Furness at Duddon
 
27th May 2016
 
From the south side of the Furness peninsula your eyes are drawn across the wide expanse of Morecambe Bay towards Morecambe, the Fylde coast and Blackpool Tower.
Furness RAM members, Jim Atkinson, Les Preston, Bob Morrish, Dave Sear,
Peter Quirk and Rowly Saunders.
From the north your eyes pass over the Duddon estuary towards the town of Millom which lays at the foot of Black Combe and the fells of the southern Lake District.
 
On this occasion it was northwards towards Millom Masonic Hall that several members of Furness RAM Lodge No 375 made their way as they ventured into the adjoining province of Cumberland and Westmorland to witness the installation meeting of Duddon RAM Lodge No 1481.
There is a lot of interaction and visiting between the Masons in the various orders of the Furness and South Lakeland group with those in the south west corner of the adjoining province.
Keith Templeton, Peter Storey and Barry Kirkbride.
Both installing Commander Peter Storey and his successor Keith Templeton are members of craft lodges which meet at Barrow in Furness Masonic Hall.
 
The principal guest on the evening was VW Bro. Barry Kirkbride who is the Deputy PGM of the Mark Province of Cumberland and Westmorland.
The ceremony proved to be an excellent one with Peter undertaking his work not only accurately but in his own inimitable style. Dave Sear, Commander of Furness RAM, was pleased to be asked to assist in acting as Guardian for the installation ceremony.
Bill Joughin of Furness RAM (being stuck behind a tractor had made him late for the team photo!)
At the installation meal Barry mentioned the assistance given by the Mark Provincial and national charities to some of those who had suffered hardship in the recent severe floods in the county. It really illustrated the good work that our charitable giving allows to do.
 
At his installation last year Peter had been presented with a rather “stylish” captain’s cap which he passed on to Keith. It all added to the genial ambiance and feel good nature of the occasion.
Keith sporting his natty head-gear.
In replying to the proposition of the toast to the visitors Dave commented, “It is a pleasure to be here and witness proceedings. Keith is a friend who is a regular at the West Lancashire Mark Ball. Peter and I share that special bond which exists between long serving, or should I say suffering, lodge secretaries as he holds that post at Piel Castle Lodge in Barrow in Furness and I occupy a similar role at Baldwin Lodge in Dalton in Furness. Your principal guest Barry and I were both Constabulary colleagues and it was a delight to meet up with him again after many years.”
 
The excellent four course meal was provided and served up by a lodge member’s wife and family. This added to the warmth and homeliness of what was a terrific evening of RAM ritual and friendship.
Artice and Photographs Courtesy of Dave Sear