Bispham-with-Norbreck Mark Lodge brings another brother into Mark |
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8th November 2013 |
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| November the 8th was another special occasion for our Mark Lodge, as we introduced another candidate into the friendly degree. The stage was set the week before with a really thorough practise. Barry Holland took the Chair of Adoniram as we rehearsed the ceremony. As Barry served previously as DC for many years, we were confident of a good performance on the night, and so it proved. All the officers performed extremely well, including Acting Officer Peter Robinson who stood in as MO on the day, and delighted the assembled brethren with his own special blend of humour and style, most of which we actually understood ! Well done Peter. Peter Neville also did a great job as Inner Guard. | |
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Joe Wheatley, Leon Gaskell and John Powell |
Jack Blackburn, Barry Bromhead, Ron Weatherill |
and Terry Hudson |
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| The main emphasis of any ceremony is on the candidate, and Julian Burton was made to feel really welcome from start to finish. He was proposed by Steve Smith, who apart from being our Junior Overseer, also holds many other offices in Masonry, not least of which is as joint Group Mentor for Blackpool in the Craft, with Jack Monks our JW, who is also Vice Chairman of the Hall. | |
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| Barry Holland performed the ceremony with the | Senior Wardens of the Province, Present and Past |
help of DC Rod Holt |
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| Steve was clearly quite emotional, and visibly touched, when he had to buy Julian a drink, but recovered his wits sufficiently to propose a humorous and light-hearted toast to his good friend, who replied in fine style. | |
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James Rashid with Acting Officer Peter Robinson |
Tony Hanson, first meeting as a MMM with |
Martin Haines and Barry Shaw |
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Our WM, Michael Shakeshaft wished us all a Happy Christmas at the end of his speech, as the Masonic season speeds towards the festive time, on to January, and then installing his successor in February. How time flies... |
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| Jack Monks, Peter Neville (Stand in IG) | Adolphus Taylor, John Chapman (SD), |
and Howard Nordwind |
Ernie Gavan andGordon Maxwell |
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New Mark Man Julian Burton and his proposer Steve Smith |
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| Story and pictures by Giles Berkley, ADC of Bispham-with-Norbreck | |
