The Palace at St Annes on Sea was packed with 94 brethren for the 2026 installation ceremony of Country Pursuits Lodge of West Lancashire No 6615. The brethren came from a number of West Lancashire groups along with their colleagues from the neighbouring Province of Cumberland & Westmorland, where Richard is a founder member of the same named Country Pursuits Lodge No 9898.
Four years ago, this very popular specialist Country Pursuits Lodge of West Lancashire, of the South Fylde Group, was born from the outgoing Kirkham Lodge No 6615, but yet holding on to the number 6615, which was the original number of Kirkham Lodge, that met at the former Poulton Masonic Hall.
During late 2025 the lodge chose Richard Dennison to be the fourth WM. The lodge business was ably managed by the immediate and installing master Martin Swarbrick. Towards the end of the business items, a ballot was taken to make lodge stalwart Mike Casey an honorary member. The lodge was delighted that the ballot proved in favour and Mike was admitted into the lodge, he thanked everyone for their support and took his seat.
Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, Greg Pinnington, entered the lodge and announced that Deputy Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers stood without and demanded admission. The procession of grand and acting Provincial grand officers entered the lodge and the usual formalities took place. At this point, Martin Swarbrick presented Frank Umbers with an envelope containing information regarding cheques paid to seven worthy charities that amounted to £2,360, raised during his year in office. Frank thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
The ceremony of installation commenced with installing officers being called to take their places, Barry Robinson occupied the chair of installing senior warden, Colin Preston occupied the chair of installing junior warden and Bob Malcolm occupied the position of installing inner guard. Richard Dennison was presented by Mike Casey and was expertly installed as WM by the immediate and installing master Martin Swarbrick.
The working tools of an installed master were admirably delivered by Chris Tittley. James Newhouse presented the third degree tools, William Buchanan presented the second degree tools and James Henderson presented the first degree tools. The address to the master was skilfully given by Andy McClements, Tony Berry gave the address to the wardens and the address to the brethren of the lodge was given by Frank Umbers. Immediately following the conclusion of the installation ceremony, Frank brought the greetings and congratulations of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews.
Prior to closing the lodge, Derek Lewthwaite rose to his feet and thanked Country Pursuits Lodge of West Lancashire brethren for their kind donation to the Blackpool based cancer charity The Swallows.
The festive board was a sumptuous five course culinary delight with starters of smoked salmon or melon, a sorbet course prior to a main course of either duck confit or baked salmon, a dessert of gateaux or ice cream and finally cheese and biscuits. Everyone was delighted when Andy McClements delivered a bottle of ruby port to each table to accompany the cheese and biscuits course.
In his response to toast to the grand officers, Frank brought his own congratulations to the WM Richard Dennison and he wished him the very best of health and success for the year ahead. He commended the now immediate past master and installing master Martin Swarbrick and praised everyone involved with what had been a memorable event. He spoke about the membership challenge and how we all must protect our organisation by bringing gentlemen into Freemasonry and developing our ‘one organisation’ approach to bringing Craft and Royal Arch together into a seamless journey.
A raffle, skilfully managed by Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements, was drawn following the sale of ticket strips, coupled with a special whisky draw. The whisky draw was won by incoming junior warden James Henderson. The raffle and whisky draw combined with the charity plate raised the significant amount of £1,450.
Ian Heyes, in his toast to the WM spoke of Richard Dennison’s early life in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and his passion of being in construction plant and articulated trailers. After he left the family firm at the end of 2002, he has been involved with plant hire and civil engineering. Richard constructed Tewitfield Marina which consists of 60 houses and a marina at the top of the Lancaster canal. He has been involved with quarrying and a washing plant, and his latest venture is importing levelling attachments from New Zealand and selling them all over the United Kingdom and Southern Ireland.
Richard is a member and past master of Heysham Lodge No 4108 and he is the current charity steward of the lodge having held that position for 17 years. He was appointed Provincial Grand Steward in 2014 and Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2025.
Across the border within the Province of Cumberland & Westmorland, Richard is a founder member of Country Pursuits Lodge, where he has held the roles of assistant director of ceremonies, director of ceremonies and charity steward. Both these last two roles he has undertaken since 2019. At the October 2025 meeting of the lodge, Richard was field-promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden by Provincial Grand Master Nick Wilson.
Richard is a member of Morecambe Chapter No 1561. Richard has been involved in the West Lancashire Clay Pigeon Shooting Society (WLMCPSS) for the last 25 years and travels all over the country shooting with them as part of their team. He is Lancaster Group representative and has been involved on the committee all that time. Richard was involved, and part of the original organisation of the Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Society, West Lancashire Branch (MTSFC) and is their fundraising officer. The fishing society give disabled and under privileged children a one-to-one fishing experience on lakes all over the Province.
The Master’s Song was delightfully sung unaccompanied by John Bates of Torrisholme Lodge No 5245 in the Lancaster Group who invited brethren to assist with the second chorus.
Richard Dennison, in his response, thanked all his lodge colleagues for the work committed to making the ceremony and festive board such a special event and he is looking forward to his work as WM over the ensuing 12 months.
Report by John Topping.