Peter on hand at Festival
   
21st March 2014
Provincial Grand Master Peter Connolly led the full Provincial team to Blackpool and District Association’s 44th Annual Festival which this year was hosted by Wyre Mark Lodge No 754 at Fleetwood Masonic Hall. Peter had for company a virtual galaxy of 28 grand officers and, as Deputy Provincial Grand Master Keith Beardmore was later to describe them, “a plethora of Provincial officers” which also included a large contingent of acting officers.
Peter Connolly and his Provincial officers join the Wyre Mark Lodge team
who staged the Blackpool and District Association’s 44th Annual Festival.
Peter and some 90 Mark Master Masons in all were treated to an extremely memorable production staged by the members of Wyre Mark Lodge entitled ‘The Arch and the Penalty’. This featured high drama interspersed with scenes of absolute hilarity courtesy of the antics of lodge MO and ‘handyman’ Joe O’Brian.
The Festival demonstration team from Wyre Mark Lodge,
Back Row are Bob Boal, Walter Porter, Derek Grainger Joe O’Brian and Brian Dicks.
Front Row Terry Naylor, Jimmy Rogers, Jim Barnes, Steve Wilson and Jeff Smith.
The seven Mark Lodges which meet in the Fylde coast take it in turn to host the eagerly anticipated annual festival which began 44 years ago. At first the festival took the form of lectures and then gradually was transformed into more visual productions, as was enacted at Fleetwood.
Special Representative John Forster takes a hand in the proceedings!
Naturally each lodge in turn makes a concerted effort to outdo its rivals with Wyre Mark Lodge proving to be no exception and its latest entry into the festival has laid down a new bench mark for others to follow. Despite this, Bispham with Norbreck Mark Lodge No 866’s Andrew Dickson appeared unfazed by the challenge in his acceptance speech to host the festival in 2015.
Peter with Derek Grainger and Jim Barnes
After the ProvGM and his distinguished colleagues had taken their places in the lodge after being announced by ProvGDC David Emmerson, Peter politely declined the gavel by saying everyone was there to enjoy themselves. After being accorded welcoming salutations Peter introduced his distinguished colleagues singling them out in turn.
Peter Connolly welcomes new Mark Mason Bob Bennett
The WM of Wyre Mark Lodge, Derek Grainger, then led a well skilled team of Mark Master Masons through their building work. Soon a perfectly formed arch described a parabola before the overseers’ workstations, despite interference from ‘apprentice’ Joe O’Brian who busily and continually swept up round the workmen from the quarries as they went about their labours.
Saying it with flowers. Peter receives a floral bouquet for Mrs Connolly
as Keith Beardmore and David Emmerson look on.
Narrator Walter Porter described the scene as it unfolded quoting from passages of scripture as bricks for the arch were laid without mortar - as was the custom of masons in ancient times at the building of the original King Solomon’s Temple. Co-incidentally two brethren from more modern times, Jimmy Rogers and Jeff Smith, who tour the country raising money for Mark good causes with the King Solomon’s Temple team, played intrinsic parts in building the Wyre Lodge arch. IPM Steve Wilson and Lodge Treasurer Terry Naylor also toiled on the project.
Peter Connolly enjoys a chat as he does the rounds at festive board.
Derek Grainger supplied the builders with the essential missing keystone. A stone he said, in classic television style, which he “had prepared earlier”. The arch when finally constructed and stood independently when the former beam was removed was ‘proved’ on the orders of MO for the evening, Jim Barnes, who is also the WM of Cleveleys Mark Lodge No 1176.
Hard hats all round for Ian Nairn, Michael Clarke and Keith Beardmore
Work completed satisfactorily, the workmen were then called to receive their wages at SW Brian Dicks wicket.  If tabloid newspapers existed 3,000 years ago the headline for the dramatic scenes which followed might have read something like ‘Apprentice axed at building of Arch’. For nuisance apprentice Joe O’Brian received his just deserts as an imposter - an ancient penalty about which all Mark Masons know only too well - as JW Bob Boal did his appointed duty. Suffice it to say Joe went about the rest of his duties ‘single handedly’...
 
 
Walter remarked on the ancient penalty that though it might seem barbaric in modern civilised countries it was still a traditional punishment in certain other parts of the world. He said that in some cultures it was even practice for wives to take the punishment on behalf of their husbands. He added that on reflection that was not so different in England as it was not unknown for MP’s wives to take penalty points on behalf of their husbands!
 
 
After the conclusion of the demonstration Peter rose to congratulate the Wyre Mark team on the excellence of the presentation. He also welcomed the newest member of the Mark degree Bob Bennett who had joined the order in Cleveleys Mark Lodge only four days previously.
 
 
Derek presented Peter with a cheque for £250 destined for Mark charitable causes for which Peter thanked the lodge for its generosity. He handed the gift directly to Howard Emmett the Provincial Grand Charity Steward for onward transmission to West Lancashire Mark Master Masons’ Charity.
 
At a very convivial and sumptuous festive board which followed AProvGM Ian Douglas Nairn toasted the health of the ProvGM on behalf of the grand officers also thanked the Blackpool and District Association for a memorable event.  In his response Peter said how enjoyable the evening had been and spoke of his appreciation of the efforts of several members of Wyre Mark Lodge in promoting Mark Masonry on the local scene. He also congratulated brethren who were due to receive promotion especially those who would soon be presented to the Grand Master Prince Michael of Kent. He commended the Fun Day to brethren and their families and he also spoke on the Hope for Tomorrow charity which was receiving support from Mark Masonry.
 
APrGM Keith Beardmore proposed the toast the Blackpool and District Association and said that the enthusiasm on display during the evening was emulated in local lodges and in the wider community. He also praised the work of the King Solomon Temple Building team who had made its presentation on 526 occasions raising funds for good causes which he said must make it a contender for the Guinness book of Records.
 
Derek Grainger as the evening drew to a close presented Peter with a floral bouquet to take home to his good lady. Peter’s Deputy Keith Beardmore and his Assistants Michael Clarke and Ian Douglas Nairn were not overlooked as each of them received a ‘hard hat’ - as did Peter- and bottles of curiously labelled elixir as a memento of the occasion.
 
Article and Photographs Courtesy of Bob Boal