Morecambe Chapter No 1561 held its installation convocation in the presence of Michael Threlfall Second Provincial Grand Principal. He was accompanied by Assistant to the Grand Principals Gary Rogerson and Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Rob Fitzsimmons.
Also present were grand officers John Robson and Neil McGill, Lancaster Group Chairman Scott Devine and group vice chairman Chris Larder, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Phil Newby, Provincial Grand Sojourner Tony Nevinson, Provincial Grand Standard Bearer Stuart Bateson and Provincial Grand Stewards Stewart Aimson and Chris Gray.
John Bates was invited to act as installing scribe Nehemiah by first principal Stuart Bateson. The ceremony was conducted by director of ceremonies Barry Robinson who presented Torquil MacLeod as third principal, Andy McClements as second principal and Malcolm Brown as first principal.
The robe address to the first principal was given by Marian Korzeniowski, the robe address to the second principal was given by Lee Fisher and the robe address to the third principal was given by Peter Roberts. On completion of the installation ceremony first principal Malcolm Brown appointed and invested his officers for the year.
Michael Threlfall brought greetings from Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews and congratulated the newly installed principals and all those who taken part in the ceremony. Michael was presented with a cheque for Morecambe Masonic Hall in the sum of £1,000. Michael thanked the companions for their generosity
David Tattersall was the organist and 50 companions dined at the festive board. The toast to the principals was given by Lee Fisher. The raffle raised £316.
First principal Malcolm was born in June 1952 at Morecambe Victoria Hospital. He was educated at West County Primary School, National Primary School, Morecambe Grammar School and Ripley St Thomas Secondary School.
Malcolm joined the Merchant Navy (Blue Funnel Line of Liverpool) in September 1968 as an engineer cadet and remained in the Merchant Navy as a Third Engineer Officer until 1982 when he was made redundant. Malcolm then started working as an engineer in the nuclear industry during the construction of Heysham 2 Power Station in 1983 and subsequently worked at Sizewell B, Hartlepool, Hinkley Point, Berkeley and Chapelcross Power Stations and Sellafield and Aldermaston nuclear establishments.
In May 1987 Malcolm returned to sea until October 1988 in coastal shipping as Second Engineer Officer with BP Oil Ltd. Following the award of a Master of Science Degree from Lancaster University in November 2004, Malcolm became an Engineering Safety Consultant in the offshore oil and gas industry and ended his working career at BAE Systems, Barrow-in-Furness in 2019.
Malcolm married Maree in July 1983 and they have two children, daughter Laura-Jayne and son James, two granddaughters and one grandson.
In October 1992 Malcolm was appointed Branch Standard Bearer for the Morecambe & Heysham Branch of The Royal British Legion later becoming Deputy Standard Bearer in October 2022 following the appointment of his son as Branch Standard Bearer. The Branch Standard was carried by his grandfather from 1936 to 1964 and his father from 1964 to 1992 so has been a family tradition for 88 years.
Malcolm was initiated into Morecambe Lodge No 1561 on 7 February 2003. He became WM of the lodge on 7 December 2012: He was elected as lodge treasurer in May 2017 and currently remains in that post. Malcolm’s first Provincial appointment was as Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon and on 10 May 2023, he was promoted Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works.
In Royal Arch, Malcolm was exhalted into Morecambe Chapter on 5 February 2007: Malcolm was installed as third principal of Morecambe Chapter in March 2022 and second principal in March 2023. He is also a member of two other Masonic orders.
