Adrian Kerslake was installed as master of Morecambe Lodge No 1561 in the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield at Rowley Court, Lancaster. Peter was accompanied by Past Provincial Assistant Grand Master Keith Kemp, grand officers Michael Church-Taylor, Neil McGill and Paul Broadley. Acting Provincial grand officers in attendance were Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Greg Pinnington, Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements, Provincial Grand Senior Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Grand Steward Stephen Renney together with Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group, Chris Larder with Provincial Grand Steward and group secretary Lee Fisher. Provincial deacons were Max Yates and Malcolm Brown.
Lodge secretary Malcolm Cambidge read the dispensation granting permission to hold the lodge at Rowley Court in Lancaster, as Morecambe Masonic Hall is currently undergoing refurbishment. WM Simon Das opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge before opening the lodge in the second and third degrees, after which Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Greg Pinnington announced that Peter Schofield stood without and demanded admission. Peter and his entourage processed into the lodge room accompanied by Keith Kemp, grand officers, acting Provincial grand officers and group chairman. On being introduced to the WM Simon, Peter was offered the gavel of the lodge for which he thanked him, but was happy to return. The lodge was adjourned in the third degree and re-opened in the second degree.
The WM invited Ron Gibson to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Stewart Aimson to occupy the chair of installing junior warden and Geoffrey Wilman to occupy the position of installing inner guard. Master elect Adrian Kerslake was presented for installation by his proposer Nick Baxter.
Work was resumed in the third degree at which time, all those below the rank of an installed master were requested to leave the lodge for a short while during which a Board of Installed Masters was convened and the master elect installed into the chair of King Solomon. On closing the Board of Installed Masters brethren were re-admitted in each of the three degrees.
The third degree working tools were presented by Stephen Cooper, the second and third degree working tools were presented by Stuart Bateson and Bryan Cambidge respectively.
New WM Adrian Kerslake appointed Michael Church-Taylor as senior warden and Ian Macluskie as junior warden. The address to the deacons was given by Kevin Rigg. The address to the WM was given by Marion Korzeniowski. The address to the wardens was given by Max Yates. Peter Schofield gave the address to the brethren of Morecambe Lodge.
On completion of the installation ceremony Peter Schofield brought greetings from Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to the WM and wished him a happy, successful and healthy year. He congratulated installing master Simon Das and director of ceremonies Bryan Cambidge on a superb ceremony. He also thanked those brethren who had given the addresses to the WM, wardens and presentation of the working tools. Peter was presented with a list of donations in the sum £1873.50 that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities that included a £1,000 to the Alzheimer’s Society. He thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall and the Master’s Song was performed by John Bates. A total of 53 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by Nick Baxter. The raffle raised £470. The WM was delighted to be joined at his installation by his long term friend Mark Allen from Aldershot Camp Lodge No 1331 in the Province of Hampshire.
WM Adrian was born in 1966. His father Larry and mother Hetty were stationed at RAF Abingdon at the time with his two elder sisters. Adrian’s informative years were spent in Plymouth. He attended Burrington Secondary Modern school and achieved nine CSE and two O level qualifications.
Adrian left school in 1982 and joined the RAF as an aircraft electrician. He served at RAF Lyneham working on Hercules C130 aircraft and later RAF Brize Norton working on 101 Squadron VC10 tankers. Adrian was lucky enough to see a lot of the world, some places not being as glamorous as others! Adrian left the RAF in 1988 in the rank of senior Aircraftman, the backbone of the RAF!
Adrian met and married his first wife at this time and they have three daughters and four grandchildren.
Adrian had several jobs before he commenced work for CMP batteries as a field engineer based in Luton. He was then moved to Lancaster in 1996 to cover Lancashire and Cumbria.
Adrian was made redundant from CMP batteries in 2007 after an American buy out and then worked for Shepherds Boats in Windermere on the general maintenance and workshop side before his employment at Mardix in Kendal where he travelled all over Europe with the installation team.
Adrian is currently employed by NCR Atleos as an engineer, servicing and repairing ATM machines across Lancashire and Cumbria. Much to the disdain of the company, he is also chairman of the union representatives.
Adrian joined unit as a civilian instructor moving through the ranks to become a Lieutenant SCC RNR and eventually Commanding Officer. Adrian taught marine engineering up to BTech level, and parade and ceremonial at all levels travelling throughout the UK until his retirement from the Se Cadets in 2015.
Adrian currently serves on the Morecambe Sea Cadet management committee as Vice Chairman having been approached by Nick Baxter to help out. He was also Commanding Officer of Morecambe Maritime Volunteer Service for a brief period. During this period Adrian met and married his current wife with Nick Baxter as his best man.
On 4 January 1991, Adrian was initiated into Morecambe Lodge No 1561 by Ian Macluskie after having been proposed by his friend Nick Baxter. He was passed on the 1 March 2019 and raised on 5 May 2019.
Adrian became a patched member of the Northwest Chapter of Widows Sons on the 12 June 2021 and became a fully branded member in March 2024.
