Bill Richmond was installed as master of Great Eccleston Lodge No 8895 in the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield. Peter was accompanied by grand officers Neil McGill and Paul Broadley.
Also in attendance were; Vice Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group and Group Daniel Crossley were joined by Scott Devine, Peter Littlehales Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Phil Renney, Steven Ellershaw Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Provincial Assistant Grand Standard Bearer Steve Murray, Provincial Grand Pursuivant Sid Bateson, Provincial Grand Stewards Stuart Bateson and Andy Baxter.
WM Eddie Parkinson opened the lodge and then conducted the installation ceremony together with director of ceremonies Les Newlands. The WM invited Stuart Mowbray to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, David Kirkham as installing junior warden and John Thornton as installing inner guard. Master elect Bill Richmond was presented for installation by Graham Davies.
The third degree working tools were presented by John Nelson. The second and first degree working tools were presented by master Masons Ernie Hughes and Bill Renwick respectively. New WM Bill Richmond appointed John Nelson as senior warden and Ernie Hughes as junior warden. The addresses to the master and wardens were given by Graham Davies. The address to the brethren of Great Eccleston Lodge was by Peter Schofield.
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall and the Master’s Song was performed by George Fox. A total of 50 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by Eddie Parkinson. The raffle raised a very respectable £305.
WM Bill Richmond was born in Scorton in 1948. He was educated at Cathedral Modern, Lancaster followed by Lancaster & Morecambe College. He commenced his working life as a trainee accountant at Towers and Gornall, latterly becoming a full partner and ultimately managing partner from 1987 to 2004. Bill retired in 2022 after 57 years. He specialised in agricultural accounting and tax including presenting and lecturing to farming and other rural bodies.
Bill married Diane in 1976. And they have a daughter Nicola who currently lives in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. He is an honorary life member and former president of Garstang and District Agricultural Society (Garstang Show). Bill’s other interests include local history, railways, crown green bowling, cricket and rugby.
Bill was initiated into Pilling Lodge No 7879 in 1984 and was later WM in 1997 and 2005. He was appointed Provincial Grand Steward in 2002, and later promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2008 and then Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in in 2017. Bill was head hunted to join Great Eccleston Lodge where he was promptly appointed as treasurer! Bill is also a member of a number of other Masonic Orders.
