Poulton-le-Fylde Lodge No 4040, known affectionately as ‘40-40,’ held a proclamation ceremony to continue the mastership of Mike Lumby for a further year in the chair of King Solomon. As was later pointed out by principal guest Ryan Modlin, there is no such ceremony in the Masonic ritual book, but the proceedings were very well choreographed by director of ceremonies Martin Dennison. Martin has been the lodge director of ceremonies for upwards of 10 years and has an eye for detail, so everything looked as if it was book learned.
With 45 members and guests witnessing proceedings, the lodge was opened and the normal lodge business was dispatched with alacrity before the arrival of Ryan Modlin, who is a current Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of Grand Lodge of England. Ryan was representing the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and was supported by three Past Assistant Provincial Grand Masters; namely Steven Reid, David Randerson and Duncan Smith. They were joined by Provincial Grand Chaplain Rev Canon John Hall and Past Assistant Grand Registrar John Lee, South Fylde Group Vice Chairman Ian Park and Provincial Grand Steward Chris Hardingham.
Ryan was welcomed into the lodge by the WM and salutations to grand and Provincial grand officers were observed. Following this, Glyn Lloyd was invited to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Malcolm Hindley was invited to occupy the chair of installing junior warden and Tom Dunne occupied the position of installing inner guard.
Martin Dennison then proclaimed Mike Lumby as the WM for the ensuing year and called on the master Masons to salute him as such in passing. The third degree tools were presented in fine style by Andrew Stansfield. Fellow craft Freemasons were then admitted and saluted the WM in passing, with the working tools in this degree delivered expertly, the long way, by Robert Marsden, who is the Blackpool Group Vice Chairman. The brethren then saluted the WM as entered apprentice Freemasons and the working tools in this degree were presented accurately and with some confidence by Jim O’ Neill. This was Jim’s first attempt at delivering ritual and was received with complete approbation by all. The address to the WM was given by Glyn Lloyd and the address to the brethren of the lodge was given by Ryan Modlin in an excellent manner.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, cheques to the value of £450 were presented to Ryan Modlin on behalf of the following charities: Brian House Children’s Hospice £150, Great Arley School £150 and Diabetes Research UK £150. Ryan thanked the lodge for their generosity, adding that it would be greatly appreciated by those receiving the aid. Ryan continued by thanking Martin Dennison for all the hard work he had committed to ensuring the success of the meeting. He also thanked the many visitors for swelling the ranks, thus ensuring a great atmosphere and concluded by praising Jim O’ Neill for his very fine first explanation of the working tools.
Steven Reid, speaking on behalf of the grand officers, congratulated Mike Lumby for all the work he does behind the scenes for Freemasonry and thanked him for his commitment to the lodge in being prepared to continue in the chair for another year, which would be the fourth year that he has presided over the brethren at varying times during his Masonic career. Trevor Hunt speaking on behalf of the Provincial grand officers congratulated the new officers appointed at this meeting and everyone who had taken part in the ceremony. Derek Abbott, WM of Anchorsholme Lodge No 5854 congratulated Mike Lumby and his officers on continuing to keep the lodge going and looked forward to joining all at the festive board.
With all the ceremony and business concluded, the lodge was closed and the members and their guests retired to the banqueting suite to enjoy a fine chicken curry meal provided by staff from Masonic Catering Limited. Before the banquet commenced, the bugle call of the last post was sounded by Barry Thompson, a visitor from the Province of East Lancashire.
In an extremely entertaining response to the toast to the grand officers, Ryan Modlin congratulated Mike Lumby on continuing as the master of this fine lodge. At the same time, he congratulated Martin Dennison and his proclamation team on the manner in which they had performed their respective parts of the ceremony, particularly Jim O’ Neill who had delivered the tools in the first degree. Ryan continued by thanking Peter Walker for his sterling work as secretary, referring to him as the backbone of the lodge. Ryan also thanked his fellow grand officers for their support along with group vice chairman, Ian Park and acting Provincial grand officer Chris Hardingham. He also praised Andrew Stansfield of Senatores Lodge of Installed Masters No 8966 for his continued support of the lodge and congratulated Harry Davidson on his appointment to Provincial grand rank. Ryan also discussed the subject of our community engagement, pointing out that as Masons our most valuable asset was our time.
In his toast to Mike Lumby’s health, the immediate past master Glenn Priestly said that it had been a great pleasure and honour to work with him during the previous year, as he had learned so much in that time. Proposing the toast to the visitors Malcolm Hindley thanked the many guests for a fantastic turn out, which was greatly appreciated by the lodge members. It made all of the effort of preparing for the meeting worthwhile. In responding for the visitors John Lee commended Mike Lumby for his perseverance in supporting his lodge despite serious health issues. In return he praised the lodge for supporting Mike and giving him a purpose in life. John was joined by Bob Marsden at the end of his speech as they performed a bit of a court room cabaret joke to the enjoyment of all.
Mike Lumby responded to the toasts to his health with a series of thanks. First to Ryan for attending as the principal guest, along with the grand and Provincial Grand officers. To Malcolm Burrill for continuing his fine tradition of entertaining the brethren by tinkling the ivories, along with several other lodge members for their personal support over time.
Before his departure, Ryan Modlin was presented with a bouquet of flowers for his wife Vicky. The brethren, having raised £297 from a raffle, with a generous number of prizes, during a very enjoyable evening, wended their way home in fine spirits after the tyler’s toast, which was proposed by Ray Boardman.
