Prince Setanta Lodge of Mark Master Masons
 
Prince Setanta Lodge of Mark Master Masons hold their meetings in the quaint little town of Poulton le Fylde, for those who have never been to Poulton le Fylde it is situated just a mile or two from the Fylde Coast between the River Wyre in the North and the River Ribble in the South. The Masonic Hall is to be found on the Market Square in the centre of the town and it was there that thirty something Mark Masons made their way to attend Prince Setanta Lodges Installation Meeting. the Principal guest was Very Worshipful Brother Ian Douglas Nairn Past Grand Junior Overseer Assistant Provincial Grand Master and he was welcomed into the Hall by Very Worshipful Brother Douglas John Forster Past Grand Junior Overseer the right worshipful Provincial Grand Masters Special Representative for the Fylde Coast.
Grand Officers before meeting
The Installation Meeting, an unusual if not unique occasion of a father Installing his son, began at 6.00 o’clock when the Worshipful Master Brother Anthony Thackrah Past Provincial Grand Master Overseer opened the meeting and conducted the domestic and administrative items on the agenda. On a report Worshipful Brother Terence Dickinson Assistant Provincial Grand Director of Ceremony announced that the Assistant Provincial Grand Master was in attendance and required admission. The Assistant Provincial Grand Master entered the lodge in processional order accompanied by seventeen, yes, seventeen Grand Officers who were supporting Prince Setanta Lodge and of course Very Worshipful Brother Nairn who was welcomed by the Worshipful Master.
VW Brother Ian Douglas Nairn congratulates The Worshipful Master Steven Thackrah
After the usual salutation and responses two of the local master’s in office Brian Burges-Dick Wyre Mark Lodge, Chris Sage Imperial Mark Lodge and Past Master Joe O’ Brien of Wyre Mark Lodge were invited to act as Installing Senior and Junior Wardens and Inner Guard. Brother Steven Thackrah the Worshipful Masters son and Master Elect was presented for Installation by Worshipful Brother Roland Alderton Past Provincial Grand Senior Deacon Lodge Director of Ceremony to the Worshipful Master Anthony Thackrah.
Worshipful Master with the other Masters in Office
Paul Smedley, Chris Sage, Patrick Dwyer and Brian Burgess-Dick
An excellent Ceremony of Installation was conducted with much sincerity and dignity and was extremely emotionally charged as you would expect. Now Worshipful Master Steven Thackrah Invested his father as Immediate Past Master and the Brethren greeted and saluted their new Worshipful Master. The Keystone Jewel was presented and explained by Worshipful Brother Phillip Watson Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden and the Address to the Worshipful Master was delivered by Very Worshipful Brother John Forster. Worshipful Brother Alan Fairhurst Past Grand Assistant Director of Ceremony gave the Addresses to both the Wardens and the Overseers and the Address to the Brethren was given by Very Worshipful Brother Ian Nairn.
Worshipful Master and his Wardens Worshipful Brothers:
Phillip Watson P.Prov.G.J.W. and Alan Gould P.Prov.G.S.O.
Greetings and congratulations of our Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Brother Keith Alan Beardmore were given by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master and greetings and congratulations of Grand Mark Lodge were given by Very Worshipful Brother John Forster. The Assistant Provincial Grand Director of Ceremony formed an escort and Very Worshipful Brother Ian Douglas Nairn Past Grand Junior Overseer Assistant Provincial Grand Master retired from the Lodge Room.
Anthony Thackrah congratulates his son Steven
After a quick photo session, we adjourned to the bar dining room for an aperitif before taking our places at the social board where we partook of a delicious three course dinner followed by coffee and mints. The toasts were well received as were the responses and soon the Tyler proposed the final toast of the evening and we were off into the night another delightful evening of Mark Masonry, at its very best, over.  
Words and pictures by Ernie Gavan