Her Majesty’s personally signed letter to the independently-run Waterhouses Community Association, acknowledged the value of the centre’s self-funded work among people of all ages through their self-funded “social, educational and recreational activities.”
In contrast the gift of a new royal cipher, bearing the King’s initials, is the result of a labour of love for Steve Mann, who lives in a nearby village. He is one of a team of eight masons working on the continual maintenance of the cathedral’s nine centuries old structure but worked on this project in his own time.
“I always wanted to tackle something like a coat-of-arms and I liked the design of the cipher so took it up as a personal project. I am delighted it’s going on display alongside the Queen’s commendation,” said Steve, a member of Durham City Freemen’s Masons’ Guild which can trace its history back more than 600 years.
Fifty-seven-year old Steve, born in Boston, Massachusetts to an English mother, came to Britain when he was seven to further his education. He returned to the land of his birth in his late teens to join an aircraft carrier of the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet, serving as an airframe mechanic working on fighter jets. His four years at sea included a world tour and service in the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas during the first Gulf War. When he came ashore he spent a further four years as a reserve.
The oak frame on which Steve’s creation is mounted was made by joiner and fellow freeman Anthony Swallow, another member of the cathedral team. The pair were sworn in on the same day at the end of 2018.
Community Association trustee Stefan Gemski said: “It really is an honour for us to accept Steve’s work. We decided straight away to display it prominently alongside the commendation we previously received from Queen Elizabeth 11. The care and craftsmanship of Steve’ work is truly exceptional and we are both lucky and grateful he chose our building in which to display it.
“Our foyer also has on display other stonework tablets salvaged from key village buildings, including the Waterhouses branch of the Coop and the Workingmen’s Club, long since demolished. Other important pieces of village history also preserved are the brass WW1 Remembrance plaques and the Waterhouses Miners’ banner.”
Eric Bulmer, former chairman of the freemen’s wardens, who was present at the dedication of the King’s Cipher, added: “In this ever-changing world of new technology and artificial intelligence it is encouraging and refreshing to witness craftsmanship of the very highest level.”
