Morecambe Mark Installation
 
The Evelyn Battersby Hall was the unusual setting for the installation meeting of Morecambe Mark Lodge No. 716. The hall is normally the preserve of the lady masons of the area who meet as Morecambe and Heysham Lodge and is also the headquarters of lady masons in the north of England. There is ongoing building work at the masonic hall in Derby St which necessitated finding a different venue for the installation.
Geoff Bury, Mike Pinckard, David Shaw and Steve Plevey
Principal guest at this important annual fixture in the lodge calendar was APGM Mike Pinckard. He was accompanied by his fellow APGM Geoff Bury, who is a member of the lodge, along with several acting provincial officers.
 
They were able to observe Steve Plevey install David Shaw as his successor in what Mike was later to describe as “a sincere and friendly way.”
Members of Morecambe Mark prior to the installation
Geoff had been David’s proposer into the order and he was kept rather busy on the evening. He acted as installing senior warden but left his pedestal to present the master elect, then later presented the working tools and orated the address to him.
 
Deputy special representative Alan Gregory addressed the wardens as to their duties; your northern correspondent gave the address to the overseers and Ron Gibson presented the keystone jewel. Mike was called into action to deliver the address to the brethren.
Acting officers
On bringing the greetings of the PGM Mike commented that the confident manner in which David had gone about appointing and investing his officers bode well for the coming twelve months with the lodge being in safe hands.
Mike also remarked on how pleasing it was to see that those appointed to the progressive officers had yet to go through the chair.
The lodge room
At that time when the principal guest would receive a cheque for a good cause Steve rose and presented Mike with details of the donation the lodge had made to the ongoing building work at the hall. The lodge had donated the very appropriate sum of £716 from their account which the members had then topped up to a total of £1,000.
 
One of the provincial team in attendance was assistant provincial D.C. John Dean. Mike presented John with a collarette and jewel to show he had reached the status of patron of the Mark Benevolent Fund.
At refreshment
Following the formalities an excellent installation banquet, the menu being chicken, was enjoyed. Amongst those at the table was Matthew Catlow who is not yet a Mark mason who had attended the meal as a guest of Geoff. The friendly banter and background noise of people enjoying each other’s company will no doubt have given him a good first impression of the order.
The Evelyn Battersby Hall
This visit to the home of the female Masons of Morecambe proved a great success.
Words and pictures by Dave Sear