Steve McClintock was installed as master of Lune Lodge No 4724 in the presence of Past Assistant Grand Registrar John Lee, who was the representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. John was accompanied by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Kemp together with Past Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies Ben Gorry and Robb Fitzsimmons.
Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group, Chris Larder, was joined by Provincial Grand Standard Bearer Paul Morgan and Provincial Grand Steward and group secretary Lee Fisher. Provincial deacons were Paul Morgan and Peter Baker.
WM Neil McGill opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge. The lodge was then opened in the second degree, after which, substitute director of ceremonies Bryan Cambidge retired from the lodge. The lodge was opened in the third degree and director of ceremonies was re-admitted. When he announced that John Lee, representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, accompanied by grand officers, acting Provincial grand officers and group chairman stood without and sought admission. The WM welcomed John Lee to the lodge and director of ceremonies conducted salutations.
Business was resumed in the second degree and WM Neil then requested the officers of Lune Lodge to stand and he thanked them for supporting him over the past year. Neil invited Scott Devine, past master of Great Eccleston Lodge No 8895, to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Ken Turner, past master of Wyreside Lodge No 2605 to occupy the chair of installing junior warden and Connor Isted, WM of City of Lancaster Lodge No 281 to occupy the position of installing inner guard.
Master elect Steve McClintock was presented for installation by Daniel Crossley prior to resumption of business in the third degree. All those below the rank of an installed master were requested to retire from the lodge for a short time. The master elect then was expertly installed into the chair of King Solomon by Neil McGill. On closing of the Board of Installed Masters, master Masons were re-admitted and the third degree working tools were presented by Paul Morgan. The lodge was resumed in the second degree by virtue. The second degree working tools were presented by Michael Philip and on resuming in the first degree by virtue the first degree working tools were presented by Peter Baker.
WM Steve McClintock appointed and invested his officers. Paul Taylor was appointed as senior warden and Daniel Crossley as junior warden. The address to the master was given by Neil McGill, the address to the wardens was given by Ben Gorry and John Lee gave the address to the brethren of Lune Lodge. On completion of the installation ceremony, John Lee brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to WM Steve and wished him a successful, busy, happy and healthy year. He congratulated the WM, Bryan Cambidge and all those who took part in the ceremony, particularly the junior brethren who presented the working tools in the second and first degrees on a superb ceremony.
Steve then presented John Lee with a list of donations made on behalf of the lodge during the previous year Non-Masonic charity, the SORN Foundation, which provided a classroom in Cambodia received £670. £1,000 was donated to the Lancaster and District Group food bank appeal. Masonic widows were given £150 and £100 was donated to sponsor Connor Isted who is walking on behalf of the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity. Other Masonic donations totalled £1,620, making a magnificent total of £3,540. John thanked Steve and the brethren of the lodge on behalf of the recipients for their generous donations.
Immediate past master Neil McGill was presented with a past master’s jewel by the WM and David Tattersall was elected as an honorary member of Lune Lodge. £100 was donated to Ben Gorry’s 12-year-old son Aaron to sponsor him running a half marathon in aid of Marie Curie charity.
Organist for the evening was David Tattersall and the Master’s Song was performed by Daniel Crossley. A total of 46 brethren attended the festive board at Rowley Court where the toast to the WM was given by immediate past master Neil McGill. The raffle raised £414, the number draw raised £200 and £55 was raised from the ‘master’s swindle’.
As a surprise to welcome John Lee, immediate past master Neil McGill distributed face masks printed with John Lee’s image to members of the John Lee fan club who lined up to greet him as he processed into the dining room accompanied by the WM and group chairman.
WM Steve McClintock was born in 1974 in Workington. His father was a RAF officer and later a foreign exchange trader for RBS. His mother was a housewife. Steve is married and they have one daughter who lives in London and is a theatre manager. Steve’s working life has been in the hospitality industry, initially as a chef and later as catering manager for George Hill Ltd before leaving to run his own establishments. His first venture was the Thai Courtyard restaurant in Garstang and he now owns Rivers and Roads coffee shop and bar in Milnthorpe. Steve’s hobbies are eating, drinking, holidays and supporting Carlisle United.
Steve was initiated in Wyreside Lodge in 2005, he was proposed by Tony Dawson and seconded by Dave Brown. Steve was WM of Wyreside Lodge from 2012 to 2013 and has been secretary since 2014. He is also a member of Plantagenet Lodge of Installed Masters No 9357 and was WM in 2018 and is currently assistant director of ceremonies. Steve was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2020.
In royal Arch, Steve was exalted in Great Eccleston Chapter No 8895 in January 2009, was first principal in 2015 and is currently scribe Ezra. He was appointed Provincial Grand Steward in 2017 and promoted to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Sojourner in 2021. Steve is also a member of Provincial Grand Stewards’ Chapter of West Lancashire No 8516 and is active with the Provincial stewards’ demonstration team.