Founding Members
Longridge Lodge No. 8077 came to be formed following a conversation between W Bros W Carefoot PPrJGD and V N Page PM together with Bros C M J Carefoot and A E Simpson at the Broughton Lodge No. 5437 Installation in February 1963. These four brethren who all lived in Longridge decided that they would make a further attempt to establish a Masonic Lodge based on the village of Longridge.
Previous attempts were known to have failed because Longridge, whilst geographically situated in the Masonic Province of East Lancashire, had always been associated with Preston, so that most of the Freemasons in the area were members of West Lancashire Lodges. Naturally they wanted any new Lodge to be consecrated in their own Province. Herein lay the problem. To achieve this required adjustment and agreement between the two Provinces and in the past this had not been forthcoming.
Apart from talking to the then AsstPrGM, W Bro Sir Thomas Hargreaves PGD and the then Group Chairman W Bro Eric W Wells PGD and his officers, these four Brethren decided to keep their idea to themselves until the Provincial problem had been resolved. These senior Freemasons lent their support and it was eventually agreed between the Provinces that provided a substantial number of the Founders were West Lancashire Masons, the new Lodge could be consecrated by that Province and recruit in Longridge.
These discussions ran through 1963 but early in 1964 W Bro W Carefoot became seriously ill and the project was shelved for the remainder of that year. By the beginning of 1965 he had recovered and was ready to start again.
On 22nd February 1965 a letter signed by the four Brethren was sent to every Freemason they could identify in the Longridge area inviting them to a meeting at ‘Woodville’ Longridge on 2nd March 1965. There were 20 Brethren in attendance and eight apologies were recieved. W Bro W Carefoot was appointed Chairman of the meeting with Bro A E Simpson as Secretary. The meeting resolved that a Longridge Lodge be formed and that if possible it was to meet in Longridge. After very full investigation of various venues this latter proposal was found to be impractical and was dismissed. The new Lodge was therefore destined to meet at the Masonic Hall, Saul Street, Preston.
Consultations and meetings went on during 1965 culminating in a Petition bearing the names of 26 Founders being presented and signed at the meeting of Jubilee Lodge No. 5555 on 3rd November 1965. The Founders all had close associations with Longridge and came from a variety of trades and professions.
Amongst them were farmers, builders, teachers, haulage contractors, engineers, local government officers, a football club manager, a butcher, an insurance official, a licensee, an auctioneer and valuer, a building society manager and a corn mill manager. Between them they represented 16 different Lodges (six from their Mother Lodge, Jubilee No. 5555) and four Provinces including West Lancashire. They paid a Founder’s Fee of 20 guineas and the first annual subscription was 7 guineas.
The Consecration and Installation ceremony took place at the Masonic Temple, Saul Street, Preston on Monday 18th April 1966. The Consecrating Officer was RW Bro L E Rutherford, Provincial Grand Master for the Province of West Lancashire. This was followed by the Installation of Bro W Carefoot PPrGD as the first Worshipful Master by W Bro T W Ward PGD, Deputy Provincial Grand Master. Two future Provincial Grand Masters, W Bro K E Moxley PrDepGDC and W Bro Alan Fletcher Ferris PrDepGDC assisted in the Consecration ceremony. Unknown at the time, but also present was a future Deputy Provincial Grand Master, one of the Lodge Founders Bro Tom Blackburn.
The Founders
W Bro Walter Carefoot PPrGD
Walter was the first Worshipful Master of the new Lodge and was installed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W Bro T W Ward PGD. W Bro Carefoot was one of the three Provincial Grand Officers necessary for the Lodge to be formed. He was a Past Master of Jubilee Lodge No. 5555, the Mother Lodge of the new Lodge.
W Bro Carefoot lived in Longridge and was the Founder of the Building and Transport companies which carry his name. He was a very experienced Mason who chaired many meetings of the Founders with fairness and understanding. He was always ready to hear opposing views and was able to oversee the many problems of forming a new Lodge in a most democratic manner. He was promoted to the rank of PPPrJGW within a couple of years of the Lodge being consecrated.
Many years later (in October 1993) he was made an Honorary Member of the Lodge. At the meeting of the Lodge on 26th September 2001, the Brethren stood in silence and respect to his memory, a token of esteem to a very worthy Brother who dedicated his life to this Lodge.
