Fylde Lodge makes it sixth time in the chair for William
 
26th November 2015
 
Being installed into the chair of Fylde Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 296 makes it six times in the chair for its latest master William (Bill) Snell as he has previously been WM five times before in the Craft.
 
The new boy on the block will have to call on his long experience gained elsewhere, for a busy year ahead looms large for Bill and his new team of officers as several candidates are waiting on the sidelines and Fylde Mark is to host the 46th Blackpool and District Mark Festival in April next year.
IPM and Installing master Peter Green (right)
welcomes his successor Bill Snell to the chair of Fylde Mark.
Bill was well and truly installed by his predecessor Peter Green at Blackpool Masonic Hall watched by a glittering array of no less than 12 Grand officers, as well as many Provincial officers, with principal guest Prov. AGDC Stephen Walls overseeing the ceremony on behalf of the PGM.
 
Stephen was keenly aware that Fylde Mark Lodge is the PGM’s mother lodge as Keith Beardmore had sent his apologies and best wishes for a successful evening, as well as regrets that he could not be there, with Stephen.
Bill Snell (left) is congratulated by Stephen Walls on attaining the Chair.
Keith had other Provincial duties on the night which took him and the Provincial team to Ormskirk.
 
The early business of the lodge was quickly dispatched by Peter with little nervous traces of awareness of the occasion soon dispelled thanks to the guiding hands of DC Wally Atcheson and Secretary Richard Clarke.
Bill Snell has an honour guard of Grand officers.
Peter greeted the party of distinguished guests when they arrived and Stephen Walls remarked how delighted he was to be, again, in Blackpool and joked that as he had been to Adelaide Street three times in as many weeks he thought that that he would soon be asked to pay a subscription as a member.
 
The main business of the evening that of installing William Snell as WM for the ensuing year got underway.
Masters on the circuit Bob Boal, Peter Maxwell and Jimmy Rogers look
forward to sharing some good times with their new colleague Bill Snell.
Peter invited Andrew Dickson of Bispham with Norbreck Mark Lodge No 846, Rob Holt of Fylde Mark Lodge and Bob Boal of Wyre Mark Lodge No 754 to act in the respective offices of installing SW, JW and IG.
 
Bill was presented to Peter as installing master and after taking his obligation he was installed with all due ceremony, great sincerity and with consummate good humour by Peter into venerable Fylde Lodge of Mark Master Masons which has held its Warrant since 1882.
 
As the ceremony progressed Bernard Hopkinson, who was advanced only some three months ago, delivered a faultless presentation of the working tools. John Forster, the PGM’s special representative, gave the presentation of and invested Bill with the Keystone and Charity jewels.
 
After the new officers were appointed Giles Berkley gave the address to the new WM, Andrew Dickson that to the wardens and busy John Forster that to the overseers.
New JW Brian Ogden and Bill Snell anticipate a busy year ahead
at Fylde Mark Lodge.
Stephen Walls gave the address to the brethren of Fylde Mark following which he brought the congratulations and good wishes of the PGM to Bill, Peter and the brethren of the lodge expressing the hope that the year ahead would be a successful and enjoyable one. He also praised Peter and his officers on a job well done.
 
Thanking Stephen for his remarks, Bill’s first duty was to present him with two cheques destined for the best of good causes. Stephen announced that both cheques were for the amount of £750; one for West Lancashire Mark Masons’ Charity and the other for West Lancashire Mark Masons’ Benevolent Fund. Stephen expressed gratitude on behalf of the eventual recipients.
 

Walter Porter expressed his delight at the excellence of the ceremony when he responded on behalf of the Grand officers, which remarks were echoed by John Forster who also advised that the incoming SW Bro Rhodes was presently hospitalised but looked forward to taking his rightful place on a future occasion. Lodge colleague Ray Lamb acted in his stead as JW and also temporarily as SW during the installation.
Acting SW Ray Lamb and colleagues enjoy a sumptuous festive board.
Giles Berkley responded on behalf of the Provincial officers and Peter Maxwell WM of Bispham with Norbreck Lodge on behalf of the many visitors both saying how enjoyable the evening had been.
 
At the installation banquet which followed, in response to the toast to the Grand officers, Stephen thanked his distinguished colleagues for accompanying him.
 
He mused that Grand officers were often referred to alliteratively and collectively as a ‘galaxy’ by the Provincial publicity officers. He said teasingly he had occasion to look up the meaning of the word which he found meant ‘dim and distant bodies’. He assured brethren that the present company with him could by no means be described as either dim or distant!
From the look of all those pint glasses JW Bill Ogden’s
table is set for a good evening...
Stephen singled out John Forster for the work he did not only on behalf of Mark Masonry in the Fylde but also for the work that he and the Adelaide Street hall’s committee did in making Blackpool Masonic hall “a wonderful place” for Masons of every degree to meet.
 
He brought his personal congratulations to the new WM and paid tribute to his predecessor Peter Green for keeping up the true traditions of the lodge which showed that he and his supporting team had put in a great deal of work preparing for the ceremony.
William Ainsworth Treasurer had a busy night the raffle alone raised £204!
He went on to congratulate all the officers who had moved up the promotion ladder and what an encouraging sight it was to see so many sky blue uniforms, he had counted 18 in the lodge, which he said was the life blood for the future of Mark Masonry.
Steve Shares a joke with John Forster
He commended Royal Ark Mariners (a slip of the tongue swiftly correcting sister organisation Royal Arch to Ark!) as the next step to consider by newer members due to its close association with the Mark Degree.
and Congratulates the Worshipful Master
He continued that there was no need to remind the members of Fylde Mark to support Mark Masonic charities following the generous donation of £1,500 that had been made.
The engine room of Fylde Mark,
Chaplain Hugh Clarke, Secretary Richard Clarke,
from right, are DC Wally Atcheson, IPM Peter Green and WM Bill Snell.
In conclusion he thanked Fylde Mark for the warm manner in which he and his distinguished colleagues had been received and wished the lodge members and visitors the joy of happy festive season and new year reminding brethren that the Children’s Christmas Party to be held on December 13th was the perfect place to start.
John Powell and Stephen Leach with Walter Porter
Peter Green proposed the toast to the new WM and Bill responded by saying how much he was looking forward to the year ahead indicating that a little help from Peter, who had been a first class master,  would not go amiss.
 
Report Courtesy of Bob Boal
Photos by Bob Boal and Giles Berkley