Rowley Chapter No 1051 held its installation convocation which was attended by Second Provincial Grand Principal Michael Threlfall. He was accompanied by Gary Rogerson Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals; Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Dave Thomas and grand officers Peter Mason and Neil McGill.
In addition, Lancaster Group Chairman Scott Devine, group vice chairman Chris Larder and group secretary Daniel Crossley were in attendance. Acting officers in attendance were; Provincial Grand Sword Bearer John Selley; Provincial Grand Sojourner Tony Nevinson; Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Phil Newby; Provincial Grand Standard Bearer Stuart Bateson; Provincial Grand Stewards Stewart Aimson and Chris Gray.
Prior to the ceremony, a dispensation was read out granting permission for Stuart Webb, who was balloted as joining member, to be installed as third principal on acceptance into the chapter.
Peter Mason was invited to act as installing scribe Nehemiah by first principal Philip Irving. The ceremony was conducted by director of ceremonies Adrian Gifford who presented John Berry as second principal and Paul Mason as first principal. Regrettably, Stuart Webb was absent and Dave Moss from Chapter of Fortitude No 281 stood in as third principal. Stuart will be installed at the next regular meeting.
The robe address to the first principal was given by Dave Moss and the robe address to the second principal was given by Ken Maunder. On completion of the installation ceremony, first principal Paul Mason appointed and invested his officers for the year.
John Cherry was the organist and 38 companions dined at the festive board. The toast to first principal Paul was given by Neil McGill.
First principal Paul Mason was born at Lancaster Royal Infirmary in July 1969 and has lived throughout the Lancaster area and currently lives in Halton with his wife Susan and their three children Aaron (24), Stephanie (22) and Charlotte (17). Paul attended junior school at Dallas Road Lancaster; senior school at Castle Secondary Modern (now Lancaster High) and Liverpool John Moores University.
Paul is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and has worked for EDF-Energy at Heysham Nuclear Power Station as a Design Engineer since 2010. Prior to that he worked for 25 years at United Utilities (previously the Water Board) in numerous roles initially serving his time as a maintenance electrician and later managing the renewable energy department for the company.
Like is dad, Paul is a Freeman of Lancaster. He was proposed as an apprentice to a Freeman who was Eric Simpson, a Mayor of Lancaster. Eric was also a Freemason, who proposed Paul’s father into Vale Lodge No 5256, although he has since resigned. Paul’s wife Susan works at the box office at the Grand Theatre and also helps out at the girls’ grammar school invigilating exams.
Paul’s son Aaron works at the power station for Dalkia, as a junior project engineer and in his spare time plays water polo and competes in triathlons. His daughter Stephanie works for COX Motor Group in the car body shop in Morecambe and has also played Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde at the Dukes. She is a keen runner and ran in the London Marathon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care. Paul’s second daughter Charlotte is in the last year of A levels at the girls’ grammar school and wants to study musical theatre at university next year. She was in the cast of Little Shop of Horrors at the Grand Theatre.
Paul is no longer duty taxi driver, as his children can now drive themselves, although he is now dragged into things he never planned. He has helped his wife with purchasing costumes for the Little Shop of Horror, visiting charity shops and even buying woolly tank tops and a sparkly diamante jacket in Fuengirola Market in Spain in 35-degree heat.
In a life before children, Paul enjoyed kayaking, instructing kids and adults and was chairman of the Lancaster and District Canoe Club. Susan enjoyed singing and acting with amateur dramatics societies. He took an active role in his children’s interests of swimming, water polo and dancing. Susan taught swimming and Paul managed the Lancaster juniors and North West region water polo teams who competed throughout the UK and in 2014 took the Lancaster team to train in Hungary. Aaron was formerly a member of the under 17s GB team.
Paul was exalted into Rowley Chapter on 19 March 2012. He is currently secretary of Lune Lodge No 4724; senior deacon at Plantagenet Lodge of Installed Masters No 9357 and a director for the Lancaster Masonic Hall Group.