Clement E. Stretton

Stretton was born in 1850 and lived in Leicester,[10] and in 1866 was articled to a Civil Engineering firm for £300.[10]

Stretton claims he was assigned to work at a quarry in Cromford, Derbyshire.[10] He claims the Guild Masons at the quarry refused to work with him, but when he joined the Operative Society after a few days he received total support from them. Stretton thereafter worked his way through the degrees of the Operative Masonry.[10]

In 1871 also became initiated into Speculative Freemasonry at the Leicester Lodge.[10]

Stretton was a prolific railway writer but there are wide and strong concerns about inaccuracies and the possible fabrications of stories.[8]

In 1908 Stretton re-visited the Derby Lodge and noted a substantial decline in membership.[10] This initiated Stretton into an attempt to make efforts to revive Guild Masonry and ensure the traditions were not lost.[10] He has received credit for his work in passing down the information from the Operative Guild which might otherwise have been lost.[11] John Yarker of Manchester was also active in these efforts.[12]

Stretton died in 1915.[10]

Railway track items in the Stretton Collection are held at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.[13]

Stretton was a prolific writer on railway and masonic matters, his larger works online include:

• Safe Railway Working: a Treatise on Railway Accidents: Their Cause and Prevention With a Description of Modern Appliances and Systems (3rd ed.). London: Crobsy, Lockwood and Son. 1893 [1887]. OCLC 503789878. OL 20605374M.
• The Locomotive Engine and Its Development (6th ed.). London: Crosby, Lockwood and Son. 1903 [1892]. OCLC 265878314. OL 20443807M.
• The History of the Midland Railway. London: Methuen & Co. 1901. OCLC 503789580. OL 6922282M.