As Fleetwood town baked in the hottest temperatures of the year, the welcome given to the guests attending Broadwater Lodge No 9027 was no less warm.
This year the tables were somewhat turned for master elect, Walter Daubney. In previous years Walter, the lodge’s hard-working director of ceremonies (DC), also acted as installing master demonstrating his skills with ritual.
Initiated into Broadwater Lodge in 1990, Walter swiftly showed his dedication to the Craft, rising through the offices to being installed into the chair for the first time in 1998. Walter was appointed to the role of DC in 2008 and served diligently through to 2013 and returned to the role in 2018.
Walter’s love of the Craft was not only restricted to Broadwater Lodge. Walter was a member of Lytham Lodge No 6915 until it closed and is currently the immediate past master of Lodge of St Mary Balham No 3661 meeting in Great Queen Street, London.
Walter joined local sports car manufacturer TVR in 1969, employed as an auto-electrician and left in 1982 to set up his own business designing and manufacturing car wiring looms. In a notable career, he has consulted for Rolls Royce and Jaguar. Walter is still in business in Blackpool, having diversified into general auto engineering.
The festivities at the lodge had a notable deputation of grand officers led by Broadwater Lodge’s own Duncan Smith, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Jason Dell, on this occasion representing the Provincial Grand Master, Harry Cox, Peter Greathead, Keith Jackson, Neil MacSymons and Andy Wiltshire. Together with acting Provincial grand officers Russell Forsyth, Gavin Egan and Geoff Diggles. North Fylde Group Chairman John Cross was also in attendance.
The lodge was opened and the administrative business was swiftly dispatched by the incumbent master Kevin Jones, then the gavel was passed to the installing master Peter Bawden. Peter opened the lodge to the third degree at which point formalities decree that the lodge’s own Duncan Smith, entered and was formally welcomed and offered the gavel of the lodge, which he duly returned to Peter. Duncan then introduced the representative of the Provincial Grand Master and the evening’s honoured guest Jason Dell.
The installing officers were; Mike Brayshaw senior warden, David Martland junior warden and Stuart Decore inner guard. Walter was presented by Chris Sage, a friend and fellow member of Lodge of St. Mary Balham.
Continuing the link with the Lodge of St Mary Balham, their current WM, Peter Bawden, installed Walter into the chair at Broadwater Lodge and did so in a sincere ceremony, following which the third degree working tools were delivered by Phil Drake. Paul Goodfellow delivered the second degree tools and Paul Smedley delivered the first degree tools.
Chris Sage once again took to the floor to deliver the address to the master. Duncan Smith delivered the address to the wardens, Walter gave the address to the deacons from the master’s chair and of course the last address to the brethren of the lodge was left to Jason Dell.
Once the installation was complete, Jason brought congratulations from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and congratulated all the brethren who took part in the ceremony.
Walter was delighted to present Jason with cheques for £500 to West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, £200 to Motor Neurone Disease, £200 to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, £200 to Marie Curie Cancer Care, £100 to the North West Air Ambulance Charity, £100 to the RNLI. £400 to the Blackpool Carers Centre, £100 to the North West Blood Bikes and £100 to Menshed, Fleetwood. Jason thanked the brethren of Broadwater Lodge for their very generous donations.
At the end of a successful installation the brethren proceeded to the dining room with the raffle raising £277 and John Darrell dramatically delivered the master’s song to Walter. Tom Egan brought the evening to a suitable close with the tyler’s toast.