Following this, his son, W Bro Colin Carefoot PAGDC gave a moving tribute and summary of his Father’s Masonic life and career.
W Bro Frank Allen PPrGD
Frank was the second of the three Provincial Grand Officers necessary to form a new Lodge. He was a Past Master of the Lodge of Concord No. 343.
W Bro Allen lived at Broughton and was a former Headmaster of Fulwood and Cadley School. Unfortunately, during the year or two before the Consecration, he became quite ill and was unable even to attend the Consecration ceremony. Sadly he died soon afterwards without ever having attended the new Lodge. He had sent a letter of resignation which was read out at the January 1967 meeting.
W Bro Benjamin Whalley PPrGStwd
Ben was a Past Master of Winckley Lodge No. 5438 and Preston Portcullis Lodge No. 6316. He was the first Director of Ceremonies of the Lodge. W Bro Whalley was the third Provincial Grand Officer within the Lodge. He had much work to do in sorting out the ceremonial work and the details of the ritual and carried out his duties with zeal and ability.
He was employed by Lancashire County Council as a senior auditor at County Hall and his attention to detail was excellent. He lived in Longridge at the junction of Whittingham Lane and Halfpenny Lane. Soon after the Consecration he too was promoted to the rank of PPrJGW.
His passing was reported to the Brethren on 26th April 1989.
W Bro Victor Norman Page
Norman was a very experienced Mason and a member of Hesketh Lodge No. 986 and a Founder and Past Master of Liberty Lodge in Stockport where he was working as a Public Health Inspector at the time.
He returned to Longridge and continued his membership of Hesketh Lodge, which met at Croston. He was delighted to become a Founder of Longridge Lodge and the first Senior Warden. He was installed as Worshipful Master in 1967. In 1971, he was the first Founder to be appointed to Provincial Grand rank as PPrGD and was later promoted to the rank of PPrJGW.
Some years later he was delighted to initiate his son, Ian, into the Lodge. He celebrated his 50 years as a Freemason in his Mother Lodge in December 1989 and this was followed by further celebrations in Longridge Lodge in February 1990 when W Bro Tom Blackburn AsstPrGM repeated the Oration which had been given two months earlier in Hesketh Lodge No. 986.
He lived in Lower Lane and was very well known in Longridge, for as well as being an Officer in Longridge Urban District Council, he was also a Captain, President and Trustee of Longridge Golf Club.
His passing was reported to Brethren on 25th September 1996.
W Bro J M Singleton
A Past Master of St Leonard’s Lodge No. 6132, Jack was the first Assistant Director of Ceremonies. He cooperated with his colleague W Bro Whalley and they were instrumental in the Lodge becoming very good at all the necessary Protocol and Ceremonial.
He was a School Master by profession and specialised in woodwork at Longridge High School. He was a near neighbour of W Bro Page on Lower Lane.
Eventually he was appointed PPrSGD and later promoted to PPrJGW but resigned from the Lodge in 1992 after moving to Aberdeen for family reasons. He joined a Scottish Lodge in Aberdeen but kept in touch with Longridge Lodge. Before he left, as a memento, he was presented with an engraved tankard in recognition of his devotion to Longridge Lodge and all the work he had done in the early years of the Lodge.
His passing was reported to the Lodge on 26th March 2008.
W Bro William Berry
Bill was the first IPM of the Lodge and a Past Master of White Hills Lodge No. 5209.
He lived in Ribchester and owned the local livestock removal business.
On being appointed, he said he was “past it” on day one!
He had a very dry sense of humour and was a very good attender for many years.
The Brethren stood in silence as a mark of respect to his memory when his passing was reported on 26th March 1986.
W Bro J L Milne
At the time of the Consecration, Jim was the Master of the Mother Lodge Jubilee No. 5555 and lived in Preston.
He did not take office in the Lodge but was in due course appointed PPrAGDC through Jubilee Lodge.
He was the Manager of Preston North End and two years before the Lodge was formed had taken North End to the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Sadly, although they were leading at half time, West Ham finally won 3-2.
He used to spend many hours in the countryside around Longridge and Chipping and was a very sincere Scotsman with a wry sense of humour.
His passing was reported to the Brethren on 28th January 1998.
W Bro W Unsworth
Bill was a Past Master of Leyland St. Andrews Lodge No. 7391 and although he lived in Leyland, he was born and bred in Longridge, his father being the Manager of the District Bank. He was the Manager of a Corn Milling Company in the Leyland area.
