Mark Provincial Grand Lodge 7th May 2014
   
The Provincial Grand Master will step down next year
 
The Mark Province of West Lancashire again assembled at Southport for the annual Provincial meeting.  These occasions are always joyous events, with the old Team stepping down to make way for a new set of acting officers, and brethren from all over West Lancs attending to be appointed or promoted to a new Provincial rank. The day started very early for members of the secretariat, making sure everything was in place, and then the Provincial DC orchestrated the many and varied practises necessary to put on a show that we can all be proud of.  Distinguished guests from all over the country were welcomed into the Southport Convention Centre, including heads of other orders, and PGMs and officers from other Provinces.
Describes the meeting well!
Acting Officers at rest, but not for long!
The 'old' Provincial SW, Giles
Replaced by Arthur Robinson
Peter Connolly asked the President designate of the MBF to address us, and John Prizeman spoke of Hope for Tomorrow, a charity which is trying to provide mobile chemotherapy units for rural areas. Wiltshire has recently raised £30k, to which was added £70k from the MBF, towards another unit. His own Province has also raised £85k, matched by £70k from the MBF for this wonderful charity. Seven vehicles are already in service, with over £265k from the MBF in support. In 2018 the MBF festival will be in Lincolnshire, with 10 units being the aim.
Chris Wild Prov.GSD had a great year
Our amazing webmaster Mike Beesley,
Grand Steward designate !
Les Preston keeps warm, with Chris Wild & John Waring
Stuart Brackstone, John Waring & Geoff Catterall. Help!
Geoffrey Lee then stood to give his report, in which he thanked the members of his secretariat for their hard work, and then informed us that he was to step down at the next Provincial Grand Lodge. When he sat down, the Hall erupted into spontaneous and prolonged applause, in recognition of the years of service Geoff has given to Mark Masonry in West Lancashire.
Provincial DC Dave Emmerson,
Peter & Giles had a wonderful year as Wardens
with Craft PrGDC Keith Kemp
Rod Bennison drills the Team
New Wardens Arthur Robinson and Tony Farrar
 
get an escort
Peter Connolly thanked the Mark brethren for attending - over 500 were present. He also took time to thank his 9 Special Representatives, 2 of whom are retiring, Brain Davey and Chris McNab, for their hard work. Stuart Brackstone and Graham Bailey are replacing Brian and Chris. He went on to thank all the members and officers of all the Mark and RAM Lodges, and stated that we now have 2036 members in the Province, a good increase on the year before. He naturally thanked Geoffrey Lee for his long service, along with all the secretariat. He also thanked the Provincial DC Dave Emmerson, assisted by Ken Boon, with help from Terry Maybury, Keith Kemp, Peter Elmore & Bill Seddon.
The West Lancashire Executive - what a Team!
Swordbearer David Kemp tries to buy a drink
Keith Beardmore & Michael Clarke
PGM and Deputy share a well earned drink
Our Provincial Grand Master then thanked the outgoing Wardens, and the whole Provincial Team, who have always supported him superbly at the Team visits, with 28 to 30 attending regularly.  Peter then announced the retirement of Doug Little, the Provincial organist, and thanked him for his service. He will be replaced by Shaun Haynes. He promoted the Fun Day on July 5th, organised by the Reverend Graham Halsall. Over 300 attended last year, and 92 children attended the Christmas party at Leyland.
Our top two men, with their distinguished guests.
What a superb meeting, and a great venue......
The PGM shares a smile with father and son,
Geoffrey Lee always a happy character
Colin and Brian Sharples
He also thanked Mike Beesley for his supreme efforts on the website. He then congratulated all the newly appointed and promoted brethren, and urged us all to support Mark Grand Lodge in June, where an extra 500 people will be present for the investiture of the new Pro, Deputy and Assistant Grand Masters. He presented a cheque for £2000 to John Prizeman for the MBF. The new officers were appointed, promoted and invested.
Geoffrey Lee stepping down after this year
Doug Little steps down as our organist
Peter Connolly then shocked us all by announcing that he would step down after this next year, and that this would therefore be his last Provincial meeting as Provincial Grand Master, after serving over 20 years on the Mark executive for West Lancashire.
 
He urged us all to get new members for our Lodges, and said that he looks forward to being with us all over the next year.  The whole hall rose to give our PGM the standing ovation that he deserves. This is not really the place for tributes - they will come later at the end of his last year, but suffice it to say that everyone spoke of Peter Connolly in the very highest terms at the festive board and around the bar.  Sir, you have Marked Well! 
 

Words and pictures by Giles Berkley Past Prov.GSW