An Installation of Effort, Charity and Heart at Carnarvon

Nearly 100 brethren arrived at Preston Masonic Hall for the installation of Bro. Kieran Taylor-Bradshaw APGCO and master elect of Carnarvon Lodge No. 2376, in the province of West Lancashire.

With regalia and smiles at the ready, photos were taken to mark the special occasion that each master mason works hard towards on his journey into the chair of King Solomon. The lodge was tiled and soon opened into the third degree to welcome the APGM’s and PAPGM, accompanied by grand officers and acting officers who attended the installation.

W Bro. Malcolm Bell APGM was warmly welcomed by the lodge master W Bro. Adam Dennett before introducing W Bro. David Thomas APGM, as the evenings principal guest. Also in attendance was W Bro. Michael Tax APGM, W Bro. Andrew Whittle PAPGM, W Bro. Mark Humphrey PProvSGW and group chairman W Bro. David Bishop ProvGSwdB.

Acting officers present - W Bro. Neil Ward PAGDC ProvGMO, W Bro. Peter Littlehales ProvDGDC, W Bro. Gordon Maclellan ProvGSwdB, W Bro. Harry Noblett ProvAGPurs, W Bro. Paul Brunskill ProvGCO, W Bro. Andy McClements ProvGChStwd, W Bro. Allister Horn ProvGJD and ProvGStwd’s W Bro. Ryan Mangnall, W Bro. Nigel Monks and W Bro. Wayne Haslam.

Grand officers present - W Bro. Ryan Modlin AGDC and PAGDC’s W Bro. Barry Fitzgerald ProvGDC, W Bro. Stewart Cranage, W Bro. Dan Crossley and W Bro. Peter Caunce.

With so many brethren present, Carnarvon lodge’s members delivered a fantastic display of ritual, with only a few early nerves creeping through from the master elect as the lodge was opened. Kieran soon found himself sat in the master’s chair, after being presented by W Bro. Barry Scowcroft PPAGSwdB and installed in a phenomenal display of ritual from W Bro. Adam Dennett. Once in the chair, Carnarvon’s newly installed master seemed elated and relaxed very quickly into the master’s chair as master masons, fellowcrafts and entered apprentices came back into the room after each closing.

Carnarvon Lodge has worked hard to create an active and engaging lodge that has attracted and brought in many new and young masons. The working tools therefore were given by three light blue members – Bro. Michael Kipping 3^rd, Bro. Stuart McGrath 2^nd and Bro. Dan Heath 1^st. Each delivering composed and word-perfect presentations.

It was then time for Kieran to invest and install his new officers for the ensuing year. Following W Bro. Graham Roberts’s investiture ritual to the new SW, Kieran fully appointed and installed all his other officers with great poise and delivery.

The address to the Master was fantastically given by W Bro. Ryan Mangnall, followed by the wardens address by W Bro. Kevin Byrne who also presented the ritual extremely well. W Bro. David Thomas then took to the floor to deliver a word perfect and expertly timed address to the brethren of Carnarvon Lodge, before bringing greetings on behalf of the R W Provincial Grand Master.

Carnarvon’s newly installed master then welcomed W Bro. Dennett to hand over the charity donations made by the lodge during his year as master. Taken aback by the amount, David shared the contents of the envelope with those present, sharing a grand total of £12,850 with 238 hours of volunteered service to local charities and including £2,176 raised by Adam’s Sky Dive. Donations were raised for several charities including Rosemere Cancer Foundation, St Catherine’s Hospice, Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, Pumping Marvelous, Inspire Youth Zone Chorley, Baby Beat, Grasshoppers Rugby Women’s section, Chorley and Leyland Foodbank and the West Lancashire Masonic Freemasons Charity.

Before closing the lodge, greetings were given by W Bro. Malcolm Bell APGM, W Bro. Jeff Lucas PPSGW and W Bro. Sean Taylor master of Euxton Lodge 7192. Each of the greeting’s spoke of the brilliant ritual on display from the lodge – with special mention for W Bro. Dennett for his outstanding ritual during the installation.

(left to right) Malcolm Bell APGM, David Thomas APGM, Kieran Taylor-Bradshaw and Adam Dennett

At the festive board it was fantastic to see so many brethren, all enjoying good food and each other’s company. Toasts were made, W Bro. Thomas gave his reply and shared an updated from the RW Provincial Grand Master, as well as his best wishes to Kieran and Carnarvon’s members. IPM W Bro. Dennett gave a toast to the new master which left him tearful and thanked the brethren of the lodge for all their efforts and hard work. Kieran’s reply to the toast to his health was equally thankful to the lodge, with gifts presented to many members and including W Bro. Peter Littlehales for his hard work as ProvDGDC. Flowers were presented to W Bro. David Thomas and W Bro. David Bishop, and he also shared some stats on the attendee’s, with 11 of the 15 groups in the West Lancashire Province and 19 of the 28 lodges in the Chorley and Leyland group represented.

It was mentioned a few times about the visiting that Kieran has done over the past years, and from the numbers present for his installation, it shows that he has made many great friends along the way, and he was also delighted to welcome members of his mother lodge Cuerden Lodge 6018 to Carnarvon for his installation. The master’s song was sung by W Bro. Brian Flynn and W Bro. Dougie Little had been delighting everyone in and out of the lodge with his musical prowess. The visitor’s reply was given by W Bro. John Lee, who spoke of the Pheonix style growth of the lodge over the last few years which had involved a lot of hard work from all members – experienced and new.

A fantastic night was had by all and the evening ended in good time for brethren to travel home with their hearts and bellies full.

Nearly 100 brethren enjoying a lively and friendly festive board.

If you would like to visit Carnarvon lodge, please check out their new website https://carnarvonlodge2376.co.uk/ or email hello@carnarvon2376.co.uk to receive a summons.