Stuart Bateson was installed as master of Runic lodge No 6029 in the presence of Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Randerson. This is the first time Stuart has been master of Runic Lodge, but he was master at Morecambe Lodge No 1561 in 2021. David was accompanied by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Keith Kemp, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Neil McGill, along with group secretary and Provincial Grand Steward Lee Fisher.
Chairman of Lancaster and District Group Chris Larder, occupied the chair of King Solomon for the duration of the installation ceremony. Due to unfortunate timing, reigning WM Sam Hodgson was unable to attend the meeting as his wife had only just had a baby a couple of days prior to the meeting and Chris Larder was catapulted into the role of WM.
Chris opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge before opening the lodge in the second and third degrees, after which the lodge director of ceremonies retired from the lodge and on being re-admitted announced that David Randerson accompanied by Keith Kemp and acting Provincial grand officers requested admission. On entering the lodge David was welcomed by the WM who hoped David would have a wonderful day. The lodge was adjourned in the third degree and re-opened in the second degree.
Chris invited Peter Tooze-Froggatt to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Ken Needham to occupy the chair of installing junior warden and Terry Nealons to occupy the position of installing inner guard. Master elect Stuart Bateson was presented for installation by David Tattersall.
Work was resumed in the third degree at which time lodge director of ceremonies David Tattersall occupied the chair of King Solomon as installing master. All those below the rank of an installed master were requested to leave the lodge for a short while during which a Board of Installed Masters was convened and the master elect was installed into the chair of King Solomon. The working tools of an installed master were presented by Michael Church-Taylor after which the Board of Installed Masters was closed and brethren re-admitted in each of the three degrees.
The third degree working tools were presented by Tom Shankland, the second and third degree working tools were presented by Peter Smith and Tony McGuinness respectively. New WM Stuart Bateson appointed Michael Church-Taylor as senior warden and Peter Tooze-Froggatt as junior warden. The address to the master was given by Ken Needham, the address to the wardens was given by Chris Larder and David Randerson gave the address to the brethren of Runic Lodge.
On completion of the installation ceremony David brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to the WM and wished him a happy and healthy year. He congratulated Chris Larder, lodge director of ceremonies David Tattersall and Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Bryan Cambidge from Morecambe Lodge No 1561 on a superb ceremony. David was then presented with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities totalling £5,303.50. David thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
Organist for the evening was Peter Major from Union Lodge No 129 in the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland and the Master’s Song was performed by George Fox. A total of 54 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by David Tattersall. The raffle raised £476, the charity collection £187.20 and £60 was donated from the ‘master’s swindle’.
WM Stuart Bateson was born in September 1967 and is married to Pauline who he met while performing with Blackpool Brass Band when they toured Malta in 2006. After a long romance they married in 2018. Pauline has three sons from a previous marriage who were teenagers when they met, hence the long romance. Together they have renovated a Grade Two listed Lodge House and although they don’t have any children together, they do have a 5-year-old cocker spaniel. Family is really important to Stuart and he loves walking his dog to the pub to read his Masonic ritual. Stuart has a love for sports cars, (coupes and convertibles) and motor sport, especially Formula 1.
Stuart was initiated into Morecambe Lodge on 3 February 1995, one month after his dad Syd was initiated. Due to his brass band commitments, Stuart wasn’t able to take an active part in Masonry until 2013. Stuart was installed in the chair of King Solomon of Morecambe Lodge on 3 December 2021 by his father. Stuart joined Runic Lodge in 2022.
Stuart is a member of Morecambe Chapter No 1561 and was first principal from March 2020 until March 2024. He was appointed acting Provincial grand Standard Bearer in September 2023 and was then appointed acting Provincial Grand Steward in May 2024. Stuart is Assistant Secretary of the Lancaster and District Executive Group of Lodges. Stuart joined Quingenti Lodge No 8516, the Provincial Grand Stewards’ lodge in 2024 and will be appointed steward of the lodge on 24 November 2025, becoming WM on 28 November 2026.
