Tom Mason: A Hardworking, Creative, Gentle, Family Man.
The following article was written in Autumn 2025.
On 1st April 2026, I am so saddened to report, Tom died.
His memorial service, held at All Saints Church, Rothbury, was attended by 100s of people, and live streamed to many more.
Revd Dr Rosie Stacy and Lord Curry led the, very moving and poignant, Thanksgiving Service for the Life of Thomas Richard Mason - 'Tom'
Coquetdale Creatives article from Autumn, 2025.
This much admired, loved, and respected, Patriarch of the Mason family, is - and always has been - a grafter. He has worked hard all of his life, starting from the age of 5, when he was delivering newspapers in Thropton. Now in his 84th year, he is still busy, and has overcome various health issues, to live a less active, but still productive, life.
I was delighted to spend a few hours chatting with him, learning about his life and projects.
To start with, as I introduced myself, Tom questioned, 'I don't really know you?' to which I replied 'Well I'm not surprised you don't know me, but I feel as if I know you, because you are famous'. At which point Janet chipped in, 'More like infamous'!
Firstly, I asked Tom to tell me a little bit about his family history. That is a fascinating story.
The original Thomas Mason was 'our' Tom Mason's grandfather. He worked for Lord Armstrong.
Lord William Armstrong recognised that Thomas was a reliable and good worker. So much so, he happily loaned him money to purchase threshing machines and a steam roller, from the Cragside Estate.
Thomas could now set up his own business.
When Thomas was ready to leave Cragside, The Armstrong Estate wrote him a wonderful letter, telling him he was held in high regard, and would always be welcomed back.
The Rothbury Business, T. Mason and Son, plant and machinery hire, was begun in Thropton, by Thomas Mason, continued by his son, James, who was the current Tom Mason's father. 'Our' Tom Mason has run the business since 1976. His son Richard joined him in 1993.
It is mainly Richard who runs the business now, with Tom's guidance and support.
Thomas Mason on the right of this photograph.
In February 1941, 'Our' Tom was born during a snow storm, in his Aunty Alice's tailor's workshop, in Thropton. The workshop is now the room above the bar in The Three Wheatheads.
He had three siblings, all bright, and all had diverse and fulfilling work - but not in the family business. It was Tom who enjoyed the building trade, the machinery, the construction work.
Before becoming part of this, however, Tom enjoyed working on different farms, and developed an enduring love of nature. He was often kept off school to help his dad with the threshing.
He loved fishing, and caught rabbits, not for pleasure, but for the pot. He loved being out in the open, and loved the landscapes and the beautiful environment, we are so lucky to have, here in Coquetdale.
At 18 Tom was driving a bus for Linden Wright. After this, Tom began to work for Thomas Muckle for a while, and learned a lot about the construction trade, before eventually he decided to continue his father's business, in 1976.
Buildings
The noun Mason means 'a person skilled in cutting, dressing and laying stone in buildings'. As a verb ,it means 'build or strengthen with stone'. It is very fitting that Tom Mason is so adept with stone and building.
Sheila Fearnehough, his sister-in-law, described Tom, in a special letter written in November 2014 as 'a ROCK, a really genuine person...ROCK SOLID - TRUSTWORTHY - That is Tom Mason'
When I was invited to speak with Tom, I was delighted to visit him in his beautiful home at Pondicherry. Designed by architect Nigel Jenkins, the plans had a lot of input from Tom. He is quite visionary, you see and knows all about the construction goods to do with building. Wood and stone are almost in his blood. He knows and respects these materials. It shows in the delightful house, with its wood pillars and stone columns.
Tom explained that “Ken Davidson and Richard did most of the house foundations and Alistair Campbell the joinery work. Sean Moyle helped complete the gin gan foundations.The conical timber roof structure was built in Muckle`s yard, Rothbury, by joiner Billy Snowdon, who marked each piece accordingly. It was then taken apart and rebuilt in situ at Pondicherry. Once the gin gan roof was completed, Andrew Stewart finished the work with his technical lead and slating workmanship”.
