A FREEMASON group has made Tavistock its new home — only the second group to call the town home in over 200 years.

For the last 213 years there has only been the Bedford Masonic Lodge residing in Tavistock, which has a long and illustrious history in the town. However, last week Sanctuary Lodge, which has been in Moretonhampstead since 1932, has now taken up residence in the town as well.

The 40 members and guests enjoyed a recent ceremony where they installed Chris Dykes as their new worshipful master. The ceremony was also attended by Ian Kingsbury, provincial grand master of Devonshire, Chris Yard, assistant provincial grand master and many provincial officers and guests, including a large contingent of members of the Royal Marine Lodge, Plymouth, as the new master had been a fellow member of that force.

Ian Kingsbury said that Sanctuary Lodge being in Tavistock started a new page in the continuing success of freemasonry in Devon, especially in the Tavistock area, and he applauded the initiative taken by both the existing and the new members of the lodge and wished them every success in their new home.