Sesquicentenary for West Lancashire Mark Lodge No.65

Wednesday the 5th of March saw a spectacular celebration for our oldest Mark Lodge in West Lancashire, to celebrate 150 years of continuous meetings. The Lodge was formed on the 9th of January 1864, and the occasion was marked by the presence of some very special guests - the Pro Grand Master Benjamin Addy, the Deputy Grand Secretary Angus Hannagan, and the Grand DC Kessick Jones graced us with their presence. Our PGM Peter Connolly was also there in three capacities - as our leader in the Province, as a member of the Lodge, and as Senior Deacon of West Lancashire Mark Lodge No.65!

Michael Clarke, Keith Beardmore & ProGM Benjamin Addy, Dep.GSec Angus Hannagan
Ian Nairn celebrate the day
with our Deputy PGM and Assistants
The evening started with a really nice reception for the visitors from Head Office, where they were introduced to the Master, Richard Wilson. The Lodge was opened, and balloted for a new member - a great start to any meeting. Then the main business started, and the PGM, Deputy PGM Keith Beardmore, both Assistant PGMs Michael Clarke and Ian Nairn, along with a very large Provincial Team, processed into the Lodge.
ProvGSW, ProGM Benjamin Addy, Benjamin Addy, Richard Wilson &
WM Richard Wilson & ProvGJW
Special Rep Mike Winterbottom
Peter Connolly introduced the team briefly, and then we received into the Lodge a very select deputation. Stuart Cowburn was given the very great honour of acting as the Sword Bearer for Benjamin Addy, along with Graham Bailey, who is the Grand Standard Bearer, accompanied by Angus Hannagan, Deputy Grand Secretary and Kessick Jones, the Grand DC. When Prince Michael of Kent is not present, Benjamin Addy directly represents his authority, so it doesn't get any better than that for West Lancashire! To have the second in command for the whole Mark Degree was indeed a great honour, appreciated by us all.
Tom Jackson PGJW, Angus Hannagan DepGSec,
A Grand West Lancashire occasion
and Grand DC Kessick Jones
  
Angus Hannagan was tasked by Benjamin Addy to read the various warrants relating to the meeting.  The assembled brethren were shocked to hear that Angus had found a copy of the original warrant of the Lodge in the records of Mark Grand Lodge - the Lodge copy was destroyed by fire. He also read out the replacement warrant, and the Sesquicentenary warrant. Richard Wilson then went on to give us a wonderful flavour of the Lodge over the last 150 years.
Stuart Cowburn acted as Sword Bearer, and
Colin Mills got a Grand surprise!
Graham Bailey as Standard Bearer for the
 
Pro.Grand Master
  
The next order of business was to present celebratory jewels to the Lodge members, which Benjamin Addy performed in the East, with Peter Connolly presenting commemorative Mark coins to every Lodge member from the Chair of the SW.
The festive board was a great success and celebration
The WM Richard Wilson, in exalted company
This was a huge occasion for all those who took part, and they must really have felt quite nervous, but despite all that pressure, I thought the Pro Grand Master did quite well! He then excelled himself by unexpectedly calling for W Bro Colin Mills to be brought before him...... The assembled brethren were stunned when Colin, who works really hard in our Provincial office, was promoted to Grand Rank - that of Past Grand Standard Bearer. Understandably, Colin was quite unable to speak as he accepted the prolonged and rapturous applause from the Lodge. This was indeed a very rare honour, to get a promotion in the Province from the Pro Grand Master, and one that Colin will never forget.
We did of course make sure the Lodge
along with Michael Winterbottom,
'SD' got a raffle prize
his Special Representative
At the festive board, all the members received one of these coins, a lovely gesture for the visitors.  Peter Connolly welcomed and proposed the toast to the health of our Pro Grand Master, in which he pointed out that Bro Addy is toasted some 7500 times a year in all the Mark and RAM Lodges annually, and that he must therefore be very healthy!
ProGM Benjamin Addy with Arthur, a brand new Mark man
All present received a commemorative mark penny
In his response Benjamin Addy told us that when he was appointed as Assistant Grand Master, he thought he was being fired.....and had just a few minutes to think over his acceptance. He spoke of the 6 Monarchs who had reigned whilst the Lodge had been in existence, and spoke of the contrasts of wars, and periods of light and laughter which the 150 years have seen. He also thanked the Lodge, the Province, and his colleagues from London. In response Richard Wilson thanked everyone for attending, and thanked Angus Hannagan, on behalf of the Lodge, for the copies of the very special warrants from Mark Grand Lodge.
The Prov Grand Master or is it the Senior Warden or maybe the Senior Deacon gives out the wages!
The Lodge raised another £525 for charity on the evening, having made a very sizeable donation to the Pro Grand Master during the meeting. 
   
We all left feeling exhilarated at having taken part in a very special evening, with some very special Mark men in attendance - the members of a Lodge who have kept it going for 150 years.  Oh yes, and the ProGM and PGM as well!
 
Words and pictures by Giles Berkley Prov.GSW Additional Photographs by Derek Gaskell