Liverpool Mark Festival - a great success!
   
Thursday 27th February saw the Liverpool Mark Festival hosted by Corinthian Mark Lodge at Hope Street, Liverpool.  As ever, the PGM and his team were in attendance in great numbers. We also had a whole host of Grand and Acting Grand officers, from all over the Province. David Littler the GJO travelled from Cheshire, joining John Mawdesley and Geoff Catterall who are Grand Stewards, Graham Bailey who is the Grand Standard bearer, with our very own chain-bearing Chaplain, Graham Halsall, completing the Acting Grand Officers.
5 Acting Grand Officers in attendance
The Semper Fidelis Mark display team
 
with Peter Connolly
David Kenworthy, the PGM & Philip Hayman
The Provincial Team was there in force
The main event of the evening was of course the presentation by Semper Fidelis Mark Lodge, of the second degree tracing board. As this was suitable for non-Mark Masons, 14 craft Masons were admitted to watch, and see how we enjoy ourselves.
Tony Farrar (Prov.GJW next year) narrated the sections explaining the board, ably assisted by Philip Hayman and David Kenworthy, who had both committed very large sections of the work to memory, and performed superbly. The tracing board was superbly built and explained, with running water in evidence to mark the occasion. Mike Casey was the architect of this presentation, and he took the Chair of Corinthian Mark Lodge during the presentation, which was received to great applause from the gathered brethren, numbering over 90.
Secretary of host Lodge Corinthian -
DCs on parade - Jim Weaver,
Andy Whittle, does his duty
Dave Emmerson & Barry Fisher
Barry & Jim help Doug Little to move his piano
 Corinthian WM Colin Hyde presents cheque to
 
Semper Fidelis organiser Mike Casey
The festive board was wonderful - relaxed Mark Masons, mixing with their potential prey - the craft Masons, who received their very own wine-taking (perhaps so we could see who they were.....).
   
Temperance WM Justin Lewis collects the first raffle prize,
followed by Prov.GJW Peter Hegarty and Special Rep. Mike Winterbottom
Michael Clarke proposed the toast to Peter Connolly
Peter Connolly responded with vigour!
Peter Hegarty organised a Westhoughton raffle and raised the magnificent sum of £419, and then won the 2nd prize himself! Well deserved.....as he also had to respond to toast 5, to the Provincial officers.
Peter Hegarty responded to the toast to
Lynne will be pleased!
Provincial Officers
  
David Anderton humorously thanked Mike Casey responded for the visitors,
the visitors for attending
especially the Semper Fidelis Team
Michael Clarke proposed the toast to Peter Connolly, who replied with his usual mix of humour and information - he advised that 350 people saw the recent de-fib familiarisation sessions, many of whom were not (yet) Mark Masons. He reminded the brethren of just how easy the machines are to use, and the benefits of early CPR and de-fib treatment - 40,000 lives a year are lost to cardiac arrest. He hinted that there will be other courses to follow - an absolute must for those who have not yet had the chance to attend. The Family Fun Day on 5th July, and the provincial website, were also mentioned.
Ernie Gavan - our Provincial Tyler
David Anderton proposed a really entertaining toast to the visitors, and Mike Casey replied on behalf of the Semper Fidelis team, rounding off a really great evening for Corinthian Mark Lodge, who kindly hosted this superb Mark Festival.
Words and pictures by Giles Berkley Prov.GSW