He was the first Inner Guard and also the Charity Representative.
His death was reported to the Lodge in November 1971.
Bro A E Simpson
Alf was a member of Broughton Lodge No. 5437 and lived in Longridge.
He was Headmaster of the Woodville Residential School at Hothersall, now called Hillside.
He was the first Junior Warden, but before had been the Founders’ Secretary and had an enormous amount of work to do to get the Lodge started. He undertook a number of visits to Liverpool and Preston which were necessary to sort out all the details of the procedure in forming the Lodge. He even allowed the Founders to hold their meetings at the school.
He was installed as Worshipful Master in 1968 and later became the second Founder to initiate his son, Ian. He became heavily involved in charity work and was the Preston Group Representative to Provincial Grand Lodge for the 1981 RMBI Festival.
He was soon appointed an Acting PrAsstDC and later promoted to PPrJGW. In 1989, he received Grand Honours as PAGDC. Continuing with his charity work he served on the Preston Group Committee for nine years with particular responsibilities for Charities. In April 2006, he was made an honorary member of the Lodge.
At the September meeting in 2006, the then WM, W Bro Barry Lodge PPrGSuptWrks gave a moving eulogy to his memory, Alf after passing away during the summer recess.
Bro C M J Carefoot
A member of Jubilee Lodge No. 5555, Colin was the first Senior Deacon of the Lodge.
He lived in Longridge and was the eldest son of the senior Founder W Bro W Carefoot. He was the Managing Director of the family Construction and Transport companies.
He was installed as Worshipful Master in 1969 and in due time appointed an acting Provincial Grand Steward followed by promotion to PPrSGD and later to PPrGW. In 2000 he received his Grand Honours as PAGDC.
Outside the Lodge, he served on the Temple Management Committee for several years and was Vice-Chairman for a time. He was the secretary of the Preston and District Masonic Golfing Society for eight years becoming Chairman in 2002. He was made an Honorary Member of the Lodge on 19th October 2011. On attaining his 50 years in Freemasonry on 6th September 2012, he was sadly unable to attend the Lodge due to his failing health - but a presentation was made to him at his home by the then Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V W Bro Howard Jones PGSwdB.
His passing was reported to the Brethren on 20th November 2013.
Bro W Sanderson
Billy was a member of White Hills Lodge No. 5209 and lived in Kestor Lane.
He was a retired butcher and an excellent sheep dog trainer.
He did not take active office in the Lodge but attended well and was delighted to be a Founder.
His passing was reported in September 1973.
Bro F Keighley
Fred was also a member of Jubilee Lodge and a retired Insurance Representative.
He lived on Higher Road.
He was a quiet, unassuming bachelor, very generous and sincere.
He was appointed the first Chaplain of the Lodge and was nicknamed ‘Holy Father’ by Bro Harry Pinder!
His passing was reported to the Lodge in October 1975.
Bro J L Towers
Jack lived in Chorley although he had lived on Ashley Lane, Whittingham for many years where he owned and ran his haulage business.
He was a member of King Orry Lodge No. 3306 and was appointed the first Organist, an office he held with distinction for several years before becoming Worshipful Master in 1975.
Bro Towers was well over 70 when he took on the responsibilities of Mastership and sadly died on 21st August 1983 before receiving Provincial Honours.
Bro W H Riding
Harry was a member and Junior Warden of the Lodge of Concord No. 343 at the time of the Consecration. He therefore chose to progress through Concord and became Master of that Lodge in 1968.
He was a well known Dairy Farmer and Managing Director of Singletons Dairy. He lived in Longridge.
In due course, he was appointed to PPrAGDC. He was delighted to initiate his son, Alan, into Longridge Lodge being the third Founder to do this.
In 1988, he decided to present the Lodge with a Banner but sadly he died just before the Dedication Ceremony in 1990, but did see the completed banner. He had been promoted to PPrJGW but died before he could be invested.
His passing was reported on 27th September 1989 when the WM and co-Founder W Bro Trevor Wadsley PPrJGW gave a very moving tribute to him.
It was Bro Harry who made a donation of £5,000 to the Lodge Benevolent Fund.
Bro R Walne
Dick was the Licensee of the Dog Inn and a member of Wyreside Lodge No. 2605. He had previously been in business as an Agricultural Contractor with premises on Derby Road, later occupied by John Potter Motor Spares.
