Adoniram Mark grows and prospers! |
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20th November 2013 |
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| The recent meeting of Adoniram Mark was a very special occasion for all concerned, on a number of levels. Firstly, it was a meeting when no fewer than 26 Provincial Officers took their opportunity to join this prestigious Lodge for Provincial Officers, many of whom had only achieved that great honour on May 1st this year in Southport at Provincial Grand Lodge. Luckily there were no black balls! |
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Phillip Watson with Lynne Connolly and Gloria Hickson |
Paul Tarrant, Grand Secretary, with Ian Nairn APGM |
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Paul Tarrant with Paul Snape, Special Representative |
Peter Hegarty, Peter Rollin, Paul Tarrant
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and Giles Berkley |
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| Secondly, it was the Installation meeting of Adoniram, when Ian Nairn, our very own Assistant Provincial Grand Master was to be installed in the Chair by WM Bill Seddon PGJO. Unfortunately the WM was very ill and could not attend either Peter Connolly's 50th celebration in the Craft the night before, or this very important event. We were therefore treated to the very rare opportunity of seeing one AsstProvGM installing another, as IPM Michael Clarke sprang into action at short notice to support his WM and the Lodge. He looked and performed as if he had been given a year to rehearse, such was the warm, friendly and polished nature of the ritual! I stood in to deliver the Address to the Wardens, as Michael was to have delivered it, and Keith Beardmore and Peter Connolly delivered the addresses to the WM and Brethren in fine style. | |
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Peter Connolly, Paul Tarrant, Peter Rollin |
Geoffrey Lee, Wally Atcheson, |
& Keith Beardmore |
Grand Secretary and Steve Clarke |
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Joe O'Brien tries to sell a tie to Paul Tarrant |
Giles Berkley led Paul Tarrant around the guests |
and David Bell... |
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| And fourthly (my maths never was much good!) all this ritual and celebration was witnessed by two special principal guests from Head Office.....86 St James; Peter Rollin, the President of the Board of General Purposes, and the Grand Secretary, Paul Tarrant. I can only imagine how Rod Bennison our secretary, and everyone who assisted him in organising the meeting, must have felt when they found out the WM was too ill to attend, at short notice....... | |
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John Waring there to help as ever! |
Dave Emmerson sorts out our distinguished guest |
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| Melvyn Cross, Grand Master of Thomas of Acon, | Mike Beesley, our Provincial Webmaster,
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with Paul Tarrant |
with Paul Tarrant |
| Peter Rollin gave us a fascinating account of the workings of 86 St James, and addressed some recent issues in a very open and honest manner. His presentation was met with great acclaim. The Installation ceremony was successfully concluded, and 136 of us proceeded to dine, a magnificent number which really filled the wonderful dining room at Leyland. | |
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Tom Jackson and Ernie Gavan, Provincial Tyler |
Fundraising again! Tegwen Drinkwater, Gloria Hickson |
and Lynne Connolly |
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Rod Bennison, Secretary of Adoniram Mark |
Our PGM takes wine with the President of the Board |
| The usual wine-takings and toast list were punctuated by a very amusing and informative response from Paul Tarrant, our Grand Secretary. He did in fact gently accuse our Province of getting rid of old stock with his tie, which was a (now out of date) gift from his last visit in May. Luckily Peter Connolly had already arranged for Peter Rollin and Paul Tarrant to be presented with the new issue, just after Paul's speech, to loud applause! I would like to think our distinguished guests from Head Office were duly impressed with what they saw on their visit to Adoniram, and West Lancs...... |
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Top table smiles |
New WM Ian Nairn, IPM Michael Clarke, |
ProvGSec Geoffrey Lee |
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Brian Davy Special Rep with Les Preston Prov.GMO |
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| Words and pictures by Giles Berkley, ProvGSW | |
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