Gareth Harrison was proclaimed master of Poulton le Sands Lodge No 1051 in the presence of Ryan Modlin who was the representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. Ryan was accompanied by Past Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Masters Philip Gardner and Keith Kemp, together with grand officers David Edwards, Michael Mashiter, Neil McGill, Paul Broadley and Lancaster and District Group Vice Chairman Daniel Crossley. The installation meeting was held at Evelyn Battersby Masonic Hall in Morecambe due to the ongoing refurbishment at Derby Street.
Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group Chris Larder was joined by Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Junior Grand Deacon Paul Cummings, Provincial Grand Standard Bearer Paul Morgan and Provincial Grand Steward and group secretary, Lee Fisher.
Gareth opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge. The lodge was then opened in the second and third degrees, after which, director of ceremonies Steve Plevey retired from the lodge, on being readmitted, he announced that Ryan Modlin, the representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, accompanied by grand officers, acting Provincial grand officers and group chairman stood without and requested admission. WM Gareth welcomed Ryan Modlin to the lodge and the director of ceremonies conducted salutations.
Gareth then requested the officers of Poulton le Sands Lodge to stand and he thanked them for supporting him over the past year. He invited Geoff Bury to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Tony Harrison to occupy the chair of installing junior warden and Stewart McVernon to occupy the position of installing inner guard.
The third degree working tools were presented by Steve Plevey and the lodge resumed in the second degree by virtue. The second degree working tools were presented by Andre Chicrala before resuming in the first degree by virtue with the working tools presented by Sam Taylor.
Steve Plevey, the director of ceremonies, then declared Gareth Harrison as master of Poulton le Sands Lodge, who proceeded to appoint and invest his officers. Andrew Hall was appointed as senior warden and Steve Plevey as junior warden. The address to the master was given by Tony Harrison, the address to the wardens was given by Geoff Bury and Ryan Modlin gave the address to the brethren of Poulton le Sands Lodge.
On completion of the proclamation ceremony, Ryan Modlin brought greetings from Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to the WM and wished him a successful, busy, happy and healthy year. He congratulated the WM, Steve Plevey and all those who took part in the ceremony, particularly the junior brethren who presented the working tools in the second and first degrees in a superb ceremony.
Gareth then presented Ryan with a list of donations made on behalf of the lodge during his previous year in office. Non-Masonic charities, Defying Dementia and St John’s Hospice received £1,000 each and Masonic donations totalled £3,769, making a magnificent total of £5,769. Ryan thanked Gareth and the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall and the Master’s Song was performed by Matt Herod. A total of 62 brethren attended the festive board at the Lothersdale Hotel, Morecambe where the toast to the WM was given by immediate past master Ian Woods. The raffle raised £555 and the collection of £354 was donated to Morecambe Masonic Hall Refurbishment Fund.
WM Gareth Harrison was born in 1971 in Carlisle Hospital to former Penrith car dealer Joseph and his wife Jennifer. He lived in Catterlen near Penrith with his older sister. The family moved to Morecambe in 1972 where his father established Bay Wood Services to supply local businesses with cut-to-size wood materials.
He was educated at Lancaster Road Primary School and later Morecambe High School which he left in 1988 to become under keeper for Sir Richard Bigland at Bigland Hall. Gareth has always loved the outdoors, especially enjoying hunting and fishing. Gareth achieved qualifications in wildlife and fishery management and has met some great characters including the late Prince Philip and Crown Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia who he used to take deer stalking.
Eventually, Gareth joined his father’s business and 33 years later he is looking forward to retirement, passing on the running of the business to his son, Ryan, making him the third generation in the business. Gareth’s hobbies are still field orientated although his second love is football and he has supported Manchester United from an early age. He wasn’t very good at the playing the game and preferred playing rugby union primarily as a prop-forward where he enjoyed a fisticuff battle.
Gareth is a proud Cumbrian, with Norwegian and Middle Eastern (Jordanian and Israel) heritage. He is the event organiser for The West Lancashire Masonic Fishing Charity as well as safeguarding and welfare officer for Bolton-le-Sands angling club. Gareth is currently third principal of Lancaster Castle Chapter No 5952 and is a founder member of the Lodge of Opportunity No 9777, a fishing lodge in Kendal.