Provincial Senior Grand Warden Michael Tax was the principal guest and representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews for the proclamation of Daniel Crossley as master of Lune Lodge No 4724. Michael was accompanied by grand officers John Robson, Neil McGill and Paul Broadley. Scott Devine, the Chairman of Lancaster and District Group was joined by Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Larry Branyan, Provincial Assistant Grand Superintendent of Works Paul Dent and Provincial Grand Steward Andy McClements. The acting Provincial deacons were Steve Plevey and George Fox.
The lodge was opened by the WM Daniel Crossley who conducted the proclamation ceremony together with acting director of ceremonies Bryan Cambidge from Morecambe Lodge No 1561. The installing officers were; senior warden Dave Shaw, junior warden Steve McClintock and inner guard Mark Oliver.
The third degree working tools were presented by Neil McGill, the second degree working degree tools were presented by Peter Walmsley and the first degree working tools were presented by Paul Mason. The WM appointed Neil McGill as senior warden and Steve McClintock as junior warden.
The address to the master was given by Neil McGill, the address to the wardens by John Heaton and the address to the brethren of Lune Lodge by Michael Tax. Michael brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and congratulated Daniel Crossley on taking the chair of King Solomon for the second year running and all those who taken part in the ceremony. Michael was presented with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities totalling £1,080. He thanked the brethren of the lodge for their generous donations
The organist was John Heaton. A total of 42 brethren attended the festive board. A combined total of £565 was raised from the general raffle, Jameson Irish whiskey raffle and master’s windle. The toast to the WM was given by Ben Gorry.
WM Daniel Crossley was born in Blackpool in 1974. He attended King Edward School in Lytham and then Baines Sixth Form before studying physics and maths at Liverpool University. On leaving university, Daniel took a job with a recruitment agency in 1993. He was headhunted by a company wanting to set up an agency in Lancaster. In 2004 Daniel bought the business and has worked in recruitment ever since.
Daniel has four children aged 22,19,15 and 9 and lives in Scorton, although he spends a lot of time in Lancaster with his partner Malwa and her two children aged 15 and 8. He is an avid football fan and is a Manchester United season ticket holder. He still plays in a Monday league every week as a goalkeeper. Daniel also played cricket for Garstang regularly until 2020.
Daniel was initiated into Wyreside Lodge No 2605 in 2011. He joined Lune Lodge several years ago and Baines Lodge No 7844, which is his old school lodge in 2018. Daniel received his first Provincial appointment as acting Provincial Grand Steward in 2020, three weeks before lockdown, so never got to wear the apron. In April 2021, Daniel was promoted to acting Provincial Senior Grand Warden.
