A Great Day Out |
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Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, Tuesday 10th June 2014 |
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| Tuesday 10th June was the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons Annual Investiture, at our Craft HQ: Great Queen Street, where over 2,000 Mark Men assembled for the meeting and subsequent banquet in the Connaught rooms. These included 70 from West Lancashire. Grand Masters and other distinguished brethren from overseas comprised the first procession. They were followed by the past Pro. Grand Master, MW Bro. John Hale and Past Deputy GM. Then Provincial and District Grand Masters. |
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| Mike Winterbottom , Bob Povall (V/C L/pool Craft) | Our Provincial Grand Master, Peter Connolly |
| on left and Tom Marlow and Juan Perez |
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| Finally the acting Grand Lodge Officers preceded MW Bro., HRH, Prince Michael of Kent who entered to great applause. W. Bro. Graham Bailey, (Chorlton Mark) was very obvious immediately behind the Grand Master as Grand Standard Bearer. | |
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VW Bro. Tony Harrison |
John Ryan, P.A.G.D.C. |
| Grand Lodge was opened in ample form and domestic items of business approved. Then the Grand DC formed an escort (including our RW PGM Peter Connolly) who retired and accompanied RW Bro Richard Wallis, who was obligated, invested and Installed as our new Pro. Grand Master. In similar fashion the Deputy Grand Master, RW Keith Emmerson and Assistant Grand Master, RW Bro. Ray Smith were Installed. | |
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Ken Boon with Peter Taaffe |
Mike Beesley |
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Steve Walls |
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| The MW Grand Master, HRH, then invested those appointed and promoted to Grand Rank. These included 16 brethren from West Lancshire as follows:- | |
| ACTING John Forster (Fylde) GJD Steve Walls (Corinthian) AGDC Ken Boon (Furness) G. Stwd Mike Beesley (Aeon) G. Stwd PROMOTIONS To PGJO (VW) Eric Drinkwater, David Fairclough, Brian Molyneux and Terry West . To PGSD Ian Hamilton Taylor. To PGJD Frank Cooke, William Cropper, and Derek Horrocks. FIRST APPOINTMENTS. To PAGDC John Ryan, John Stanley. To PGStdB Keith Lewis, Peter Taaffe. |
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Geoff Catterall, opposite, "a working Steward on the day, controlling the Temple front side door. Because of his position suddenly found himself responsible for handing over the Pro, Dep and Ass GM's chains of office, in the middle of the ceremony." |
| All were congratulated by Peter Connolly, Keith Beardmore and Michael Clarke AND all their colleagues over drinks or at dinner, 68 West Lancashire members dined in the Balmoral room, four of our Stewards we could see in the adjacent hall. | |
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Graham Bailey, Mike Beesley, |
David Fairclough, Terry West & Ken Alker |
Ken Boon and Tom Marlow |
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| The PGM and recipients are most grateful for the wonderful support of their West Lanc's colleagues who included VW Bro Tony Harrison, (P. Dep PGM) our CRAFT PGM designate, W. Bro. Phil Gunning APrGM Craft, group officers from Craft our own Special Reps and many others: which made it quite a party. | |
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Eric Drinkwater and Rod Bennison |
Graham Halsall and John Forster |
The meeting ended in time for brethren to catch their trains. Some stayed over and went to the Craft Quarterly Communication on the following day. |
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Menu |
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Avacado, Plum Vine Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella, Served with a Balsamic Dressing |
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Guinea Fowl Supreme with truffle Mouse, Broccoli, Butternut Mash, Spinach & Mushroom Fricassee |
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Fresh Fruit Tart with Mango Coulis |
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Cheese and Biscuits |
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Coffee and Mints |
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Below are some general photographs of the meal, reception and also at the 'Pillars' |
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And the last word is with 'The Boss' |
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Your Very Good Health Brethren, Peter
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| We are grateful to: | |
Keith Beardmore, Tony Shaw and Peter Connolly for the Photographs, and Peter for the words. |
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