A Very Special Meeting
Blackpool Masonic Hall, Adelaide St, Blackpool. Tuesday 8th April 2025
One To Remember.  50 Years A Freemason
R.W. Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore PAGDC
 
Our very own PGM in the Mark Degree for West Lancashire reached the amazing milestone of Fifty years as a Freemason having been Initiated into Blackpool Lodge No.1476 on the 9th April 1975 following his much loved brother Kevan who was Initiated the month before in March, not only that but his Father Les was at the time Senior Deacon of the Lodge.
Keith was Passed to the Second Degree at the October Meeting and then Raised before the year was out to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason in the December of the same year. He has been an outstanding servant to Blackpool Lodge having served in every office before being Installed as Worshipful Master in 1989 by his Brother Kevan, he continued to serve as Lodge Almoner for many years before taking the relatively new office of Lodge Mentor. On mentioning Kevan he came to my Mark Lodge as Representative when I was being Installed and what a great night we had, sat at the Festive Board we were so busy chatting about all things musical we had to keep being reminded by the DC where we up to. (a memory I will never forget)
 
Keith was appointed to Provincial Grand Lodge in 1966 as PPrAsstGrand DC, next up was promotion to PPrDGSuptWks and his last Prov office received was to PPrJGW, in 2017 he received the well deserved appointment to Grand Rank as PAGDC this was only the fifth Grand Officer Promotion Blackpool Lodge had received in its 150 years of existence.
Keith is an active Director of the Hall and does take a great interest in keeping the building in good condition and one of the most important facets of all halls today staying in the black.   
Highlight of the actual meeting was the presentation of a framed illuminated Certificate to Keith by Asst Prov Grand Master W. Bro. David F Barr PAGDC who went on to give a run down not only on Keith’s Masonic History but to his varied and very interesting life in general. A very hard working person and someone who has always strived to overcome any problems life may have thrown at him. It has been a pleasure to have known him for many years as Our PGM in the Mark Degree, he will always chat and listen to what you have to say, I have never heard a bad word from anybody, he is a shining light to all the members of the Mark and Royal Ark Mariners Degree, long may it be so.
In his own words, Freemasonry has been a very fulfilling part of my life and I have been blessed that it has provided me with many opportunities to meet people and go to places that many would wish to aspire to.  
 
Words and pictures by A.N.Fletcher PGJD FSE. No. 1173