Paul Mason was installed as master of Plantagenet Lodge of Installed Masters No 9357 in the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield and principal guest Assistant Provincial Grand Master Malcolm Bell.
They were accompanied by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Kemp and grand officers Peter Mason and David Kellet, Lancaster and District Group Chairman Chris Larder, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Hallatt with Provincial Grand Steward and group secretary Lee Fisher.
WM Ken Robinson opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the general business of the day. The lodge was then opened in the second and third degrees. Lodge assistant director of ceremonies Steve McClintock retired from the lodge and on being re-admitted announced that Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield accompanied by grand and Provincial grand officers stood without and demanded admission.
On their admittance the WM greeted Peter Schofield and offered him the gavel of the lodge which was politely returned. Peter then introduced Assistant Provincial Grand Master Malcolm Bell as principal guest and asked for him to take his rightful seat in the lodge.
The lodge was adjourned in the third degree and re-opened in the second degree. Senior warden Daniel Crossley, junior warden Denis Laird and inner guard John Eccles remained in their positions as installing officers. The WM thanked the officers of the lodge for their support during the past year. The master elect Paul Mason was them presented for installation by Steve McClintock.
The lodge was adjourned in the second degree and re-opened in the third degree. All those below the rank of an installed master were asked to retire from the lodge for a short while, after which a Board of Installed Masters was convened and master elect Paul was installed in the chair of King Solomon. The working tools of an installed master were expertly presented by Tony Cassells.
The third degree working tools were presented by Steve McClintock, the second and first degree working tools were presented by Steve Plevey. WM Paul Mason appointed Richard Parker as senior warden and Tony Cassells as junior warden. The address to the WM was given by Ken Robinson. There was no address to the wardens. Malcolm Bell gave the address to the brethren of Plantagenet Lodge of Installed Masters.
On completion of the installation ceremony, Malcolm Bell brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to the WM and wished him a successful, busy, happy and healthy year. He congratulated Ken Robinson and assistant director of ceremonies Steve McClintock and all those who took part on a superb ceremony
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall and total of 54 brethren attended the festive board at Rowley Court, where the toast to the WM was given by immediate past master Ken Robinson.
WM Paul Mason was born at Lancaster Royal Infirmary in 1969 and has lived throughout the Lancaster area for the past 22 years with his wife and two of their three children. Paul is a chartered electrical engineer and has been working as a design engineer at Heysham Nuclear Power Station since 2010. Prior to that he spent 25 years with United Utilities.
Paul is a Freeman of Lancaster following in his dad’s footsteps, who is also a Freeman. He was proposed by Freeman Eric Simpson, who was Mayor of Lancaster. Eric also proposed Paul’s father as a Freemason into Vale Lodge No 5256. Paul was initiated into Lune Lodge No 4724 where is he is currently lodge secretary. He served as an acting Provincial Grand Senior Deacon and received a field promotion to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer from Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews in 2025. Paul was exalted into Rowley Chapter No 1051 in 2012 and was first principal from 2024 to 2026. Paul is a director of Lancaster Masonic Hall Group.
