Peter and Lynne Connolly celebrate with the Province |
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| Friday the 6th of March was a special celebration for our Mark Province, and for Peter & Lynne Connolly. Over 200 Mark men attended Peter's retirement celebration at Leyland. The atmosphere was electric as the happy couple arrived to a standing ovation in the large dining room, filled to capacity. The meal passed with a real air of anticipation, as we all waited to see what would be said of this wonderful leader, who has served 21 years at the top of the Mark Province, and the last 8 with the top job, with Lynne by his side. Geoff Lee organised this massive event superbly, and made sure everyone was taken care of in an admirable manner. | |
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Peter & Lynne Connolly |
David Gallear, Tony Harrison & Tom Jackson |
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Peter with Michael Walker |
Tony Harrison and Prov.GM Designate Keith Beardmore |
| Michael Clarke and Ian Nairn both spoke, thanking Lynne and giving her a wonderful floral gift. Then Keith Beardmore had the really difficult job of summing up the service Peter has given to the Province, and he made a wonderful job of it. Keith did tell us that the date had been a problem for this event, due to the very full calendar of all concerned, and filled us in that this was indeed the 16th Wedding Anniversary for Peter & Lynne, and that it was also his own birthday! He concluded his tribute to Peter with one of his brilliant poems in the style of Stanley Holloway, which went down a storm. | |
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Geoff Lee looks after Lynne, and chairs the evening |
Keith Jackson, Danny Jones & David Gallear |
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Peter Hegarty and Giles Berkley re-live old memories |
Fylde Mark Men supported the evening well |
| Peter Connolly, our Provincial Grand Master for the last 8 years (and will continue until May 6th at Southport) then stood to deafening applause, and thanked Keith for his toast. He also thanked the Province for his gift - a Russell Flint print which he really appreciated. The print did not cover the usual subject for Flint, that of the female form, but despite that, Peter still appreciated the artistic merit of the piece.... | |
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Lynne is well looked after! |
Hands across the Province |
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Dave Emmerson, Ken Boon & Arthur Robinson |
Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil |
| Peter thanked many people, including his Deputy and Assistants, and of course Geoff Lee, his Provincial Secretary, but most importantly thanked Lynne for her support and love over his time as Prov.GM. The one decision left to make was how to enjoy the other gift from the Province - go on a shopping holiday to New York, or take a train trip? Lynne may well have an input into this decision, but then so will Peter! We await their decision... | |
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Keith Beardmore toasts Peter Connolly |
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The Flint print is handed over! |
The PGM responds! |
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Peter Connolly strews Tony Harrison with salt! |
This is Great! |
| Peter mentioned initiatives such as the De-fib donation and training, the Christmas parties, the new tie for West Lancs, the great website, and of course the Fun Days. He said through all these good times, it had been the brethren of the Province who had made it so successful, with numbers holding, and Charities being so well supported, throughout his 21 years as a chain-bearing officer of the Mark Province of West Lancashire. | |
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Peter & Lynne, you have Marked Well |
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| Peter also thanked the Heads of other Orders who supported him on the evening, especially his great friend Tony Harrison, wishing him all the very best of success. He then strew salt on him! The crowd naturally responded with a great round of applause as he did so. Peter thanked Geoff Lee and the secretariat for all their help, and Doug Little for his musical accompaniment through the meal. | |
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Standing ovation from us all - |
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A very long standing ovation followed as Peter Connolly sat down, a true mark of the extremely high esteem in which he is held by the Mark men of West Lancs. |
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Craft PrGSec Peter Taylor with Mike Beesley, our webmaster |
Craft Assistant PrGM Harry Cox meets and greets
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Peter & Lynne thank Julie A Scott |
Steve Walls with Prov.GSW Designate Andy Whittle |
Bispham-with-Norbreck celebrate |
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As did we all |
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Julie A Scott entertains |
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| The evening continued with Julie A Scott entertaining us with her Cilla covers, lovely comedy, and a variety of other musical renditions, including Nessun Dorma - a real highlight. | |
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Leyland hosted us superbly! Rooms only £75! |
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| It was always going to be hard to say a fond farewell to Peter Connolly as our Provincial Grand Master. He has been a true inspiration, a wonderful leader, and a great friend to us all. In the end, it took 212 of us at the wonderful Leyland Masonic Hall to celebrate his term of office, with his magnificently supportive wife Lynne by his side, as she has been since they married. Happy Wedding Anniversary Peter & Lynne, we will cherish our last 8 or so weeks with you! |
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| You have Marked Well | |
Words and pictures by Giles Berkley |
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