George Harradon Mark Lodge Installation 15/11/2018
 
The third Thursday in November means that it must be George Harradon Mark Lodge No 956 Installation meeting and so it was.  It took place at Liverpool Masonic Hall on the 15th November. 
WM Jorge Perez; IPM Dave Jones
Lodge DC VWBro Fred Hargreaves, PGJO was in a calm mood and placing members and visitors in various offices before the meeting and then it was time for a somewhat nervous Worshipful Master WBro Dave Jones, PProvGSD to open the meeting. Once the Worshipful Master began the meeting his nerves went and he was back to his usual cheerful self. 
WBro Derek Horrocks; Jorge Perez; Dave Jones
Part of the lodge business was to appoint a Royal ARK Mariner Ambassador; the lucky recipient was WBro Les Moore, PProv GSW who is the lodge’s Senior Warden.     Then it was time for the DC and Deacons to retire and form a procession. The PGM’s representative for the meeting was WBro Derek Horrocks, PGJD and he was accompanied in the procession by WBro Mike Winterbottom, PGSD who is the PGM’s Special Representative for the Liverpool Area and other Grand Offices.   WBro Jones greeted WBro Horrocks and hoped that he had a good evening. 
WM & IPM with the Grand Officers
Time now for the salutations; George Harradon Mark lodge is honoured to have among its membership two Very Worshipful Brethren; these being VWBro Keith Dowell and VWBro Fred Hargreaves and they received the salutation due to their rank and then the rest of the salutations were given.  The Master then asked WBro Les Moore to remain as Senior Warden and WBro Tom Marlow, PProvGJW to take the Chair of Junior Warden and WBro Graham Radford, PProv GSD to take the position of Inner Guard for the installation.
Tom Marlow; WM; SW, Les Moore
VWBro Hargreaves then presented Bro Jorge Perez Master Elect to the Worshipful Master, for the ceremony of Installation.  It was a full ceremony because for the first time in several years the lodge was not getting a recycled Master.    WBro Jones breezed through the inner workings with no sign of the earlier panic of, “I cannot remember a thing”.   It was time now for VWBro Fred Hargreaves to step up and deliver his two party pieces, first the presentation of the Keystone Jewel followed by the address to the Worshipful Master and both were done faultlessly by Fred as usual.
WM with his new appointed RAM ambassador Les Moore.
Once the Wardens had been put in place WBro Derek Gaskell, PProv GJD did the address to them.   It was then time for another party piece with WBro Tom Marlow, delivering the address to the Overseers.   With all the appointments completed it was time for WBro Derek Horrocks to do the address to the Brethren.   There must be a training day for those who represent the PGM at installation meetings because they all do the address so well but still retain their own style.
WM and IPM looking forward to the next meeting
With the Installation ceremony now over WBro Horrocks was back on his feet to bring the PGM’s congratulations to Bro Perez on obtaining the chair of the Lodge and he also congratulated WBro Dave Jones on a fine ceremony of installation.
One of the nicest jobs for a new Master is to give away the Lodges Money and Bro Perez presented two cheques to WBro Horrocks for charity and these were gratefully received.    With lodge closed it was time for a very enjoyable festive board.   We wish WBro Jorge Perez and George Harradon Mark Lodge a happy and successful year.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell.