Philadelphia’s Master takes the chair of his RAM Lodge.
 
15th October 2013
 
W. Bro. Anthony Edward Farrar (but always known as Tony) was this week Installed as Worshipful Commander of the Edmund Taylor Royal Ark Mariner Lodge No 296. The Lodge meets in the newly refurbished bottom Lodge room at Adelaide Street Blackpool, where the new comfortable room, complete with air conditioning, made a fitting back drop to the splendid ceremony by  W. Bro. John Morris, who  Installed his successor  in his own unique manner, full of confidence and sincerity.
John Morris with the Deputy PGM Keith Beardmore
The refurbishment of this room has been has been helped in no small part by a generous donation from the local Mark and RAM Masons who meet there, in memory of V. W. Bro. Kevan Beardmore RAMGR.
 
W. Bro. David Bell Prov.RAMGR gave a faultless address to the Worshipful Commander and the Representing Officer W. Bro. David H Kirkham RAMGR. gave the greetings of the Right Worshipful  Provincial Grand Master, commenting on the quality of the ceremony and wishing the new commander health and happiness for the coming year.
John Morris, Tony Farrar and the Deputy PGM Keith Beardmore
At the very convivial Festive Board W. Bro. Kirkham gave the Brethren information on the W. Bro. Edmund Taylor, who the Lodge was named after, it seems he was a very prominent mason in Blackpool, being on a small committee tasked with assessing the viability of a building a new Masonic Hall in Blackpool at the turn of the last century, which of course was done.
New and Old Commanders Tony Farrar and john Morris
The I.PM. gave a the Brethren some details of the new Commander, Tony works as the head of IT for one the country’s largest confectionary firms, and is a bit of a “wizz kid” with computers.
Tony is a very committed family man, with wife Amanda, 3 children and a new granddaughter, and although being born and breed in Blackpool, he is a lifelong Newcastle United supporter, travelling hundreds of miles each season to watch them. (It’s no wonder he doesn’t smile much).
 
Since being installed as Master of Philadelphia Lodge of MMM in January, Tony has travelled to Mark Lodges throughout West Lancashire representing his Lodge.
 
His year in the chair of Edmund Taylor RAM will be a very busy one as the next meeting (one for your diaries) is the Lodges centenary on the 17th of December, with the Provincial Team visiting to see a new banner and regalia blessed. The following two meetings will be Elevations as the new candidates have already been proposed.
After finishing with the now traditional cheese and port the members of Edmund Taylor RAM made their way home knowing their Lodge was in very safe hands for the coming year.
 

Report by John Forster Sp. Rep.
Photos by Giles Berkley.