Alan Dean was installed as master of Vale lodge No 5256 in the presence of Neil McGill, the representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. Neil was accompanied by Scott Devine, Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group and group vice chairman Chris Larder, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Steven Ellershaw and Provincial Grand Steward Andy Baxter.
WM Paul Thompson opened the lodge and then conducted the installation ceremony together with director of ceremonies George Fox. The installing officers were; senior warden Alan Flack, junior warden Bill Byrne and inner guard Frank Heath. The master elect was presented for installation by Tom Shanklin.
The third degree working tools were presented by Kevi Isted. The second and third degree working tools were presented by Renz Bosito and Tom Shanklin respectively. New WM Alan Dean appointed Kevin Isted as senior warden and Bill Byrne as junior warden. The address to the master was given by George Fox and to the brethren of Vale lodge by Neil McGill There was no address to the Wardens.
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall. A total of 30 brethren attended the festive board, at which the toast to the WM was given by Mike Brown and the raffle raised £130.
WM Alan John Dean is a proud Widnesian born during the war years on 5 November 1940. He attended Farnworth C of E Junior School and then Wade Deacon Grammar School. On leaving school in 1959, Alan joined an insurance company taking early retirement in 1992 after having manged branch offices in Stockport, Stratford (East London), Romford and Enfield.
Alan moved around the UK residing in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Marple and Buckhurst Hill before finally settling in Heysham. He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and was President of the Insurance Institute of Ilford and South West Essex from 1984 to 1985. He married his wife Kay in 1965 after meeting her on the northbound platform of Stretford station. She sadly passed away 5 years ago. Alan is the proud father to Jimmy and Michael and the grandad to Sam, Ruby, Ted and Martha.
As a Widnesian, rugby league has always been Alan’s main interest and he is still a season ticket holder at Widnes Vikings RLFC, rarely missing a home game. At the stadium, he sits next to Peter who was born three days after him in the next bed at Widnes Maternity Home and they have been lifelong friends.
Alan moved to Bare four years ago having joined Bare Village Institute some years earlier. He spends much of his time playing crown green bowls in three local leagues and is currently President of the Bowling Club. Alan has been known to enjoy a pint or two of Wainwrights bitter with a packet of sea salt crisps. Alan was honoured to be made a Freeman of the City of London on 6 July1989, as a citizen and insurer of London.
Alan was initiated into the Lodge of Perpetual Light No 8028 on 13 April 1989 meeting at Great Queen Street, working Taylor’s Ritual and not Emulation as is primarily practiced in Lancashire. He uses this as his excuse for getting his signs wrong and not knowing the wording!
Alan was a member of Croxteth United Services Lodge No 786 in Liverpool for several years taking the chair in 2001-2002 and again in 2005-2006. He is currently a member of both Vale Lodge and Runic Lodges No 6019.
Alan received his first Provincial appointment in 2009 as Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon and was later promoted to Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works in 2015. He is a member of Heysham Chapter No 4108 and was first principal in 2008. His first Provincial appointment in the Royal Arch was as Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in 2014 and he was promoted to Past Provincial Deputy Grand Sword Bearer in 2021. Alan is also a member of other Masonic Orders,
