Westhoughton Mark Lodge Installation
 
12th December 2013
 
The Provincial Grand Master and his team of acting officers descended on Westhoughton Mark for their installation ceremony in big numbers. In addition to the Senior Warden of the Province Giles Berkley, accompanied by his colleague the Junior Warden, Peter Hegarty, who is a member of the Lodge, no less than 25 other acting officers attended for the occasion. There was also 18 Grand Officers present at the meeting and at least the same number of Mark Master Masons including several visitors.
The PGM with his team, Grand Officers and the Master and IPM
Peter was accompanied by Deputy Provincial Grand Master Keith Beardmore and Assistant Provincial Grand Master Ian Nairn to witness the Worshipful Master, Russell Green install his successor Derek Easton in a very able, pleasant and enjoyable way. For the ceremony the two Provincial Wardens took their places in the wardens chairs and Ken Hickson acted as Inner Guard.
PGM with the Installing Master, Worshipful Master and his Ken Alker his Special Representative
The evening was one of pleasant enjoyment both in the lodge-room and downstairs at the festive board with lots of good humour banter throughout the evening, which is very typical of a Mark Lodge meeting.
The PGM and his team of Acting and Grand officers
Peter said that the newly installed Master had been an employee of British Aerospace specialising in destructive testing of aircraft parts and also of medical equipment. He described how Derek had been called to an RAF base in northern Scotland in freezing weather to run checks on Tornado fighters and although the RAF weren’t too happy with what he decided to do. Derek’s decision proved to be correct and the Tornado’s are still flying to this day. This is the second time in the Chair of the Lodge for Derek he having served as Master in 2007-08 and he has also served the lodge as Treasurer.
 
Nearly 80 brethren sat down for an excellent meal at the festive board.
Peter Connolly thanks publicity Officer Fred Lomax

Article and photographs courtesy of Fred Lomax