The stonework is exceptional. Martin Roberts was the mason who did this work; carving out the heads, sills and quoits on a radius to suit the shape of the building.
The solid oak floor was made from oak trees which had been felled by Denny Thompson.
The huge central 26' timber was the original jib arm from the crane which used to lift the goods off the trains at Rothbury railway station. It was Tom Mason who dismantled that crane. (Thanks to Richard Mason for this information).
Ponds
I was admiring Alistair Hardie's ponds, at Westfield, not long ago. And he recalled how they came to be made.
'Apart from the good memories of shared talk and laughter, Tom's main legacy to Westfield is two ponds.
We were having a casual conversation about the possibility of making a pond. Tom loves to dig a pond, and there was no holding him. In no time at all, before I had time to say, 'hang on a minute' test holes were dug and there was somehow no turning back!'
The resulting ponds are stunningly lovely, and a testament to the skill and vision of Tom, to know exactly how to shape them and to create the different depths. This is an aspect of the creativity of Tom, which is practical in its application.
Tom has taught Richard, and they are both responsible for many beautiful, large and not so large, ponds and wetlands, throughout Coquetdale. These are now havens for wildlife.
Digging
The Coquetdale Community Archaeology group also have a debt of gratitude to Tom. Whenever they needed to dig, before careful excavation, they could always rely on Tom. They have written:
'You have opened up trenches for us with surgical precision, and then filled them up again at the end of each season. Without your help we could never have achieved half of what we've actually done.'
So Tom's generosity and skill has been instrumental in many of the discoveries made by these archaeologists.
From the Coquetdale Community Archaeology Group FB page:
Tom Mason not only got his tracked digger down the scary slope to the site, but did an incredible amount of work opening up 4 trenches - 2 of them massive - and saving us an enormous amount of work. Most importantly, he then proceeded to get the digger out again. On site, we found another piece of 17th century pipe and a small piece of slipware.
Upper Coquetdale Film Group
Tom was a founding member of the Group, back in the early 1970s. This group had filmed a wide variety of activities which personified life in Coquetdale. Tom, and the rest of the Group, has ensured that the festivities, lifestyle, and ordinary people of Coquetdale will always be remembered.
This astonishing project is of immense value.
Keith Hartnell writes:
'I first met Tom in 2009 when he came to see me, together with the others, to discuss transferring old 16mm cine films to DVD for the Upper Coquetdale Film Group, of which he was a founding member, back I the early 1970s.
Tom struck me immediately as a warm, unassuming man with a quick sense of humour, and a ready smile from behind his distinctive and distinguished beard.
It soon became obvious to me that Tom provided the continuity and the passion that drove the project to rescue the old films onto DVD. Tom was dedicated to preserving and sharing the remarkable cine film legacy of Coquetdale that he and his friends had created almost forty years ago.
That was in 2009, and Tom was still at the heart of the cine rescue project in 2014, encouraging, guiding, advising, and supporting me with my work on the film archive.
Keith Hartnell, 2014.
This Is Your Life
Hazel lent me a remarkable book to read, to learn more about her husband.
It is a big ring binder book, bulging with letters, cards, and photographs, describing and remembering stories and anecdotes, about Tom, and Hazel. It was compiled by the family in 2014 - when they were chosen by the TV Programme, Car SOS, to secretly do up Tom's dilapidated Morgan, and present it to him at a special event. The family had asked friends and family members to write their memories and stories about Tom, and the book was presented to him like his own This Is Your Life!
Tom allowed the car, a striking red three-wheeler, 1934 Morgan F4, to be displayed in the Crowne Plaza hotel. "Known locally as a Coquetdale hero for his voluntaary work, helping charities across Northumberland, Mr Mason asked the hotel to donate the hire fee to the Rothbury Highland Pipe Band."
