Santa arrives in Poulton 5/12/14
   
On a cold clear Friday night I entered the old market Town of Poulton-Le-Fylde only to be held in queue of traffic, what was happening up ahead I wondered, was an accident? was a breakdown? was it that the traffic lights had failed? No it was Father Christmas on his sledge complete with his elves, brass band, scouts, brownies and a police escort, all to switch on the Xmas lights in Poulton Town Square.
W. Master of Imperial Mark Bro. Clive Gitsham with Ian.
As the Square was filled with a fun fair and all manner of tempting things to eat I was sorely tempted to change my plans for the evening and join in the fun and games, but feeling a little over dressed for the carousels etc. I entered Poulton Masonic Hall.
The Bling Brothers, W.Bros Ian Narin Ass Prov.GM. John Forster GJD Sp. Rep.
The Master Ken Boon GStwd. Stevn Walls GADC. 
I soon realized I had chosen correctly, inside I joined the 50 plus Mark Masons who had gathered to witness the Installation of Brother Clive Gitsham into the chair of Imperial Lodge of MMM No 1276 and we were entertained to a Festival of Mark Masonic ritual and the feast after the meeting was far better than any toffee apple or candy floss!
Master with the Provincial Wardens
W. Bro. Ken Boon, Grand Steward, Prov DepGDC. announced that W. Bro. Ian Douglas Nairn, Ass. Prov. Grand Master demanded admission; Ian entered the Lodge accompanied by 13 other Grand Officers and many Acting Provincial Officers. After he was offered the gavel of Imperial Mark Lodge we all settled down to witness what can only be described as a faultless ceremony of Installation by W. Bro. Tony Alderton PProvGJO. who preformed the ritual with great skill and in a dignified and sincere manner which left Bro. Clive Gitsham, the new Master and all present in no doubt they had been present at a very special ceremony.
Master with some of the Grand Officers
Bro. Clive had been presented by the Lodge’s senior member V.W. Bro. Colin Moxey PGJO. who also gave a stunning address to the Master.
 
W.Bro. Tom Sloan PProvGJW left his Tylers post to give an exemplary explanation of the Keystone Jewel.
Master with IPM W. Bro. Tony Alderton PProvGJO.
The Provincial Wardens, W. Bro’s. Arthur Robinson Prov SW and Tony Farrar Prov JW gave super addresses to the Lodge Wardens and Overseers respectively.
 
To finish off a 1st class ceremony W. Bro. Nairn delivered the address to the Brethren with great feeling and clarity.
 
The ceremony and addresses had all been given without a prompt or hesitation from start to finish leaving the Lodge Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. Roland Alderton Prov GStwd nothing to do but sit back and listen in awe, like all present, at the excellence of the ceremony we had just seen.
Master with W.Bro. Peter Weller PProvGSwdBr Lodge Sec.
W. Bro Ian gave the greetings of the PGM and in thanking all who had taken part, stating that the ceremony had been like play that we had all been involved in. Cheques for the Air Ambulance and Poulton Masonic Hall were received and a new candidate proposed.
At the Festive Board the remarkable atmosphere continued with some great food, and not a piece of Turkey or Xmas pudding to be seen anywhere.
Master with his new colleages from the left Tony Blundell Cleveleys.
Brian Dicks Wyre. Peter Green Fylde. Bob McGown Unity. Bryan Snaith Prince Setanta.
Ian in his response to the toast to the Grand Officers thanked so many Grand Officers for attending and commented on the large number of Masters of other Mark Lodges (6 out of the 7 on the Fylde Coast), he then reminded everyone of the children’s party on the 14th and to not only to view the web site but to send items of interest to the Web Master. Ian finish by thanking the Lodge Secretary W. Bro. Peter Weller PProvGSwdBr. for all his work and W.Bro Ken Boon for looking after him.
 
The Provincial Junior Warden W. Bro Tony Farrar replied to the toast the Provincial Officers, reminding us of the Dinner to honour our Provincial Grand Master, on the 6th March, and relating the fact he had earlier this year installed the new Master into the 1st Principals Chair of his Chapter.
 
In the toast to the new Masters health we learnt that Clive is a bus driver and that he had, in Scotland, been initiated in 1968 some 46 years previously, which just goes to show like buses, you wait for ages for one chair then two come along at the same time!
 
The evening ended with Ian accepting a lovely bouquet of flowers to be passed on to his wife on reaching home.
 
On leaving the Masonic Hall I noticed Santa and his retinue were gone, the fun fair had been packed up and left, but I didn't miss them at all, I had wonderful memories of a splendid evening of Mark Masonry at Imperial Mark Lodge which will last to next Christmas and beyond.
 
Photos by W. Bro Tony Farrar, report by John Forster.