Members and visitors of Hand and Heart Lodge No 4109 were most honoured and delighted to welcome Andy Wiltshire as representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to their installation meeting to witness master elect Rick Wiles being installed into the chair of King Solomon for the first time, as WM for the ensuing year.
Andy was accompanied by fellow grand officer Brian Hayes, together with Sylvester During, the secretary of the Trafford Group, acting Provincial Junior Grand Warden and lodge member, Ezra McGowan and various group and other Provincial officers.
In front of a very full lodge room, WM Ken Harding opened the lodge and efficiently conducted the initial business as per the summons, there then came the expected knock on the door and Andy was admitted accompanied by the other grand and acting officers. Ken gave Andy a very warm welcome.
Ken then invited three senior members of the lodge to act as installing officers, Ezra McGowan as installing senior warden, Derek Knowles as installing junior warden and David Scase as installing inner guard and then invited senior lodge member Steve Masters to take the chair as installing master. Rick then stepped forward, confidently expressed his obligation, and was then installed into the chair of King Solomon for the first time, by installing master Steve Masters in a thoughtful and exceptional manner.
The Board of Installed Masters was then closed, and the various brethren were then reintroduced into the lodge room according to degree and the working tools were all exceptionally well presented, initially by Ian Wood in the third degree followed by Mike Berrisford in the second degree and Malcolm Whittle in the first degree.
Rick having been thoroughly well installed, there then followed an excellent address to the master, warmly presented by Peter Stockton, followed by similarly excellent addresses to the wardens by Ezra McGowan and of course, in excellent fashion, to the brethren of Hand and Heart Lodge by Andy Wiltshire.
On completion of the installation ceremony, Andy rose to bring the sincere greetings, best wishes and congratulations from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, saying that Mark was aware that Rick was taking the master’s chair for the first time and wished him and the members of the lodge a very happy, healthy and enjoyable year ahead and also, on Mark’s behalf congratulated installing master Steve and all the officers and brethren who had taken part in producing a really excellent ceremony.
In response, Rick rose and thanked Andy for the good wishes he had conveyed and then with considerable pleasure presented him with cheques to several local charities totalling £400 explaining that as the ProvGM was attending the lodge in February 2026, a further £500 would be donated in favour of the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity. Andy commented on the generosity of lodge and thanked them on behalf of all those who we may never know, that would eventually benefit.
At the first rising, Brian Hayes rose to congratulate Rick and add his thanks to those of Andy (and Mark), commending the lodge for an excellent ceremony, following which, the grand officers retired from the lodge room.
During the festive board, Andy gave a heartfelt response to his toast, offering his own congratulations to the lodge members, saying he thoroughly enjoyed the installation meeting and hoped that the master and brethren would have a happy and fruitful year.
Andy went on mention the natural progression of taking Masonry to the next level by joining the Royal Arch and also the ‘Light Blue Clubs’ which were being started up in the area and the high hopes he had for such a good and positive step and was then presented with the now customary Trafford treats by group secretary Sylvester During. Finally, after a fine meal in a relaxed atmosphere the evening drew to a close in peace and harmony.