Brethren of Makerfield Lodge No 2155 have held their annual installation, at which they had as their principal guest Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Locket, accompanied by distinguished guests, Jonathan Heaton the Leigh Group Chairman and Malcom Parr both are grand officers
For the installation ceremony of the master elect David Bridge, the installing master was Michael O`Neill. Anthony Roe being the lodge DC, with Andrew Boardman the ADC who is always is ready to assist in many ways.
David joined Freemasonry in 2018, passed in September of the same year and raised in January 2019. He progressed through each role and enjoyed them all immensely. He is not currently a member of Royal Arch; however, he does intend on joining after being IPM as he is currently balancing Craft, work and family life, as this can at times be demanding.
At the beginning of his Masonic journey, he was working as an assistant manager with an Italian restaurant chain, he then progressed to general manager within the same group before moving to a larger brand and then to a local independent, where he felt more valued and enjoy more regular guests and more social interactions which are a very enjoyable part of his daily work life.
Outside of Freemasonry, he does spend the majority of his time with his partner, Iona, and his 5-year-old son, Bobby. Iona is very supportive and has been since the beginning of his relationship and frequently has to put up with him walking around the house muttering to himself. She fully supports his visiting of other lodges and more often than not actually encourages it!
His long-term plan within the lodge, he would hope to assume the role of DC or mentor, as a growing lodge he thinks it’s crucial to assist and encourage the junior brethren in the hope that they can enjoy their Masonic career as much as he enjoyed being a member.
When the lodge was finally opened in the third degree, there was a tremendous sense of excitement as is usually the case with what is the most important event of the year, that of installing a new master of the lodge and investing those many new officers.
The ceremony proceeded in a very competent manner by Michael after David was presented as master elect. When David was finally put into the chair of King Solomon, he looked very comfortable and confident, also with Michael as IPM there to assist with some of the fine details that may occur.
The emulation version of the working tools of each degree were done by those relatively new light blue members, David Banks presented the third degree tools, Oliver Wheelan presented the second degree tools and Daniel Ackers presented the first degree tools, The proclamations where shared between the lodge DC and ADC. There was plenty of comments by many visitors, including Peter, who praised those newer members highly for their efforts and their commitments to the lodge practices.
The charity cheques presented to Peter by the WM as follows; Perion House £100, Rowan Primary School £250, The Leigh Group Charity £115, Derion House £150, Blessings in Disguise £300, Manleigh £300, West Lancashire Freemason’s Charity £100, Wigan and Leigh Hospice £200, The Leigh Group Shooting and Bowling £65, Total £1,580. Peter thanked the brethren of the lodge on behalf of the recipients for their very generous donations.
After all the preliminaries had been completed and the closing of the lodge in peace and harmony, there was the usual dash to the festive board for the excellent food that awaited the brethren.
At the festive board, the toasts were given to Peter and the many distinguished guests. In his reply, Peter mentioned that Makerfield Lodge was doing very well with the newer members, especially those two lodge members that will be joining Makerfield Chapter No 2155 this December. Mark Mathews, the Grand Superintendent, will be attending to see them being exalted in a double exaltation ceremony, this will be a total of three newer members that have joined this chapter this year.
Peter then reminded the brethren how important it is for new masters and other brethren to visit each other in each year, that this is the best way of supporting each lodge in the group. Before Peter and those distinguished guests retired, Peter was given a lovely bottle of wine to share with his wife.