Wigan has a long tradition as a market town and barrow boys were a frequent sight in days gone by, both delivering and peddling their goods. The Wigan Lodge Barrow Boys are travellers, not traders. It all started when lodge member Bill Smith struck up a friendship with John Quiggin, a member of Barrow Lodge No 3928, following lively discussions around costed proposals to relocate the Masonic Hall. The plans never gained support, instead the hall being beautifully refurbished, causing Bill and John to engage in sporty banter every time they met, usually at Provincial occasions.
The invitation for a Wigan Lodge contingent to visit Barrow Lodge was set up following such banter at the Provincial Grand Lodge 2015, so seven ‘Wiganers’ made the trip, led by WM of Wigan Lodge No 2326 Craig Lyon and including acting PrAGPurs Alan Ireland, who having attained such rank without going through the chair, was the subject of much curiosity from the locals, including the examination of the unique apron worn by those so honoured.
Pictured from left to right, are: (back row) Terry Dickinson, Bob Whitney, Bill Smith, Alan Ireland, Gordon Cook and Tony Martin, (front seated) Craig Lyon, Bob Brady and Mick Lacey (IPM Barrow Lodge).
The installation meeting of Barrow Lodge was unique in the history of the lodge in that it saw Bob Brady take the chair for the fourth time. In Barrow Lodge the members wear evening dress with bow ties. This tradition dates back to the time when the lodge met at the Furness Abbey Hotel, where it was held from its inception in 1919 until the premises were taken over by the War Department on the onset of the Second World War. Gentlemen were not permitted in the dining room of the hotel unless they were wearing formal attire so that became the dress code of the lodge.
The travelling Wigan Lodge Barrow Boys received a really warm welcome, with snacks on their arrival and an excellent ceremony in the newly refurbished and consequently warm and welcoming hall. The festive board was described as top class by the visitors, aided by a generous portion of whisky from their hosts. They had a thoroughly friendly and enjoyable meeting and really enjoyed the company of the other 91 members and guests who had attended. Wigan Lodge members will return the hospitality, having extended an invitation to the brethren of Barrow Lodge to visit their installation in April 2016.