A GRAND DAY OUT
 
Tuesday the 10th June, 2008 saw almost 50 MMM's travel to London in support of the RW PGM Bro. Peter Connolly. The RW PGM was accompanied by the full executive of W.Bro. Tony Harrison, Deputy PGM, the two Assistant PGM's, V.W.Bro. Danny Jones and W.Bro. Keith Beardmore with our Prov.G.Secretary, W.Bro.Fred Hargreaves.
 
The journey, mainly by Virgin Train, was a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Arriving in London to a temperature approaching 80F. Most brethren, having reported in at Grand Lodge, immediately sought relief at the Hercules Pillar Hostelry in company with many brethren from across the entire country and overseas. We were soon however, heading across the road back to Grand Lodge to take up either our reserved places or to seek a place amongst the 1,700 MMM in attendance.
 
The afternoon began with the procession of Acting Officers and a plethora of Provincial Grand Masters followed by Assistant GM RW.Bro Benjamin Addy, the Deputy GM RW. Bro. George Robert Gavin Purser, the Pro.GM M.W. Bro. John Hale and finally the GM M.W. Bro. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO.
 
The Lodge was opened and the usual formalities completed. The assembly approved recommendations from the Mark Lodge of Benevolence which included a sum of £1,600,000 to the RNLI to purchase a replacement lifeboat at Tamar (South Wales) and £30,000 to the Society for the Relief of Disabled Children. The assembly also approved retrospectively the donation of £3 million to be used to finance the provision of either fixed or mobile scanners in the areas having large populations at risk from osteoporosis.
 
Of course the main business of the afternoon was to appoint and invest officers, both acting and past ranks. Acting officers from West Lancs for 2008/09 are -
 
W.Bro. Brian Molyneux
Grand Senior Deacon
W.Bro. Ross G Kinder
Grand Steward
W.Bro. Michael Walker
Grand Steward
PROMOTIONS
W.Bro. Kevan K W Beardmore
P.G.J.O.
W.Bro. Frederick E Hargreaves
P.G.J.O.
W.Bro. James A Harrison
P.G.J.O.
W.Bro. Brian Davey
P.G.S.D.
W.Bro. David C W Fairclough
P.G.J.D.
W.Bro. John E Ogden
P.G.J.D.
W.Bro. James V Pearson
P.G.J.D.
FIRST APPOINTMENTS
W.Bro. Revd. Stanley Cohen
P.A.G.Chaplain
W.Bro. Geoffrey T Watkinson
P.G.Std.B.
W.Bro. John A Powell
P.A.G.D.C.
W.Bro. Ernest W Waites
P.A.G.D.C.
W.Bro. Colin B Ingham
P.A.G.Std.B.
W.Bro. Bryan W Humphries
P.A.G.Std.B.
W.Bro. Douglas Little
P.A.G.Std.B.

The RW Provincial Grand Master extends his sincere congratulations to all the brethren honoured by Grand Lodge.

On the closing of Grand Lodge, brethren made their way to the Connaught Rooms for the evening Banquet, which proved a most enjoyable affair, as is evidenced by the photographs below.

All too soon we had to make our way to Euston Station to make our return back to the North West. The good companionship continued during the journey with much hilarity and laughter.

As our brethren bid their goodbye at Preston Station, a well known West Lancashire Innkeeper summed up the day perfectly with the words 'Brethren, that were a Great Day out."

The Provincial Grand Master thanks all the brethren attending Grand Lodge for their support of him and the Province.
This archive article courtesy of Chris Furmston