On Friday, 23 May 2025, Denton Lodge No. 5234 held a meeting that will be fondly remembered by all who attended. The Lodge Room was already filled with a large gathering of brethren when they received the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Wesley Marchant PSGD, accompanied by a deputation from the Area Team and several Grand Officers. The evening’s main purpose was to celebrate an extraordinary milestone—WBro Peter Adamson’s 50 years in Freemasonry. In honour of the occasion, many more guests had assembled outside of the meeting, including a significant number of non-Masonic friends and close family members. After taking the gavel, WBro Marchant paused the proceedings to invite these guests into the lodge room and formally welcome them, creating an inclusive and joyful atmosphere. The APGM then invited WBro Harvey Taylor PProvGReg to share highlights from Peter’s remarkable life.
WBro Taylor spoke warmly and engagingly, beginning with Peter’s early years. Born on 6 June 1951 in Edinburgh, Peter grew up with his sister Jessie and attended Denbeath Primary and Braehead Secondary. He began his working life at the Tullis Russell Paper Mill in Glenrothes, renowned for producing the high-quality paper used in UK banknotes. But Peter’s heart belonged to football. A passionate Rangers fan, he left the mill to become a painter and decorator with the Co-Op, allowing him more time to play for East Fife. A talented inside forward, he even featured in the legendary “East Fife 5, Forfar 4” match. His skill earned him a transfer to Heart of Midlothian, but a persistent knee injury sadly brought his playing career to an early end.
When called up for National Service, Peter joined the Royal Air Force as a gunner and served for three years. Upon returning to civilian life, he met Alison, the love of his life. Married for 52 years, they raised three children: Nichola, Liz, and Andy, who now delight in their five grandchildren. Peter’s competitive spirit soon found a new outlet: darts. He became a keen and skilled player, forging a friendship with the famous (and famously tipsy) Jocky Wilson, who even asked Peter to be his manager. Peter declined – Jocky’s drinking habits made it a non-starter! Playing for Fife County, Peter’s commitment to darts led to late nights out, prompting Alison to suggest they “might as well get a pub.” So they did; first in Arbroath, then Alloa, before eventually moving south of the border to run a string of pubs across Greater Manchester, including the New Market in Dukinfield and The White Hart in Mottram, where they finally retired.
Peter wasn’t finished with darts, though. He won the Gorton Individuals League Title—and at age 65, took it again with a stunning 11-dart finish, setting a personal best and becoming the oldest ever to win it. Alongside his dear friend, the late Dave Goodyear, Peter also claimed many doubles titles. In 2018, Peter and Alison came out of retirement once more—this time for Freemasonry—taking on the roles of Chairman and Licence Holder at Mossley Masonic Hall. No dartboard installed just yet… but who knows?Adding a personal and playful touch to the evening, WBro Marchant left the chair to sit with Peter among the brethren. Like a conjurer, he produced a magnetic dartboard and invited Peter’s granddaughter, Poppy, to throw a dart. The number she hit was used to select a year from Peter’s 50 in Freemasonry, sparking a light-hearted question about events from that time.
The APGM then invited all guests to join the Lodge for a celebratory dinner, before calling the Lodge back to complete the formal business of the evening.
It was an occasion marked by warmth, laughter, reverence, and above all, deep appreciation for a truly dedicated Brother. Freemasonry in East Lancashire is all the richer for WBro Peter Adamson’s presence.
