lovely day, then he went for a lie down. He passed away shortly afterwards.
Obituary
Donald Arthur Pilgrim
Born 5th November1921in Wilsden. His parents were Arthur William Pilgrim and Grace Emily Pilgrim
Oldest of three brothers, his middle brother Bernard ( now passed) and his surviving youngest brother Norman.
Norman remembers that Don had aspirations about becoming an Anglican priest as a chid and would practice services with his younger brothers, they would take the Mickey out of him and laugh. Don would punish them by saying every time you laugh I will start again!
At Junior School Moira Rd, Cricklewood he met lifelong friend Gunter Helft who was a German Jew, who came over to England with his family before the war, he was sat next to Don in school and didn’t speak a word of English and but later became an Anglican priest
Later Don was educated at Clarks College .
All 3 brothers were members of the choir at St Pauls church, Neasden.
He was close to his cousins John and Muriel Pilgrim and remained so for their lifetimes.
After he left school he became a trainee tea taster, but soon when the second world war began Don volunteered and joined up to the RAF as a number one radio operator, posted in Scotland. Toward end of the war he was drafted out due to illness. He was nursed in Scotland following surgery to remove his appendix.
After the war he worked for Smiths Crisps with his father, where he did well as a trainee in sales.
He joined the choir at St Catherine’s church in Neasden and also enjoyed being a member of the youth club. It was at St Catherine’s that he met his wife, Margaret Robinson.
Don and Margaret were married on 12th Feb 1949, they were both keen singers and enjoyed amature operatics.
Their daughter Jane was born in 1957 and was christened at St Catherine’s by Don friend Gunter Helft.
In 1958 the family moved to Epsom.
In 1961 thier second daughter Heather Catherine Pilgrim was born ( who was sadly a Thalidomide victim) and died after only a few months.
On 18th April 1963 son RICHARD was born.
Later in 1963 Don was invited to become a freemason and Initiated in to the Stoneleigh Coronation lodge,
Don continued to work in the printing industry in sales, later becoming the London manager for Tapp and Toothill. He eventually retired as sales director of his own company, DP associates.
Richard married Wendy and provided Don with two grand children, Emily and Charlie
Don was a family man and his children remember him as a KIND, NURTURING AND LOVING FATHER.
Some family holidays were spent on his cousin John’s farm, he and John were very close friends and the family remember John very fondly. He also supported his cousin Muriel when she became a young widow.
Annual family holidays were often spent in country cottages and guest houses.
The family house always had cats often up to 3, Jane and Richard would like to remember, Zipy, Chippy, Kitty Ginger, Winny, Sunny and Corry. Later when the children had left home Don and Margaret had a west highland Terrier called Mcduff who was quite a character and gave them many hours of pleasure.
The family Boat a cabin cruiser, named Wedgwood after the house, provided some great days out and family holidays.
Don was a member of St Martins church in Epsom , Don loved church organ music, joining in with singing hymns. Don always enjoyed gardening, travelling on steam trains and air shows. He also enjoyed watching Rugby, cricket and motor racing. He was also a member of Probus and secretary of Epsom chamber of commerse.
In 2001 Don celebrated 80th birthday with family and friends with a lunch party in Kenton.
Sadly Margaret died in 2002 After a long illness, Don had cared for her devotedly, dutifully and lovingly,
He missed her and was often lonely. However he continued to enjoy life and travelled to Dubai to stay with fellow mason Michael Moore three times,with Jane, Richard and friend Beryl, who became a close companion after Margaret died. Cousins Nicola and Carolyn also took him on trips Cornwall. He also enjoyed weekend away with niece and nephew Ian and Dorothy.
Don became a volunteer at Tadworth children court, helping in the library, this is the reason why the Children’s Trust charity has been chosen.
In 2011 Don celebrated his 90th birthday, His lifelong friend Gunter made a speech, that was read out by Jane. He continued to enjoy gardening and managed to put out planters at the front of the house even during the last year of his life. He was still fiercely independent, still drove a car, shopped, cooked for himself right up until September 2015. He enjoyed having tea with neighbours, Les, Margaret, Connie, Angela and Tony. Even during his last few months he would read the Telegraph from cover to cover.
He was in hospital for 4 months from Oct 2015 when he became ill. He finally made it home in late Feb 2016. He was very happy to be home and very well cared for very well by his main carer Zolt who became a friend and support to the family. He made progress at home and was starting to enjoy being taken to the park and a family meal at Easter.
He will be remembered as a gentleman who had time for everyone, would listen and be interested in all that folk had to say, he was witty , kind ,friendly and we’ll read.
Dons Masonic history
Don’s Masonic career was very extensive and he did so much, for so many people that we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
CRAFT History
He was initiated on 7th December 1963 into the Stoneleigh Coronation Lodge no. L5699, and became Master in 1974 and then again in 1993. In 1976 he joined North Surrey Masters Lodge no. L5905 and also joined Parthenon Lodge no L1826 in 1988.
In 1996 he was Master of North Surrey Masters Lodge no. L5905 and Master of Parthenon Lodge no. L1826 in 1999.
Don's first honour was Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 1984; he was later promoted to Provincial Grand Almoner a job which he thoroughly enjoyed. Finally in 1990 he was promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
Dons career didn’t stop there as in 1991, in Grand Lodge, he was promoted to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and in 1999 to Past Junior Grand Warden.
He was no slouch in the Chapter either.
CHAPTER History.
He was exalted into Parthenon Chapter no C1826 in 1972 and joined North Surrey First Principals in 1981. He was in the Chair of Parthenon Chapter in 1980 and 2001. In 1986 he was promoted to Provincial 2nd Assistant Grand Sojourner, and to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 1992, followed by Past Provincial Grand Scribe E in 1997. In addition to this, in 1998 he was awarded the Certificate of Merit for Surrey.
Rose Croix History
Don also loved his Rose Croix and was perfected in the Lily of Kasauli Chapter No. 200 in 1983 where he carried out all the Offices but particularly liked the Prelates Office. He was M.W.S. in 1993 and got his 30th degree in 1995. This led to his 31° being preferred in 2000 and then finally he gained his 32° on 24th September 2004. He was also a member of the Higher Degrees Chapter, the Rose of Surrey Chapter Rose Croix no. 1088 and encouraged many members, including myself at the Chapter of Improvement which he ran as Preceptor and Treasurer for many years.
Don will be remembered as a Good Mason, a Gentleman with his smart appearance and trimmed moustache, a family man who helped a great number of people in his life, he will be remembered as a man who lived respected and died regretted.
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