Kevin Isted was installed as master of Vale Lodge No 5256 in the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Thomas. David was accompanied by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Kemp and Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Paul Thornton.
David was supported by the Chairman of Lancaster and District Group Chris Larder, group vice-chairman Dan Crossley, group secretary and Provincial Grand Steward Lee Fisher, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Hallett and Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements. Bryan Cambidge and Alan Flack acted as Provincial grand deacons.
WM Alan Dean opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge before handing over to lodge treasurer and installing master Paul Taylor. Paul opened the lodge in the second and third degrees. Principal guest David Thomas, accompanied by Peter Schofield, Keith Kemp, acting Provincial grand officers and the group chairman were admitted. On entering the lodge, David was offered the gavel of the lodge by the WM, which was politely declined. The lodge was adjourned in the third degree and reopened in the second degree.
The installing master invited Bryan Cambidge from Morecambe Lodge No 1561 to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Nigel Parrish from Duke of Lancaster Lodge No 1353 to occupy the chair of installing junior warden and Stewart Aimson to occupy the position of installing inner guard. Master elect Kevin Isted was presented for installation by his proposer Stewart Aimson. 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 Connor Isted from City of Lancaster Lodge No 281, the second and third degree working tools were presented by Renz Bosito and Tom Shankland respectively.
Renz Bosito was appointed as senior warden and Norman Mitchell appointed as junior warden, but as Norman was absent he will be invested at a later date. The address to the WM was given by director of ceremonies George Fox, the address to the wardens was given by Bryan Cambidge and David Thomas gave the address to the brethren of Vale Lodge.
On completion of the installation ceremony, David brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to the WM and wished him a successful, busy, happy and healthy year. He congratulated immediate past master Alan Dean, installing master Paul Taylor and director of ceremonies George Fox on a superb ceremony. David was presented with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities totalling £2,000. He thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
Newly installed WM Kevin was piped out of the lodge by Vale Lodge member Tom Shankland, who also did the honours of piping the WM into the festive board accompanied by David Thomas, Peter Schofield, Keith Kemp and group chairman Chris Larder.
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall and the Master’s Song was performed by George Fox. A total of 37 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by Kevin’s son Connor. The raffle raised £300 and £50 was donated from the ‘master’s swindle’.
WM Kevin Isted was born in Peckham in 1970, and on leaving school, he went to work with his uncle Bernie as a caretaker at Canada House on Trafalgar Square. At the age of 21, he ran the London Marathon. Kevin moved north in 1991 and became the site supervisor for Mayfield School in Chorley, which supported children with special needs. Kevin and his family moved to Morecambe in 2009 and established a confectionery business called Bay Traditional Sweets, attending various functions at the Midland Hotel and other social events around the Morecambe area, usually wearing a straw boater and multicoloured waistcoat.
When COVID struck, small businesses struggled to trade, so he reinvented the business and started BTS Gardening, which he continues to run today, going back to his caretaking roots. Kevin’s main interests are motorcycles, running and Freemasonry.
Kevin’s Masonic career began in February of 2019, having first been introduced to the Craft by Keith Middleton, who has now sadly passed to the Grand Lodge above. After progressing through his three degrees, he began to investigate the esoteric side of Freemasonry. Kevin has written and presented a lecture on plants and their connection to Freemasonry to Plantagenet Lodge of Installed Masters No 9357.