A SPECIAL tribute has been paid to a Barrhead man who left a generous donation to the town’s Masonic Lodge.

Members of the Union & Crown No. 307 were joined by chiefs from The Grand Lodge of Scotland to honor Duncan Mundell Birse.

The former British Oxygen Company worker passed away in 2015 and donated an incredible £183,000 to his local Lodge, which decided to build a cairn in his memory.

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The cairn was officially unveiled outside the Lodge, in Cochrane Street, on Saturday by William Ramsay McGhee, the Grand Master Mason of Scotland, in a poignant ceremony.

Nearly 100 guests were then treated to a four-course meal and speeches in Duncan’s honour.

For members of the Lodge, Duncan’s memory will forever live on and they believe his generosity will help the organisation thrive for years to come.

Bud Gauld, Grand Director of Ceremonies and owner of Barrhead’s Brig Inn, told the Barrhead News: “It will guarantee a future for the Lodge, which is something Duncan loved.

“It was a tremendous day, despite the wet weather, and everyone had a great time toasting Duncan’s memory.

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“It was important to build the cairn as a mark of respect to Duncan for his incredible donation.

“After moving from Glasgow to Eaglesham, Duncan joined the village’s Lodge. After his wife took unwell, they moved to Barrhead and he joined our Lodge then.

“His niece wanted something to be built in his memory.

“We are all about charity at the Lodge and the Masons as a whole have donated a lot of money to a lot of worthwhile causes.

“One thing close to our heart is raising awareness of prostate cancer, as that is something which affects nearly every family in Scotland.”