Brian Sparks was born in Bridgend and was educated in Cowbridge Grammar School. He was an accomplished sportsman and went on to play first class rugby at Neath, where he exhibited the uncompromising nature that was to characterize him during his later life. He was capped by Wales on
seven occasions. He became a policeman with the old Glamorgan Constabulary serving at Neath.
Later he "went north" to play rugby league at Halifax and stayed there for several years.
He returned southwards and trained as a teacher at St. Luke’s College, Exeter, a centre of excellence for sportsmen at that time. He taught at Maesteg Comprehensive School and it was there I met him in 1968 and we began a friendship that endured until his death.
In 1974, Brian was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to travel to the USA to study the teaching and coaching of basketball. (It was typical of Brian that he had opted for basketball and not netball for his young pupils, both male and female as it was a more challenging game.) With Brian's help and inspiration, I applied for a Fellowship the following year and was successful. This led to us working closely together, him as secretary and I as Chairman of the Welsh Association of Churchill Fellows when it had fallen into some disarray, and together we succeeded in getting it back together, an arrangement which continued for many
years.
At the time of
our meeting 1968, he and I were embarking upon our Masonic careers, Brian in Llynfi Lodge and I in Penybont 6743 at Bridgend.
A natural close friendship grew from our having these common bonds.
Brian, typically having an eye on opportunities, secured a sabbatical year from teaching to study the Welsh language at Barry College, returning with unsophisticated but competent Welsh language skills. As a result of this liking of the language, there developed between him and several members of his mother lodge at Maesteg and
supported by some members of Penybont Lodge, the urge to form a Welsh speaking lodge.
W Brother David Walters, a Welsh scholar and academic, and my immediate predecessor in the chair developed a
Masonic Ritual translation which was recognized at the time as being of considerable
merit. The opposition to the formation of such a lodge was
formidable. Brian was persistent. He so energized his fellow potential founders that eventually,
the United Grand Lodge of England consented, albeit with several strong caveats, that such a lodge could be formed.
In 1982 therefore,
eighteen Brethren came together to seek support and to present their petition that
Penybont Lodge sponsor such this new Lodge. In my capacity
of Master I was delighted to lead our lodge into readily agreeing to that
action. On Dydd Dewi Sant, Saint David's Day, 1983, our Provincial
Grand Master of the day, RW Brother, The Lord Swansea consecrated Dewi
Sant Lodge No 9067 in magnificent manner.
The lodge
progressed. However, it was required to perform its degree ceremonies in English and then call off on a future occasion to work a demonstration in
Welsh. Brian found this very difficult to accept. By
irregular activity the Lodge brought on itself a suspension. In
due course, after it was deemed to have purged its contempt, the
suspension was lifted.
There were other difficulties
leading to the unease of Brian - perhaps a characteristic of his nature, but also perhaps
these were linked to his health, since he had several hip and knee operations at that time.
In consequence Brian resigned from Dewi Sant and joined Newton Lodge
8261 over at Porthcawl.
It is often said when people pass away that they were unique, and that is self evident. But Brian was special, never a pragmatist and
quite capable of shooting himself in the foot. But he had many, many achievements
for which we shall remember him always, his family life with rather more responsibilities than most of us have, his rugby, his
Masonry, his Churchill and his Welsh. Those of us who knew him will forgive his little foibles, his stubbornness and remember all the good things about Brian Anthonie Sparks.
