An organisation which has provided funding to charities across the county has announced a new head.

Stephen A. James has been installed as the provincial grand master and grand superintendent of Dorset Freemasons.

An official ceremony was conducted by David Medlock and held at the Hamworthy Club in Bournemouth.

A team of grand officers also attended from the United Grand Lodge of England - the governing masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in England.

Dorset Freemasons has held fundraising events to support charities across the county. This includes raising £1,372 for the Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust in Dorchester and funding the modern Flo-Jack air assisted lifting device for the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity which helps clinicians safely lift patients.

READ MORE: Dorset Freemasons provide funding for life-saving equipment

Adrian Marsh, the grand secretary and grand scribe E read both patents from the grand master allowing proceedings to continue.

The ceremony also saw Terry Green entrusted with the role of provincial grand secretary with the Charles Hopkinson-Woolley, a former provincial grand master for Dorset, overseeing the event as the grand director of ceremonies. 

It was followed by a lunch enjoyed by over 250 freemasons.