Warrington Masonic Hall was the venue for the installation of Mikel Moore into the chair of King Solomon in Ashmole Lodge No 5128. The principal guest was Malcolm Bell, Assistant Provincial Grand Master for the Province of West Lancashire.
The master elect was presented to the brethren by Nick Delaney, and then the installing master David Holmes took over. Once in the chair, the new master of the lodge, Mike, was delighted to appoint Graham Marsh as senior warden and Matthew Lambert as junior warden, along with other light blue brethren into other lodge office positions. This gives Ashmole Lodge the potential of light blue brethren taking the chair of the lodge for the next five years after Mike’s tenure.
Mike was last in the master’s chair of Ashmole Lodge in 1984, but the lodge’s brethren wanted him to be master this year because in February 2026, Mike will be celebrating his 50th year in Freemasonry, which is a very special year for him.
The address to the wardens was delivered by the Warrington Group Chairman John Tyrer, and the address to the master was delivered by Nick Delaney the Warrington Group Secretary.
Malcolm Bell brought fraternal greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and congratulated the brethren on the warm and sincere ceremony, with special thanks to director of ceremonies Paul Brown. Greetings from visiting masters and brethren was given by Jon Waldron, master of True Light Lodge of Friendship No 2963.
A vibrant festive board followed the installation ceremony and was enjoyed by all. The Master’s Song was beautifully sung by Tony Jones (Province of South Wales), who is the current master of Talbot Lodge No 1323 that meets in Swansea, Glamorganshire, and a long-time friend of Mike.
After the traditional Ashmole Lodge ‘silent toast’ to Elias Ashmole, delivered by Eric Drinkwater, the brethren headed off into the night with song and laughter ringing in their ears and their appetite for Masonry and food fully sated.