Royal Arch Grand Rank for Chorley Group Companions

Two Companions of Horwich Chapter No 2324. David Harrison and John Robson will both be at Freemasons’ Hall

in London to be invested with the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer in Supreme Grand Chapter.

David Harrison, who is 65 and married to Margaret, was initiated into Wilderswood Lodge No 5932 in 1976 and became

WM in 1989. He was also WM of Rivington Lodge No 8013 in 2005. In the Craft David received his first Provincial rank of

Provincial Grand Steward in 1996, at which time he joined the Stewards’ Lodge, Quingenti No 8516, and progressed in

Provincial Grand rank to become Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2007.

But it is the Royal Arch that David has really made a mark. He was exalted in Horwich Chapter in 1980 and became

First Principal in 1992, during which year he joined Setantia Chapter of Installed First Principals. He was appointed

Provincial Grand Steward in 1997 and immediately joined Provincial Grand Stewards’ Chapter No 8516.

In 2006 David received the great honour of being appointed Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah and enjoyed a glorious

year of travelling the length and breadth of West Lancashire, accompanying the Grand Superintendent and his

Deputy on visits to many Chapters. In 2007 David joined the Group Team when he was appointed Group Royal Arch Liaison Officer.

His other service and achievements in freemasonry include writing the history of Horwich Chapter to mark the

centenary in 1995; Chairman of the Chorley and District Group Masonic Research Society in 2004, an office he still holds,

after previously being Secretary and Treasurer; Bookings Secretary for the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity Annual

Dinner and Cabaret (formerly known as the Southport Festival) from 2004 until this year; Volunteer in the Charity Office

at Liverpool; Bookings Secretary for the events of the celebratory weekend to mark the culmination of the 2010 Festival

for the Masonic Samaritan Fund. David is also well known for his very interesting talks to lodges and chapters.

The service he has given to the Royal Arch and freemasonry on a wider scale has now been recognised by his appointment

to Grand rank.

John Robson is, of course, our Group Chairman and his masonic CV is already elsewhere on this website.

Below is a summary of his Royal Arch membership history:

Exalted into Horwich Chapter No 2324 in 1983 and became First Principal in 1997.

Appointed Provincial Grand Steward in 1999 and progressed to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2010.

Joined Provincial Grand Stewards’ Chapter No 8516 and Setantia Chapter of Installed First Principals, both in 1999.

Joined Sandylands Chapter No 5702 at Morecambe in 2007 and Chorley Chapter No 6287 in 2010.

The members of the Chorley and District Group will surely wish them many years of good health to enjoy their well deserved preferment.

                           David Harrison                                                                        John Robson