Hawkshead Lodge No 4354, geographically the ‘top of the Province’, welcomed Phil Burrow for a second time as WM which will allow time for junior brethren to fully develop before taking higher office. Phil is well known to all in the Furness and South Lakeland Group, having also served as WM of Newby Bridge Lodge No 4598 on three occasions.
Hawkshead Lodge is unique in the Furness and South Lakeland Group, being the only lodge not to operate from a Masonic hall, as its ceremonies and festive board banquets are held in the Hawkshead Market Hall, very much in the manner of all our forefathers.
WM Dave Cole opened the lodge, after which secretary Andrew Thompson rose and gave a touching eulogy for Reg Walker, who had passed to the Grand Lodge above since the lodge had last met. Reg was a past master of the lodge and had celebrated 50 years as a Freemason prior to illness preventing his regular attendance.
The lodge was opened in the second and third degrees, at which time Provincial Deputy Director of Ceremonies David Boyes entered the lodge and informed the WM that Deputy Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers stood without and demanded admission. Frank subsequently processed into the lodge, accompanied by a glittering retinue of grand officers along with group chairman Chris Gray and acting Provincial grand officers.
Heading up the procession was Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield with Past Provincial Grand Master of Cumberland and Westmorland Norman Thompson, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Grainger, Rowley Saunders, Dave Kellet, Phil Preston, John Robbie Porter and Gary Rogerson. Acting Provincial grand officers attending were Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Woods, Provincial Grand Stewards Matt Catlow and Matty Woods, all under the watchful eyes of Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Phil Renney, and Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies David Boyes. Group vice chairman Harry Chatfield and group secretary Kevin Rigg were also in attendance.
The brethren of the lodge assembled in the North and were thanked very sincerely by WM Dave Cole for their unstinting support and hard work during the last two years of his mastership.
Director of ceremonies Tim Gill presented Phil Burrow to Dave, to receive at his hand the benefit of installation. Dave took Phil through the renewal of his obligations and installed him in the chair of King Solomon with great humility and dignity.
The working tools of a master Mason were explained by Tom Scott in an excellent manner. The lodge was closed in the second degree; Simon Harvey explained the working tools of a fellow craft Freemason with great dignity. The lodge was closed in the third degree and the working tools of a master Mason were presented and explained by Shaun Gregg with great gusto and precision.
WM Phil Burrow then appointed and invested the officers of the lodge. Senior deacon Geoff Biddulph and junior deacon Tom Scott were addressed by group secretary Kevin Rigg in an excellent manner. Lodge stewards Matt Stanton and Edward Cowley were addressed by Provincial Grand Steward Matty Woods. Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Schofield was appointed as tyler, who took up the office with great humour and delight. As a chain-bearing officer, he was not invested with a collar, but received the tyler’s sword.
The WM was addressed by Gary Rogerson in a very dignified manner and Alan Pattinson addressed the wardens of the lodge superbly. Frank Umbers then rose and addressed the brethren with his customary gravitas, dignity and sincerity.
Frank had hardly retaken his chair when he was on his feet again, to bring the greetings and best wishes of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews for the forthcoming year, sending congratulations to all those who had taken part in the ceremony, including immediate past and installing master Dave Cole. And especially the brethren who had presented and explained the working tools so well. Phil presented Frank with a cheque for £250 for the benefit of the West Lancashire Freemasons Charity.
David Grainger brought the greetings of the grand officers, thanking Phil for taking office and praising Dave Cole for his grand total of seven years spent as WM of the lodge. Dave hopes it will be the last time in the chair of King Solomon as he has been the saviour of his lodge on more than one occasion and has the eternal thanks of the brethren.