He took the office as Steward at the Consecration and later brought both his son Richard and son-in-law David into the Lodge.
He decided not to advance in the Lodge but attended regularly in the early days. He died in 1981.
Bro J Parker
Another member of Wyreside Lodge, Jim was a local joiner and Funeral Director who lived in Longridge.
He did not take active office but was a regular attender and later introduced his son, Norman, into the Lodge continuing a remarkable trend.
On 28th November 1984, his passing was reported to the Lodge.
Bro A C Critch
Clifford was a member of Halcyon Lodge No. 6500 and lived in Longridge.
He was an engineer with the Electricity Board in Preston.
He took on the office of Steward but did not progress and sadly died within a few years.
He resigned from the Lodge in September 1973 giving ill health as the reason.
Bro H C Wilson
Harry was a member of Whitley Bay Lodge No. 6558 and lived in Ingol.
He was the Manager of the Provincial Building Society in Preston. He was a very proud Yorkshireman.
He was a Lodge Steward for a couple of years and then took on the position of Treasurer, a post he held for many years. His accounts were renowned for their detail and he really was an excellent Treasurer. A man of many talents, he often sang at Installations and Ladies’ evenings, usually accompanied by Bro George Buck of Concord Lodge. He never really wanted to progress but in every other respect he was a most important member.
His passing was reported to the Lodge on 27th April 1983.
Bro J Riding
Jim was a member of the Jubilee Lodge, the brother of Bro Harry Riding and the brother-in-law of W Bro Walter Carefoot. He lived in Longridge and was the Managing Director of W & J Riding Ltd Haulage Contractors.
He never wished to progress but was a very good attender and always gave younger members much help in a quiet and unassuming manner. He was a good Mason in a true sense.
Aside from Masonry, he had been a racing motorcyclist in his youth, riding in the Isle of Man TT among other things and had a split crash helmet as evidence of a very near fatal accident.
He passed away on 7th May 1991 and his passing was reported to the Brethren on 25th September 1991.
Bro F Forrest
Fred was a member of Vanguard Lodge and lived in Ribchester where he was a farmer.
He did not wish to progress in the Lodge but always enjoyed the meetings. He was a most sincere man and an excellent Mason.
The Brethren stood in respect and reverence when his passing was reported to the Lodge in February 1973.
Bro T Blackburn
At the time of the Consecration, Bro Tom Blackburn was progressing through the offices in his Mother Lodge, Peace and Unity No. 314 and decided not to continue his progression in that Lodge. He did undertake the duties of Lodge Steward in Longridge Lodge and from there made quite a startling progression in Masonry!
He lived in Longridge and was the Managing Director of Longridge Foundry Ltd. based on Inglewhite Road and several other companies, including C Seward and Co Ltd heating and ventilation engineers in Preston. He was also a prolific racing rally car driver.
He was very agreeable to becoming a Founder of the new Lodge. He made a considerable input into the Ritual and Procedures in the Lodge. After he had passed through the Chair in his Mother Lodge in 1974, he was appointed as an Acting PrDepGDC. In 1980, he received Grand Honours as PAGDC. In 1981, he was promoted to Provincial Grand DC, an office he held until 1986.
In 1985, he was promoted to the Acting Rank of Junior Grand Deacon in the United Grand Lodge of England and in 1986, he became an Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Province of West Lancashire. He was promoted to Past Senior Grand Deacon in 1988 and in 1997 was installed as Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province. He received promotion to the Acting Rank of Grand Sword Bearer in 1998 and continued as Deputy Provincial Grand Master. At the October meeting in 1986, the Lodge voted to offer him Honorary Membership and this he accepted most willingly.
Bro T Wadsley
Trevor was a member of Loyal Lodge No. 5040 (Manchester) and was Junior Warden of that Lodge when Longridge Lodge was consecrated. He therefore progressed through the Chair of Loyal Lodge.
He lived in Broughton, moving to Garstang shortly after the Consecration and was a Chartered Engineer. He was Director of W Carefoot and Sons Ltd, and had previously been the Engineer and Surveyor of Longridge UDC.
He was the first Treasurer of the Lodge and was responsible for setting up the Accounts System. When he was installed as Master of Loyal Lodge, he handed over the Treasurer’s office to Bro Wilson.