But back to The Big Red Book.
Reading through the letters inside, there are a great many people who clearly feel they have a lot to thank Tom for.
I think this quote by Richard and Clare Packer is very apt.
'We live in a day and age where celebrity status and wealth are worshipped and aspired to. These celebrities are typically, but not always, fairly shallow and not the best role models for society in terms of their behaviour and attitudes.
Tom is a celebrity of The Valley, but he stands for the importance of values that are lasting and timeless, and an example to us all.
He is best known to us as 'Tommy the digger man', a hardworking man with a deep knowledge of the local people, land and lore. You always know that if you ask him to do anything, it will be done well and built to last.'
I think the last word on Tom should go to his wife, Hazel. She first wrote this poem for Tom's 60th birthday, but it was modified for his 70th.
Videos
This excellent video is a film of Tom up to his mischief, illustrating a wonderful poem by his son Richard. Burnin' Desire
This delightful video is My Dad, Tom Mason by Louisa Mason
This video is of Nicola performing her moving dialect poem, Had Me Hand
If Poss
Written by Hazel, in the style of Rudyard Kipling, originally for Tom`s 60th and
modified for his 70th! 22.2.11
If you should meet a man called Tom from Thropton,
Who grew up in his native Coquetdale
Who knows each nook, and every little cranny-
Who fished the Wreigh yet never learned to swim;
He is the one who loves the Coquet valley
And what is more, he is my next of kin!
If you would like to meet a man of learning
Who always tried to stay away from school-
If you want any kind of information
You`ll find he`s anything but a fool.
He has a great amount of knowledge
Of farms, and farmers, fields and dales;
He is the sort who never tires of listening
Nor telling all his vast amount of tales.
He is the sort who always sees in others
The best he can, however large or small,
He is a friend of very different peoples
Yet he is thought of equally by them all.
He`s known by all the titled gentry
But certainly hasn`t lost the common touch;
He`s content with everything he feels is plenty
And yet he gives to others very much
.
If you are looking for a father figure
A family man to whom you can relate,
He`ll get along and be just right beside you
And soon you`ll find in him a real soul mate.
If you should need a shoulder which to cry on
An ear to listen, or a hand to hold,
He is a warm and understanding hearer
Who`ll never leave you left out in the cold.
He is a one who really loves a challenge
To puzzle out and then to test his skill;
He`ll want to find the very best solution
But hear your thoughts, ideas and plans as well.
If you should every need a digger
To dig a drain or excavate your founds,
To knock your buildings down or fix a sewer-
He always has his feet firm on the ground.
If you should ever want a building
Or lay a kerb, or level out your land,
If you should need some help with sand and gravel
Or for any reason find you need a hand-
He is the man to help achieve it,
He`ll be the one to help you count the cost,
What e`er the situation he`ll relieve it
And try to see that time is never lost.
He almost seems to live in clarty wellies-
And overalls that`s usually thick with oil
He drives a roller, van, or trailer-
With compressors, saw, and dumper layered in soil.
If you should want a man who`s conscientious
Who`ll try to come whenever you may call,
He`ll be the one to really get you going
And help you, whatever may befall.
If he could make a heap of all his diggings
And lose them in the drain, or ditch or dross,
He`d still be prepared to keep on going
Tom Mason (whose school nickname was Poss)
If you need to clear the way through ice or snowdrift
And make the paths and roadways safe and clear,
He is the one who`s always working for you
Whilst soothing out your worries and your fears.
If he is faced with lots and lots of problems
And broken down machinery is his bane,
Yet he will always try to get them mended
And treat all these imposters just the same.
He is the Santa for the region
Who really fits the bill with beard and toys,
He is to old- and all the little children
A hero, who just loves the girls and boys.
If you are feeling poorly or deflated
He will make you endless cups of tea;
His nursing skills have been already noted,
He`s often been the one who`s cared for me.
