Bispham with Norbreck

At the regular meeting of Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge of Mark Mater Mason's 866, held on the 12/10/12,

at Adelaide Street, Blackpool, Brother John Antony Hind of Hesketh Lodge No.950 was advanced to the

degree of Mark Master Mason.

Brother Hind is the Secretary of Hesketh Lodge, also a member of Mereside Lodge and a Companion in

Thorton Cleveleys Chapter.

He is a retired Personal Manager at I.C.I. His hobbies include genealogy, spending much time and travel in

tracing both his, and his wife, Ann's family trees. John has got back to 1687 and Ann to 1590 discovering

on the way she is a descendant of Captain Cook, so holidays to Australia have been a must.

The Lodge was opened by the Worshipful Master Brother Barry Luther Holland P.Prov.G.J.W. in his own

very confident and experienced manner.

When it came to item 7 he invited Worshipful Brother Giles Berkley, the Immediate Past Master

and the candidates seconder, to occupy the Master's chair.

On an alarm Brother Hind was admitted into the Lodge and in a ceremony that can only be described

as straight out of the ritual book, was advanced as a Mark Mason. Not only was the ceremony perfect

in content but was delivered with sincerity, clarity and of course had its moments of humour.

The excellence of the ceremony was equalled when the Inner Guard Brother John Chapman

explained the working tools.

Brother Steve Smith stepped up from Junior Deacon to conduct Brother Hind around the Lodge Room in a

such an assured matter as to put him immediately at his ease. In fact all who took part in this first class

ceremony are to be congratulated. The Master then took his rightful place in the Lodge and thanked

Worshipful Brother Berkley for his sterling efforts.

The next item was to present a Grand Lodge Certificate to Brother Ben Gorry. This was presented and

explained by the Lodge Secretary, Worshipful Brother Andrew Dickson, who is of course the Provincial

Grand Senior Warden, This explanation was so well delivered, Worshipful Brother Terry Hudson PGJD.

was heard to comment, "He's got the job for life".

Under any other business, the members were told that their November meeting would be a visual lecture

on the Royal Ark Mariners Degree, at the Installation in February the Provincial Grand Master and his Team

would be in attendance, followed in April by another candidate. (what a busy Lodge!).

After the 1st raising Very Worshipful Brother Bob Hall PGJO. lead out the 7 Grand Officers present.

The Worshipful Master's of Fylde Mark Lodge 296, Brother John Morris and Semper Fidelis 880,

Brother Mike Casey gave greetings.

The Lodge was then closed in peace, harmony and solemn prayer, with the members and their guests

making their way to the bar for a very well earned drink and a chance to reflect on a superb evening of

Mark Masonry.

Report by W.Bro. D. John Forster PGStwd. Sp. Rep.