Simon Forgham was installed as master of Carnforth Lodge No 4951 in the presence of Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Kemp. Keith was accompanied by Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Neil McGill. Vice Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group Daniel Crossley and group secretary Lee Fisher were all joined by Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works Ken Greenwood, Provincial Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies Steven Ellershaw and John Galbraith, Provincial Assistant Grand Standard Bearer Steven Murray, Provincial Assistant Grand Pursuivant Syd Bateson and Provincial Grand Stewards Stuart Bateson and Andy Baxter.
WM Stephen Horrocks opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge after which, the director of ceremonies Paul Fuery admitted Keith Kemp accompanied by Neil McGill, acting Provincial grand officers, group vice-chairman and group secretary. Immediate past master Mike Barrett conducted the next part of the installation ceremony and opened the lodge in the second degree. He invited Richard Blenkarn to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Ian Allison to occupy the chair as installing junior warden and Len Johnson to act as installing inner guard. Master elect Simon Forgham was then presented for installation by his proposer Matt Kneale.
The lodge was opened in the third degree and all below the rank of an installed master were requested to retire for a short while. Paul Fuery took over the final part of the installation ceremony and declared the board of installed masters open. Master elect Simon was dully installed into the chair of King Solomon and the working tools of an installed master were presented by Stephen Horrocks.
Following the closure of the board of installed masters, master Masons were readmitted and the third degree working tools were presented by Paul Turner. The second and first degree working tools were presented by Mike Barrett and Steve Birch respectively. The WM appointed Lee Mackie as senior warden and Paul Turner as junior warden. The address to the master was given by Ian Allison. The address to the wardens was given by Paul Coward and Keith Kemp gave the address to the brethren of Carnforth Lodge. On appointment of the lodge stewards, Provincial Grand Steward Stuart Bateson gave an explanation of their duties. Stephen Horrocks was presented with a past master’s jewel by the WM.
Keith Kemp brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to the WM and wished him a happy, successful and healthy year. He congratulated the installing masters on a superb ceremony. Keith was presented with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities totalling £2,934. Keith thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
Organist for the evening was Peter Wood and the Master’s Song was performed by John Bates. A total of 54 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by Matt Kneale.
WM Simon Forgham was born in Grimsby in 1964. He has been married to Helen for 37 years. They have two children Lucy and Robert. While still a baby, Simon’s parents moved from Grimsby to Burley-in-Wharfedale and at the age of 8 years old they all moved to Halton near Lancaster. Simon grew up in Halton and after marrying Helen they moved to Lancaster and then to Bolton-le-Sands.
Simon’s work career began with two YTS jobs earning the princely sum of £25 per week, first at Lancaster City Council’s Housing department ant then at the General Office at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. He then commenced work at the Community NHS buildings on Slyne Road in what was the old Police Station. He moved to the DHSS Supplementary Benefits office at Mire House in Lancaster where he met Helen. At the DHSS, Simon dealt with income support, sickness benefit and retirement pensions. He was promoted and moved to work in the new Government Projects department created to deal with multi £1,000,000 government projects. Simon was trained as a project manager and worked on the creation of winter fuel payments and pension credits.
At the age of 35, Simon decided on a change of direction, wanting more from a job and joined Lancashire Constabulary. He was initially employed on response at Lancaster and then did a stint as a local ‘Bobby’ at Ryleands working with Alan Gregory. Simon was next employed on the riot van travelling the county where he was trained in counter terrorism searches and rapid entries. Simon appeared on TV on Bargain Booze, Can’t Pay Won’t Pay and with TV crews who filmed the response team on searches and rapid entries. He passed his sergeants exams and was acting sergeant on the response team. Simon was posted to Morecambe but was unable to sit the sergeants board due to austerity measures and there were no promotion boards for six years. Simon retired from the police in 2019.
Simon bought a flat during COVID and spent his time renovating it. He now works as an NHS bank driver. Simon is a self-confessed petrol head. He treated himself to the sports car that he had dreamt of owning for years, buying a Jaguar XKR 5L V8. He also owns a motorhome and together with Helen and their four dogs, enjoys travelling throughout the UK. He did own a motorcycle, but recently sold it.
Simon is a professional pyrotechnic and has been for 26 years. He has produced public displays across the north of England, but now focuses on the annual Bolton-le-Sands Bonfire and Fireworks Display and is the Committee Secretary. Prior to becoming WM of Carnforth, Simon worked his way up the ladder of lodge officer roles.
