Jimmy Greer was installed as master of Duke of Lancaster Lodge No 1353 in the presence of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Neil McGill, the representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. Neil was accompanied by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Kemp, Lancaster and District Group Chairman Chris Larder.
Acting Provincial grand officers; Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Hallatt and Provincial Grand Steward and group secretary Lee Fisher were alsow in attendance.
Retiring WM John Berry opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge. Lodge director of ceremonies Nigel Parrish retired from the lodge and on being readmitted announced that Neil McGill, Keith Kemp and Provincial grand officers stood without and they seek admission. On their admittance John greeted Neil McGill wishing him a most enjoyable meeting. The WM thanked the officers of the lodge for their support during the past year and asked them to remove their collars.
John Berry invited Alan Physick to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Graham Earl to occupy the chair of installing junior warden and Malcolm Morrison to occupy the of position of installing inner guard. The lodge was then opened in the second degree whereupon master elect, Jimmy Greer, was presented for installation by Andy McClements.
The lodge was opened in the third degree and all those below the rank of an installed master were requested to retire from the lodge for a short while, after which a Board of Installed Masters was convened and the master elect was installed into the chair of King Solomon. The working tools of an installed master were expertly presented by Bob Tyson
The third degree working tools were presented by John Berry, the second and first degree working tools were presented by Colin Preston and Michael Milburn respectively. New WM Jimmy Greer appointed Sandy Forsyth as senior warden and Charlie Holl as junior warden. Charlie Holl was absent and will be invested at a later date. The address to the master was given by Ian Kennon. The address to the wardens will be given at a later date. Alan Physick gave the address to the brethren of Duke of Lancaster Lodge.
On completion of the installation ceremony, Neil McGill brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to Jimmy and wished him a successful, busy, happy and healthy year. He congratulated John Berry and director of ceremonies Nigel Parrish on a superb ceremony. Neil was presented with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities totalling £3,094, he thanked 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 Nigel Parrish. A total of 49 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by Andy McClements.
Jimmy Greer was born in the early 1980s and grew up locally with a large extended family. He has a daughter who has just turned 13. Jimmy went to school in Morecambe, completed an NVQ in joinery at the local college, followed by A levels and a business course before studying Transport and Logistics Management at university.
After university, Jimmy lived and worked around the country in logistics and planning roles for BOC Gases and Linde. He was eventually drawn back north to Lancaster, leading to a career change.
Jimmy’s love of food inspired him to start a street-food business, which he and his brother grew into a convenience-food company supplying supermarkets, independent retailers and universities. COVID brought further change and Jimmy returned to his trade roots of selling and installing flooring. Jimmy has had many hobbies over the years, sailing, skiing and walking among them. He is these days though, more often found on the sidelines cheering on his daughter’s various sports.
