Col Starkie PGM Lancashire

Bro. Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie was the son of Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie of Huntroyde Hall, Padiham who was himself a former Member of Parliament for Pontefract. Starkie married Anne Chamberlain, daughter of Abraham Chamberlain of Rylstone, Yorkshire. He was educated at Uppingham School and Trinity College, Cambridge being awarded a BA in 1851 and an MA in 1854. He was admitted at Inner Temple on 11 June 1853. He inherited Huntroyde Hall on the death of his father in 1865. In August 1853 Starkie was elected at a by-election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Borough of Clitheroe until 1857 when he didn’t stand again for re-election.

Starkie was a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire. He was Colonel of the 3rd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. In 1868 he was High Sheriff of Lancashire.

He was initiated in St. George’s Lodge of Harmony, No. 35 (now No. 32), Liverpool on 22 September 1858, where he was passed on 23 February, raised on 23 March 1859, served as Master in 1862, was elected an honorary member in 1888 and was a founder of three lodges.

He was active in the Mark, RA (G Superintendent) and KT. Colonel Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie became Provincial Grand Master (PGM) for the Province of East Lancashire in 1870. Right Worshipful Brother Starkie’s outstanding service to the Province was the development of the East Lancashire Masonic Benevolent Institution (ELMBI). He was affectionately known as the ‘Father of the Institution’ and presided over 28 consecutive Annual General Meetings of the Institution.

When Bro Starkie became Provincial Grand Master, the Province contained 79 Lodges. On his death in 1899, there were 113 Lodges and 4,829 members in the Province. Such was W Bro Starkie’s profile as PGM that an area of this Province has been named after him. Also, a craft lodge – The Starkie Lodge No 1634. This Lodge was consecrated on 27th December 1876 at the Station Hotel, Ramsbottom, with the personal permission of the then Provincial Grand Master. After moving to the Civic Hall in Ramsbottom some years later, the Lodge had to move first in 1989 to Haslingden Masonic Hall and subsequently to Ashdale Lea, in Rossendale. At its inaugural meeting, Starkie Lodge also received Colonel Starkie’s personal permission to use his Starkie family crest on the Lodge summons and PM jewels.A practice that is carried on to this day and revered by its members.

He died at Huntroyde at the age of 71.