The honour of the first installation of the year for the North Fylde Group belongs to Onward Lodge No 5540. On this memorable occasion the lodge brethren and their guests were honoured with the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Michael Tax.
The lodge room at Fleetwood Masonic Hall was bursting with 71 brethren to witness Ben Porter being installed into the chair of Onward Lodge and his name added to long line of distinguished brethren who have held that office. Indeed, in only nine years the lodge will be celebrating its centenary and with many new members being initiated into its ranks, the lodge is going from strength to strength.
Onward Lodge fosters a close bond in its members, fostering fun, tradition and camaraderie, whilst striving to excel in its ritual. The lodge has a lively social calendar, where friends and family are encouraged to get involved in the fun; boasting the lowest average age of membership in the North Fylde Group. Family friendly socials feature prominently to ensure all members are able to attend.
Ben is currently a civil servant, but is a former police officer who was medically retired due to requiring major spinal surgery. Ben is a devoted family man and has two teenage boys. Ben has a passion for sport, so much so that his wife says that if watching paint dry was a sport, then Ben would watch it. In the summer months Ben is competing in a darts marathon at Fleetwood Masonic Hall in aid of stroke charities.
David Holloway brought the curtain down on his year in office by opening the lodge and welcoming the gathered brethren to the installation meeting. David then swiftly proceeded to complete the necessary administrative business of the lodge and proceeded to open the lodge to the third degree.
Michael Brown, who had stepped in at short notice to support Chris Hardingham as director of ceremonies, entered the lodge and announced that Assistant Provincial Grand Master Michael Tax was without and demanded admission. Michael, together with a colourful procession of grand and acting Provincial grand officers entered the lodge room. As protocol demands David rose, formally welcomed Michael to the lodge and offered him the gavel of the lodge, which after due consideration, Micheal duly returned to David.
Once the formal greetings and salutations had been given, David Holloway gave a knock, duly responded to by the wardens and announced that the next business was to install Ben Porter as the next WM. David invited Adam Simpson and John Kelly to occupy the chairs of installing wardens and Emile Timothy to occupy the position of installing inner guard.
Keiron Griffiths had the honour of presenting Ben, his life-long friend. The gathered brethren then witnessed a first-class installation ceremony performed by David with the upmost sincerity. On completing the inner workings and being invested as past master, David invited the junior brethren to return to the lodge room. The third degree working tools were presented by Warren Langford, the second degree working tools were presented by Wayne Banner and the first degree working tools were presented by entered apprentice Jason Yeoman, who was only initiated into the lodge in October 2025.
Keiron Griffiths once again got to his feet to deliver the address to the master, the address to the wardens was given by Kyle Parnell, the address to the deacons was given by David Sangster and the address to the stewards was delivered by Chris Hardingham. To complete the addresses, Michael Tax rose to deliver the address to the brethren of the lodge.
Once the ceremony had been completed, Michael again rose to his feet to bring the greetings of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, to the newly installed master Ben, Michael then moved to congratulate David Holloway on the exceptional manner in which he performed the ceremony and to thank him for his hard work during his year in office. Philip thanked all the members of the lodge who had participated in the ceremony especially those who had delivered the working tools.
Ben then had the pleasure of presenting Michael with a list of various donations made during David’s year in office. Masonic Bowling £20, Andrew Nicholson (London marathon fundraising) £100, North Fylde Group Food Bank Appeal £50, Adam Simpson Keswick to Barrow fundraising £100, Logan Porter support to attend World Karate Championships £500, Fleetwood Masonic Club replacement windows £250, Glazey Days £468.13, Sepsis UK £500 and Trinity Hospice £500. On behalf of all the recipients, Michael thanked Ben and the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
It was then time for Ben to formally start his year by completing the business of the lodge and bring the formal part of the evening to an end and close the lodge. The brethren descended to the bar and dining room to continue the festivities. The brethren then gathered in the dining room where they were treated to a traditional Burns Supper, with an ‘address to the haggis’ magnificently delivered by John Farrell proudly wearing his kilt.
Michael eloquently responded to the toast to his health by extending his own congratulations to Ben on being installed in the chair of King Solomon. Michael congratulated the three brethren who presented the working tools in such an excellent manner. Michael thanked lodge secretary Adam Simpson for the help and information that he had provided to him and Mike Brown for stepping back into the director of ceremonies role to help assistant director of ceremonies Chris Hardingham, noting that he hoped that it would’t be too long before Gavin Egan was well enough to return to the lodge.
Noting that Provincial Grand Lodge will be held on Friday 8 May 2026 at the Winter Gardens Blackpool, Michael congratulated those in the room who had received first appointments and promotions and looked forward to seeing them being invested in May.
Moving onto the subject of Royal Arch, Michael spoke passionately about the important next step in a Mason’s journey, about how the Royal Arch builds on the knowledge of the Craft. Michael explained the importance of recruitment of new members and re-engagement with members that have resigned or drifted away.
The Master’s Song was sung by John Darrell and a raffle held during the evening raised an impressive £470 and to complete the evening, the tyler’s toast was delivered by Steve James.
Article and pictures by Peter Dunn.