His love of Nature is well founded
He knows the name of every living thing,
But - better still - he loves the World`s Creator
And more amazing - knows that He loves him!
He`s 70 now, this gentle man from Thropton,
He`s never gone too far away to roam;
If he could have his pick of where to travel
He`d always rather just stay close to home.
His Home Eternal is in Heaven -
He`ll meet his Maker there, we know it`s true,
We trust that reading this may help and guide you
To want to know and love your Maker too.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you
Just pray that you might have the strength to bear it
And remember He who bore the Cross for you.
Tom is a man who`ll always keep on giving -
`til there is nothing more that he can give,
He`ll be the one who spends his living
To make a better place for you to live.
If you should ever share his sense of humour
And have a laugh, or smile, or hug or tear;
You`ll be the richer, not the poorer,
And what is more, you`ll be his friend, my dear.
Dedicated (again) to Tom on the occasion of his 70th birthday, 22nd February 2011.
With love and admiration, from Hazel
Post Script -
Tom the Teller of Tales
At the Service of Thanksgiving for Tom's life Andrew Charleton, in his eulogy, described Tom's gift of oratory.
Andrew said:
"Another very special gift belonging Tom was his remarkable ability to relate a story. He was blessed with an almost forensic memory and when he told you a story, the story itself was almost secondary.
First off he would give you the entire family history of the folk involved; he would then frame the tale so perfectly that you felt as though you were actually there yourself watching the scenes unfold.
Each line would be steeped in emotion, the joy, the warmth, the hilarity, even the pathos and all delivered in the most pitch perfect, velvet covered Coquetdale accent you are ever likely to hear.
By any standards Tom was one of the finest orators of our time, a true gift!"
Tom's legacy
The following are Richard Packer's words, spoken at the funeral of Tom Mason. All of Richard's words are published here, as the family felt that they truly summed up their beloved Tom.
Richard Packer
We gather here today in love, in respect, and in remembrance. We come together to honour the life of Tom Mason, to share our grief at his passing, and to celebrate the many ways he touched our lives.
The valley nodded its head to him this morning, beautiful blue still skies a light frost on the ground and a mist on the river he loved well. Cuckoos and curlews calling, swallows darting , lambs bleating , calves braying. Home.
This is a moment that will be filled with many emotions — sadness at our loss, gratitude for the time we shared, and even joy as we recall treasured memories. Whatever you are feeling today, know that it is welcome here. This is a safe space for tears, for laughter, for silence, and for reflection.
Funerals are not only about saying goodbye; they are also about saying thank you. Thank you for the love, the lessons, and the legacy that Tom leaves behind. Today through the services and conversations, we will share stories, offer comfort to one another, and find strength in our shared memories.
I invite you to take a deep breath, to set aside those things that are occupying our minds , and to be fully present in this moment. Let us remember together, let us grieve together, and let us celebrate together the life of someone who meant so much to us all.
Tribute
How do you place a value on a life that has been lived ?
Is it how successful someone has been ?
The things they have achieved ?
The money they've earnt ?
The awards or praise they've won ?
Or is it something more subtle, the difference they have made to other peoples lives by being the person that they were. Personally, I lean very strongly towards this, knowing the people that have made a difference in my life. Tom made a significant difference to many people's lives.
He was a loving and supportive husband to Hazel for 59 years.
A devoted father to Janet, Nicola, Rosie , Richard and Louisa.
A doting grandfather and great grandfather.
A loving brother , brother in law and uncle.
A loyal and trustworthy friend.
A supporter of the community and its heritage. He was reliable and dependable in all of these things.
He was the master of making a difference, I'll never forget the pride and encouragement when he said to me Richard, your finally saying Harbottle right. Simple words that meant such a lot to me.
We live in an age where people know the cost of everything but the value of nothing. Tom knew what was valuable and nurtured it and encouraged and supported it unconditionally and this behaviour characterised his life and his legacy:
- His family
- His friendships
- His love of Coquetdale - its nature and its lore.
