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GEL Ta 20 2 Aa god p32 any people remember Neil Britton for his 31 years with the Belleville Utilities Commission, including two decades as its general manag- Pepa only a few eae him for his other passion in life — The Sonnivigw Ave Avenue resident recently marked 50 years as a Mason and the fraternal organization marked the occasion with a gala celebration at the Masonic Temple on Foster ; oom were around 150 Masons and their Wier at at the April 20 banquet from as far away as Niagara Falls, London, Ottawa and Hunstville and points in-between to “roast” itton and present him with his 50-year pin. “I felt honoured that the lodge initiated and planned such an evening that was joined in by brethren and ladies from the area and beyond,” said Britton, who jones the Durham Hage in 1951 at the age of 21. He joined the Eureka Lodge No. 283 in Belleville after he moved here in the late 1950s. “I'm proud to be a Ma. Britton said with a gleam in his ey “We often say om é" receive oo men into masonry and we make them men...I feel 'ma Wetter person a Ima Mason and I — ee others to consider Maso 99. He oversaw the iserigt a ae S| students who tan into financial two years of studies and grants support hearing research at the Hospital fo T Sick Children and a 's Place (group homes for autistic children). “And we ei raising in excess of $2 a for fu research projects,” he Sai a, foundation, he noted, currently has about $7 “Masons are devoted to doing good work just for ine gus of good and Tm honoured to be a part of edie each a ae a charitable program every year. ; are raising money for prostrate rese: tt, sa Cyto ore Tn} Meu | PHoTO - CROMBIE MCNEILL Neil Britton Story By HENRY Bury, THE INTELLIGENCER Britton continues to talk fondly of his a in the electricity and water industry — initially Ontario Hydro and then with the Belleville cea Commission. Born and raised in Newcastle, he remembers being five years old and helping his father, Harvey, bape ese lt the school where he attended. His father looked after the Newcastle electric system for many years and Britton climbed many ea dug holes, read meters, collected bills “and “and tever had to be done to install power lines shee do yequeely utility work.’ Britton entered the University of Toron! electrical 13 in Bowmanville. al # What powers Neil |