Barrow-in-Furness Mason Dennis Laird, has been presented with the British Empire Medal at the Fairfield Masonic Hall in Barrow. He received the award from Rob Cairns, representing Lord Lieutenant Alexander Scott, surrounded by friends and family.
The award was announced in the King’s Birthday Honours List and is given in recognition of Dennis’s long service to HM Coastguard and the wider community projects and initiatives he has been involved with for so many years.
The proceedings were started with opening remarks from Glenn Hudson, who introduced Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria Julie Barton. Julie gave an outline of the award and introduced Rob Cairns, who was representing Lord Lieutenant Alexander Scott, who in turn represents the King in the county. Special privileges of holding the BEM include the right to use St Paul’s Cathedral for weddings funerals and baptisms.
Among Dennis’s other awards and achievements are being a founder member of Barrow Credit Union, working with SAFA (the acronym for the Self Harm Awareness for All charity) in Cumbria. He has been a member of HM Coastguard for 32 years, rising to Deputy Station Officer, with two Chief Coastguard’s commendations for saving the life of one person in Cavendish Dock (for which he received a Royal Humane Society award), also working to raise awareness of coast and beach safety.
Dennis was also the first recipient of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2003. He was one of two founders of North Scale Residents Association, and is still its chairman with a deep involvement in the planning and construction of a community centre with bowling green and children’s playground.
Dennis also sat as a school governor and chair of governors for 22 years. During the past year, he has become a licenced taxi driver, working driving special needs youngsters to and from school.
Aside from being secretary of Piel Castle Lodge No 6099 and of Lonsdale Lodge of Installed Masters No 9422 in the Craft, Dennis is a Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in the Royal Arch and director of ceremonies in Henry Cook Chapter No 1021. He is also currently the master of another Masonic Order.
Rob quoted Dennis as having said: “I’m old fashioned enough to believe you should put something back into your community.” Wise words that we can all live by as men and Masons. Rob spoke informally afterwards saying he felt honoured to have been chosen to present the award. Rob’s colleague Paul, in the Lieutenancy Office, was quoted as saying the full citation for the award was the most impressive he’d ever seen.
Called on to respond, Dennis spoke about his close ties with Rob, both professionally and as a friend. Dennis said he felt like an impostor, it sounded like someone else who was being talked about. He thanked everyone for their attendance, saying how humbled he felt. Flowers were then presented to Julie and Rob’s wife Lesley by Dennis’ granddaughter Mollie and her friend Oonagh.