If I had to pick one word to describe him it would be gentleman. He was the perfect blend of gentle and man, which many of us would do well to emulate. He was very much a man's man, he loved their company, he loved hard honest work, social gatherings where tales were told and memories shared, country craft and skills, a youth of mischief and a ragged rascal in the beloved rugged rocks and rivers and burns of the valley. But he was also overtly gentle in how he dealt with life and people, kind, compassionate, caring and supportive of those with needs and none of these things weakened his manliness, they enhanced it. He wrapped this all up with a face that was never far from laughter and eyes that always had a twinkle of mischief in them and a character that was trustworthy, reliable and dependable. He had the ability to find and support the need in others , particularly the young who needed encouragement and a helping hand at times in their lives.
I'll never forget him being on the farm and telling us about the medical diagnosis of a local young man and just crumpling with his emotions. It wasn't weakness, it was strength and love.
The verses that were read which Jesus spoke , tells of the wisdom of building a house on sound solid foundations, which Tom knew all about and
seem very relevant today for someone who was in the trade and built their own house. Building a life that can withstand the storms and ups and downs that it throughs at us. He and Hazel had a faith in Jesus as their saviour and a hope and a promise of eternal life with him when this life is over. He realised the importance of that decision. The best faith is simple and not complicated and that is what Tom had and which is available to anyone who puts their trust in Jesus. He had that assurance of knowing where he was going.
Several years ago Nicola asked Clare and I to write some words about her Dad for a This is your Life book which was given to him as part of the Car SOS restoration project. These words which we wrote still ring true.
We live in a day and age where celebrity status and wealth is worshipped and aspired to. These celebrities, are typically, but not always, fairly shallow and not the best role models for society in terms of their behaviour and attitudes. Tom is a celebrity of The Coquet Valley but he stands for the importance of values that are lasting and timeless and an example to us all.
He is best known to most of us as “Tommy the digger man” a hard working man with a deep knowledge of the local people, land and lore. You always know that if you ask him to do anything it will be done well and built to last.
He is someone who always took the time to talk to you and perhaps more importantly to listen. You always come away from a conversation with Tom feeling that he was genuinely interested in what was going on in your life. I loved him coming to the farm and telling us about his days working there , the tales with Alan Wood, his eyes always lit up. His memory was amazing , not just the events but the detail of what had happened , driven by his love of the Coquet valley and its people. The foresight you have had as a family for recording and capturing those memories will bring comfort to you all.
His support of the local community was vast and diverse and we will hear more about that today. At Armstrong Hall, he filled the big boots of Bunt Riddell to play Santa at the children's Christmas Party. Entering into character, his beard got whiter every year. He and Hazel have practically supported the Christian work with the children in the valley over many years and many children have benefitted from their generosity.
Someone once said that the character of a man is doing what is right even when no one is watching or there is no thanks to be had. Tom Mason had character in abundance. He did these things because they were the right thing to do
It's a high bar that Tom has set as an example and a legacy of a life lived. He would say it was nothing special , but we all know different , he was one of a kind and will be missed by all those who truly loved him and knew him. I hope that you as a family can take consolation in the fact that his was a life well lived and you were a family well loved and supported with a lifetime of wonderful memories to share and laugh over as the days get easier to bear. For those of us on the outside looking on, know that we cannot measure the depth or weight of your grief but as a community the love and support that you may all need is there when and if you need it.
The value of Toms life has been immense for the impact it has had for the betterment of so many other people and I'm sure we will hear more about that as this day unfolds.
We bid this
Family man
Mans Man
Countryman
Gentleman
God's speed and thank him for the memories and legacy he has left with us.
Richard Packer
1st April 2026
Tom Mason
22nd February 1941-1st April 2026
Get In Touch
If you would like to be interviewed for Coquetdale Creatives or have some news to share, then please let us know.
Contact Us