A quick Friday afternoon exit from work was achieved for the majority of a group of six South Fylde Group Masons, who after months of careful planning made the 190-mile journey to Scotland ahead of a Saturday afternoon installation at Lodge St Andrew No 465 in the Province of Glasgow.
Since his initiation into Lodge of Triumph No1061 in March 2022, William Buchanan Snr has been keen to visit Lodge St Andrew, as this Scottish lodge was where his father became a Freemason in 1950. William was accompanied by his son Will Buchanan, the WM of Lodge of Triumph and South Fylde Group Secretary, who had made regular contact with the lodge secretary Ian Gibson Paul to ensure that the necessary Grand Lodge of Scotland paperwork and permissions had been obtained ready for the team visit. The other four visitors were David Eastwood, Peter Grihault, David Jenkinson and John Topping. The team members were delighted that their requests to visit this Scottish lodge received the necessary permissions.
After a lively Friday evening in Uddingston, a hearty breakfast and some early Saturday morning shopping, the South Fylde Six departed from the Premier Inn, Glasgow East and arrived at Eastmuir Masonic Hall on Shettleston Road, Glasgow in good time for the 3pm start. They were warmly welcomed by officers and brethren and took their front row seats.
A splendid ceremony then ensued with past master James White being installed. Will Buchanan, as a reigning master, was delighted to have been invited by the depute master James Campbell to sit alongside him in the east throughout the ceremony. The South Fylde Masons were extremely impressed with a ceremony of installation that was so different to that which they had seen previously back at home, yet so well delivered by a team of extremely conscientious and able ritualists.
John Topping said “The festive board quickly followed and all brethren enjoyed a fish supper that seemed to have come straight from the chippy, all meals wrapped in greaseproof paper within a brown paper bag. This certainly cut down on the washing up afterwards.”
Towards the end of the toast list the visiting brethren were suitably acknowledged and thanked for their presence, especially the ‘English’ contingent from West Lancashire. Following a reply by local visitor William Gow, it was announced that William Buchanan from West Lancashire would like to say a few words.
From the corner of the room, William Buchanan spoke eloquently regarding his father’s upbringing in Springburn, also the loss of his father when he was just six years old. During his working years, William’s father was a skilled pattern-maker within the Lion Iron Foundry until he was called up for active service with the Highland Light Infantry in WW2. At the end of the war, he was posted to Egypt and was one of the last British soldiers to leave Palestine.
Following demobilisation, he returned to the foundry to complete his apprenticeship and then changed occupation to goods checker with the railway. He had to work seven days a week in order to secure a decent wage so therefore didn’t have much spare time. He loved football and would go to watch the local Petershill junior team, or to Ibrox to watch Rangers. Later, William changed his job to become a storeman for Babcock & Wilcox who made steam boilers.
From William’s Grand Lodge of Scotland certificate, it can be noted that he joined Lodge St Andrew in 1950 at the relatively young age of 24. William Buchanan worked extremely hard through his life, providing for his family and attending lodge meetings whenever he could find the time. Sadly he passed away in 2001, aged 74 years.
Following William’s speech, the brethren gave him a rapturous round of applause and he was presented with a very nice bottle of single malt whisky. The South Fylde Group Masons journeyed back to the Fylde during the following morning, having enjoyed their trip immensely.
Pictures and report compiled by John Topping.