Ormskirk Priory Mark Lodge No1019; Installation2018
 
The rumour going round the Installation Meeting of Ormskirk Priory Mark Lodge No1019, held on Thursday 22nd November at Ormskirk Masonic Hall, was the if WBro John Bicknell PGJD; Prov G Sec, did many more Representations for the PGM at Ormskirk, he would get a free parking spot in the car park at the rear of the Hall. (WBro John Bicknell had also been the representative at Ormskirk Priory RAM installation).
Tony Prior WM and James Roberts IPM
It was nice to see that just a couple of visitors were needed to fill chairs in the lodge. When the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master’s Representative entered the Lodge he was accompanied by WBro Maurice Evans, PGSD the Provincial Grand Master’s Special Representative for the Ormskirk area and other grand officers.
 
With the greetings and salutations out of the way the Worshipful Master WBro James Roberts asked WBro Graham Radford, PProvGSD to occupy the Senior Wardens Chair, and WBro Ian Kennedy, PProv GJO to remain as Junior Warden and WBro Bill Cropper, PGJD to stay as Inner Guard.  WBro Alan Burgess PProv AGDC then presented Bro Tony Prior Master Elect to the Worshipful Master for the benefit of Installation.   WBro Roberts then steadily worked his way through the ceremony of installation and placed Bro Prior in the chair. (It was a special thrill for me to see Tony going into the Mark Chair, as I had done his third degree ceremony as visiting master for the Lombardian Craft lodge at Ormskirk several years ago).
WBro John Bicknell with Tony and James
It was then the turn of VWBro Fred Hargreaves, PGJO to present the Working Tools and Keystone Jewel; both were done with Fred’s usual aplomb. Step forward WBro John Rawcliffe, PProvGJW to give the Master’s address, also done in style and when the Wardens were in place, WBro Graham Radford, sprang into action to present the Wardens address. 
 
It was then the turn of the lodge DC, WBro Allan Ashcroft PProv GMO to do the Address to the Overseers. Once all the officers had been appointed WBro John Bicknell gave a first class Address to the Brethren. With installation ceremony over WBro John Bicknell brought the congratulations of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master to Bro Prior on taking the chair of Ormskirk Priory Mark lodge and to WBro Roberts on the ceremony.  The Worshipful Master then presented a very generous charity cheque to WBro Bicknell. 
Grand Officers and others.
It was then time for the Master to close the lodge. Once the photos had been taken and the lodge room cleared it was time to go down stairs for the festive board. In his response to the toast to Grand Officers WBro John Bicknell again congratulated Bro Tony Prior on becoming the Master of the Lodge. John also commented that he thought WBro Roberts who during the meeting had been selected to be the RAM ambassador for the Lodge would have a fairly easy task as over 80% of the Lodge members are already members of Royal Ark Mariners. I will not mention that the PGM’s rep for the night won the litre bottle of whiskey in the raffle. We hope that the Lodge will find some new members so that the new master will have some work to do.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell