Eddie Parkinson has been proclaimed WM of Great Eccleston Lodge No 8895 in the presence of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Neil McGill, the representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. Neil was accompanied by grand officer John Robson. Also in attendance was Scott Devine, Chairman of the Lancaster Group, he was joined by Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Larry Branyan.
WM Eddie Parkinson opened the lodge in due form. As Eddie was continuing in the chair for a second term, director of ceremonies Les Newlands proclaimed him as WM for the ensuing year. The WM appointed David Rhodes as senior warden and John Nelson as junior warden.
The address to the wardens was given by Graham Davies, the address to the brethren of Great Eccleston Lodge was given by Neil McGill and the address to the deacons was given by Andrew Keith. The organist was David Tattersall and the Master’s song was performed by George Fox. A total of 39 brethren attended the festive board. The toast to the WM was given by Les Newlands. The raffle raised £430 and the Master’s Swindle £53.60.
Eddie Parkinson and David Rhodes are the two remaining founders of the lodge whose warrant dates from 13 June 1979. Eddie is a local man and has spent his working life in farming. He was initiated into Wyreside Lodge No 2605 on 17 March 1969 and was the first joining member of St Michaels on Wyre Lodge No 8348 in 1971. Eddie was WM of St Michaels on Wyre in 1978 and 1998 and was the founding senior warden of Great Eccleston Lodge in January 1980 and WM in November that year.
Eddie was director of ceremonies of both St Michaels on Wyre and Great Eccleston lodges for many years. Eddie received his first appointment as acting Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in 1985 and promotion to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 1986 and Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1994.
In the Royal Arch, Eddie was appointed Past Provincial Grand Sojourner in 1989. In 2003 Eddie resigned from Freemasonry for health reasons, re-joining Great Eccleston Lodge and Great Eccleston Chapter No 8895 in 2021 and St Michaels on Wyre in 2022.
