Brethren of Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom No 8500 and distinguished guests gathered at Bryn Masonic Hall to celebrate with Keith Lang on reaching 60 years in Freemasonry. Principal guest for the celebration was Assistant provincial Grand Master Malcolm Bell, accompanied by the Wigan Group Chairman Ian Green. It was a great turnout for Keith and Malcolm Bell delivered the presentation of Keith’s life and Masonic career.
Keith was born in Newburgh, Lancashire, to proud parents. His dad was a Mason and a master butcher working in Parbold, whilst his mum was a teacher at an infant school.
He enjoyed a happy childhood, growing up with his sister and brother, who became a fisherman sailing out of Peel in the Isle of Man. Attending Newburgh Church of England Primary School, he did very well passing his 11 plus before moving on to Ormskirk Grammar School, eventually going to King William College on the Isle of Man as a boarder in 1950.
On leaving King William College, he returned to Wigan where he took a job working at Giant’s Hall Colliery in Standish, also attending the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College, before over the years also studying at Nottingham University, Saint Helens Technical College and Christ College Canterbury, gaining numerous qualifications, including O and A levels, City and Guilds qualifications and a Bachelor of Art in Christian Theology.
Entering the mining industry, he remained in this for a number of years and working his way to becoming a work study engineer with the National Coal Board, eventually working as a study engineer for Liverpool City Council, before moving on to work for Manchester City Council. A complete change saw him working for Comet, where he earned the nickname ‘knocker’, as one of his jobs was repairing the pallets, finally working for Iron Brew in Atherton, retiring in 2007.
Keith got married at St Andrew’s Church in Bedfordshire, with the ceremony carried out by the then Bishop of Bedford, John Hare, who had been hie wife’s local parish vicar. The marriage was a very happy one, being blessed with the birth of one daughter and twin sons.
Keith had many hobbies and interests, with the vast majority centring around scouting, where he held many positions and rolls. Gaining numerous awards, he is a Queen Scout and the holder of a 70-year service certificate, also being awarded the Silver Acorn for distinguished services. With the scouts he led many expeditions walking in the mountains of Europe, the Alps, Iceland and even New Zealand.
The Isle of Man was where his journey in Masonry started, as he was initiated into the King Williams Lodge No 3883 on 29 January 1965, remaining a very proud member of the lodge ever since becoming WM in 1971 and again in 2001, recently being elected as an honorary member.
Keith joined Peace Lodge No 2269 in 1967, and then became a founding member of Arrowhead Lodge No 8500 in 1973, serving as the WM in 1974 and again in 2014. He later became a member of Quingenti Lodge No 8516, being the longest serving member and holding the position of tyler for many years. He was also a founder of the Henry Callow Lodge No 9916, which is the Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge in the Isle of Man.
Keith received many Provincial honours and appointments in West Lancashire, being appointed to Provincial Grand Steward in 1978, with promotions to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon, Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden, and then in 2015 Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden. Equal honours were also received in the Isle of Man, being appointed as Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1998, and again in 2015 to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden.
Keith was also a member of the Royal Arch, being exalted into Peace Chapter No 2269 in 1967, becoming the first principle in 1978. He was also a founding member of Arrowhead Chapter No 8500, and in 1981 received his first Provincial appointment to Provincial Grand Steward, going on to join the Provincial Grand Stewards’ Chapter No 8516, a chapter of which he is still a member. He promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra.
His service and commitment to both Provinces has been exceptional, and he was recognised by the then ProvGM of the IOM, Keith Dalrimple, who issued a certificate of commendation for his dedication to his Province.
Following the presentation from Malcolm Bell of Keith’s life and Masonic career, Ian Green, the Wigan Group Chairman, read his certificate out to all in the lodge room. In addition to several Provincial acting officers were three brethren from the Isle of Man who had travelled over to be part of Keith’s celebration; Nigel Bowrey, George Noble and Patrick Glynn Rilty. They presented him with a certificate from the Ise of Man Province and another from his lodge.
The ensuing festive board was a very cheerful affair with a splendid meal as usual from Christine and Phil. At the end of the evening, the brethren retired home happy to have shared Keith’s magnificent milestone in Masonry.