In 1974, he was appointed PPrSGD in the Province of East Lancashire and promoted to PPrJGW in that Province in 1978. In 1989, he was installed as Worshipful Master of Longridge Lodge and also was appointed PPrJGW in West Lancashire, thus holding the rank in both Provinces.
During his Mastership, he became yet another Founder to initiate his son when his son, Stuart, became a member. In January 2023, his Grandson, Mark, was initiated as a member of Longridge Lodge.
Trevor passed away on 9th November 2018, having been one of only two Founding members remaining.
Bro A Swift
A member of the Lodge of Concord No. 343, Arnold lived in Longridge and was the Founder of the Berry Lane business bearing his name.
He was the first Junior Deacon of the Lodge and became Worshipful Master in 1970. W Bro Swift was a popular member and was appointed to the rank of PPrAGDC in due course.
The trend of initiating sons continued when some years later he initiated his son, John.
Sadly, Arnold died quite prematurely, his passing being reported to the Brethren (by whom he will be long remembered) on the 28th September 1983.
Bro A H Pinder
Harry was a member of Jubilee Lodge No. 5555 living in Longridge and was the local auctioneer in Warwick Street at H Holden and Sons.
He was appointed a Steward of the Lodge at the Consecration and went on to progress through the Lodge offices. He was installed as Worshipful Master in 1974. He took it upon himself to assist in the instruction of the junior members and his efforts were much appreciated by many future Masters.
He was in due course appointed to the Provincial rank of PPrAGDC. Although he did not take office in the Lodge after he was IPM, he was always available at short notice to help in any way and was often called upon to do so.
He continued attending regularly until the meeting before his passing was reported to the Brethren in November 1999.
Bro A Swift
A member of the Lodge of Concord No. 343, Arnold lived in Longridge and was the Founder of the Berry Lane business bearing his name.
He was the first Junior Deacon of the Lodge and became Worshipful Master in 1970. W Bro Swift was a popular member and was appointed to the rank of PPrAGDC in due course.
The trend of initiating sons continued when some years later he initiated his son, John.
Sadly, Arnold died quite prematurely, his passing being reported to the Brethren (by whom he will be long remembered) on the 28th September 1983.
Bro A H Pinder
Harry was a member of Jubilee Lodge No. 5555 living in Longridge and was the local auctioneer in Warwick Street at H Holden and Sons.
He was appointed a Steward of the Lodge at the Consecration and went on to progress through the Lodge offices. He was installed as Worshipful Master in 1974. He took it upon himself to assist in the instruction of the junior members and his efforts were much appreciated by many future Masters.
He was in due course appointed to the Provincial rank of PPrAGDC. Although he did not take office in the Lodge after he was IPM, he was always available at short notice to help in any way and was often called upon to do so.
He continued attending regularly until the meeting before his passing was reported to the Brethren in November 1999.
Bro G D Slater
A member of Broughton Lodge No. 5437, Gordon lived in Longridge and was the manager of the local Corn Millers, J Proctor and Sons of Goosnargh Mill.
He was appointed the first Secretary of the Lodge, a post he held for the first twelve years of the Lodge’s existence. He diligently carried out this onerous duty, preferring that to progressing through the Master’s Chair. His efforts were rewarded when, although he was never a Worshipful Brother, he nevertheless received Provincial Honours and was appointed to the rank of PPrGStbB. He was certainly an excellent Secretary as the books of the Lodge will testify.
The Brethren stood with the sign of reverence at the meeting on 27th January 1999 when a tribute to him was paid by W Bro J Gardner PPrSGD, the Lodge having that evening received news of his passing.
Bro J D Martindale
A member of the Lodge of Fidelity No. 1256, Poulton-le-Fylde. Jack lived in Longridge and was a farmer and freelance Agricultural Feed Merchant.
He was the first Assistant Secretary of the Lodge and progressed through the Lodge offices until he was installed as Worshipful Master in 1971. He regularly invited our members to visit Fidelity and many of them got to know their Poulton colleagues quite well.
In due course, he was appointed to Provincial Grand Lodge with the rank of PPrAGSuptWrks. In September 2012, he was visited at his home by W Bro Michael Monks, DC and was presented with a card and a bottle of whisky to mark his 50 years in Masonry.
His passing to the Grand Lodge above on the 27th July 2013 was marked by the Brethren standing to order with the sign of reverence on 18th September 2013.