There were 64 brethren who packed the school hall at Hutton Grammar School on a very special September evening, which saw Trevor Partington installed as WM of Old Huttonian Lodge No 7614. The lodge is part of the Chorley and Leyland Group, meeting five times a year; March, April, September installation, October and November.
Following the opening of the lodge, WM John Topping invited all brethren to be upstanding whilst he referred to the recent sad passing of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. He requested that a few moments of quiet thought and prayer be extended to the Grand Master, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent and his family during this period of bereavement.
The normal lodge business followed and two joining members, Luke Walton and David Dickinson were successfully balloted for and welcomed into the lodge by the John. He then presented them with a very special school tie that should be worn at all future Old Huttonian Lodge meetings, excluding the installation meetings when dinner dress is observed.
At the appropriate moment, lodge DC Ian Heyes retired from the lodge and returned to announce that Peter Lockett, PAProvGM, the representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, accompanied by David Bishop, group chairman, Paul Wharton-Hardman, group vice chairman along with a number of grand officers sort admission.
The installation ceremony began with lodge ADC presenting Trevor Partington to the WM. John then installed Trevor into King Soloman’s chair, efficiently and skilfully. Trevor then installed his senior warden John Medcalf and junior warden Jeff Lucas and all the lodge officers. The third degree working tools were delivered by Bill Pearce, the second degree working tools by Alan Scarrott and Stephen Miller delivered the first degree working tools, all extremely well delivered.
Peter Smith then gave the address to the senior and junior deacons and Tom Ryding ably explained the work of the inner guard to Dan Turner. The address to the stewards was delivered so confidently by acting Provincial Grand Steward Wayne Haslam. David Robinson did the address to the WM; David Johnson addressed the wardens and the address to the brethren was given by Peter Lockett.
Towards the end of the appointment of officers for 2025-26, Trevor thanked guest organist Dougie Little for his regular attendance and beautiful piano playing which added something very special to the lodge business and ritual. It was mentioned that Old Huttonian Lodge have recently paid £185 to the school for the hall grand piano to be tuned and it was quite obvious from the keyboard music during the evening that the repair work, tuning done to the piano had been very successful indeed. During the risings, greetings were given by David McGurty AProvGM East Lancashire, Peter Smith PPSGW and Sir Peter Roscow, PM of Mereside Lodge No 6360.
The festive board was a sumptuous event with a ham hock starter followed by blade of beef on mash potato, accompanied by braised root vegetables. Both courses expertly presented by Lee Munro and his team at Masonic Event Catering of The Palace, St Annes on Sea.
Installing master John Topping said: “During the festive board we presented two initial cheques to our principal guest and we are currently in the process of deciding all the beneficiaries of the monies raised during my year in office. At this installation we committed £100 to Old Huttonian Lodge member and South Fylde Group Charity Steward David Jenkinson who had sent his apologies for the meeting as he was in the north east preparing himself for the Great North Run (GNR). David was running the GNR on behalf of the Masonic Charitable Foundation and our cheque for £100 enabled him to achieve the £1,000 MCF target for each Masonic runner. The second cheque of £500 will assist the brilliant work of Blackpool Carers Centre of which I am a trustee.”
Peter Lockett then brought the greetings of the Provincial Grand Master and grand officers and commended everyone for their work in delivering a first-class ceremony and festive board.
John Topping went on to deliver a toast to Trevor. John spoke briefly about Trevor’s Masonic history from when he was WM for the first time in the former Runshaw Lodge No 8537 some 38 years ago and now in Old Huttonian Lodge as his second master-ship and Trevor’s very busy work life owning and managing a number of Pit Stop car parts shops in the area and asked him why it was that both he and Trevor had taken so long in their lives to become members of Old Huttonian Lodge. The toast to Trevor was followed by a rendition of the Master’s Song performed by Trevor’s friend Brian Flynn.
Trevor responded in fine form and thanked his five friends sat in front of him, who were all local masters together some 38 years ago and have remained firm friends for so many years. Trevor thanked everyone involved in the organisation of the event and gave especial thanks to lodge secretary Colin Mills for his exceptional work, along with John Topping as installing master and all officers.
Next, Trevor thanked the group of four Scottish Masons of Lodge St John Carluke No 187 who had made the journey from South Lanarkshire and Alan Ruthven from Old Ruthinian Lodge No 9399 within the Federation of School Lodges (FSL). He thanked Brian Flynn for the Master’s Song.
The raffle of 20 quality prizes was undertaken with speed and efficiency by lodge treasurer and charity steward Dave Johnson which raised a total of £385 for Masonic and non- Masonic charities.
