Dr Keith Lowson was installed as master of Warton Lodge No 8411 in the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Barr. This is the fifth time Keith has been master of Warton Lodge. David was accompanied by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Kemp, Chairman of the Lancaster Group Chris Larder, group secretary and Provincial Grand Steward Lee Fisher, Provincial Senior Grand Deacons Kevin Rigg and Dave Sangster, Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements and Provincial Grand Steward Chris Hardingham.
WM Mike Ashton opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge before opening the lodge in the second and third degrees, after which the lodge director of ceremonies retired from the lodge and, on being re-admitted, announced that David Barr demanded admission. David processed into the lodge accompanied by Keith Kemp, acting Provincial grand officers and the group chairman. David Barr was offered the gavel of the lodge by the WM, which was politely declined. The lodge was adjourned in the third degree and re-opened in the second degree.
Mike invited Jim Stewart to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Frank Senior as installing junior warden and Kevin Beaumont from Heysham Lodge No 4108 as installing inner guard. Master elect Keith Lowson was presented for installation by Bob Malcolm from Heysham Lodge. All those below the rank of an installed master were requested to leave the lodge for a short while, during which a board of installed masters was convened and the master elect installed into the chair of King Solomon.
The third degree working tools were presented by Peter Roberts from Heysham Lodge; the second and third degree working tools were presented by Bob Mitchell and Mike Ashton, respectively. New WM Keith Lowson appointed Mike Yeadon as his senior warden and Jimmy Nisbet as his junior warden. Jimmy Nisbet was absent and will be invested at a later date. The address to the master was given by immediate past master Mike Ashton. The address to the wardens was given by Bob Skelly and David Barr gave the address to the brethren of Warton Lodge.
On completion of the installation ceremony, David Barr brought greetings from Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews, to the WM and wished him a successful, busy, happy and healthy year. He congratulated Mike Ashton and lodge director of ceremonies Richard Escolme on a superb ceremony. David was presented with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities totalling £4,130. He thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall. The Master’s Song was performed by John Bates. A total of 46 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by Mike Ashton. The raffle raised £326 and £40 was donated from the ‘master’s swindle’.
Keith Lowson went to Barnard Castle School, which is notable for producing several famous England rugby stars, namely Rob Andrews and the Underwood brothers. Keith is a keen sportsman and has enjoyed sprinting, playing rugby and cricket for the school and he also captained his house for these sports. As the years have gone by, Keith has cycled, swam and skied. Now in old age, he and his wife Christine walk in the Swiss Alps on their holidays with friends in Interlaken, a small town in Switzerland.
In 1961, Keith gained a place at King’s Medical School in Newcastle, where he became a Toon supporter. He qualified as a medical practitioner in 1966 and married Christine the same year. Keith came to general practice in Carnforth in 1970, where he and Christine raised their four children. Keith was proud to be proposed into Freemasonry by his dear departed friend, the Reverend Canon Frederick Brian Oddy.
Keith received his first Provincial honours when he was appointed as acting Provincial Junior Grand Deacon and later promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden. In Royal Arch, Keith was first appointed acting Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah and later promoted to Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer.
