The installation of David Grime as master of St James Lodge No 8910 was a family occasion as his younger brother Daniel and father Jim were installed into the senior and junior wardens’ chairs respectively. This ensured that a member of the Grime tribe would be in the chair for the next three years!
On the night, the family theme continued as Malcolm Dewhurst, a founder and honorary member of the lodge and Peter Allen, the group chairman and a member of St James Lodge’s daughter lodge, attended to represent the Provincial Grand Master and the Chorley and Leyland Group respectively.
John Riley took to the chair and installed David in a confident style, adding so well to the family feel of the night. It is always a highlight at any installation when the lodge presents money to its chosen charities and this installation was no exception. Malcolm was presented with several charitable donations including £150 to, the Masonic Care Home at Ecclesholme, £150 to Fairwood School, £200 to Derian House and £500 to the Motor Neuron Disease Charity.
A traditional festive board followed the installation, during which a Masonic favourite of roast beef dinner was served. During the toasts Malcolm Dewhurst was very complimentary on the health of the lodge and the number of light blues coming through the ranks; and the manner in which the respective ranks delivered the working tools in the ceremony.
The festive board proved to be what has been described as boisterous and exuberant with the father and brothers in their respective chairs – which led to some playfully embarrassing stories about one another, often showing their light-hearted sibling rivalry.
One such story about Daniel, the senior warden, was that as a child he had ‘run away’ from home. The police were duly informed and they came to the house to help search for him. Daniel had not in fact run away from home, and whilst the family were out searching for him, they found that he had been hiding in the house and was discovered only by answering the door to the policemen who had come to join the hunt for him. It was all in good fun, and matched the friendly, high-spirited and semi-casual atmosphere that makes St James Lodge an enjoyable lodge to be in and visit.
