The George Harradon Mark Lodge. No.956. Installation Meeting
Hope Street Liverpool. Thurs 18th Nov 2021
 
Looking forward to another Mark meeting, this time it’s a trip down the dreaded M62, going may be ok but coming back now that can be another story entirely. Clear bright day almost spring like, set off early and in no time at all arrived on Edge Lane in Liverpool, I thought great, then I remembered that dreaded word, Parking. Having driven round and round for at least an hour I gave up, tried to get in several car parks including the Philharmonic where the guy on the gate said “have you got a ticket for the show” my answer of course was no, then he delighted in saying “you can’t come in” to a car park which had about ten cars in. Eventually I gave up trying and went down the street just past the Hall where I parked on my last visit, £3.80 for two hours, I tried paying at three different machines but only succeeded in having £2 taken off me and no ticket issued, think you can guess I gave up, put a notice on my dash saying that I had tried to pay. There was no ticket on my windscreen when I got back, I’m just hoping I won’t get a fine in the post.
Lets Practice
The Lodge is Ready
Just A Few Notes
Before too long members of the Lodge started arriving along with visitors and members of the Team, the excellent Lodge room was set up by Ernie Gavan the Provincial Tyler, David Emerson the Provincial DC with help from members of the Lodge. W.Bro. Gatten Williams was asked if he would stand in as Hon Organist for the meeting to which he replied “of course I’d be delighted”, however just before the meeting commenced the Prov Organist turned up and W.Bro. Williams was given a new role as Standard Bearer, now we couldn’t decide if it was a promotion or demotion, either way we both enjoyed a good laugh  (he actually did a great job carrying the Mark Banner)
View from the Masters Chair
More Practice
I Must Get This Right
Everything was now ready the Lodge opened on time at 5.45 prompt, the usual items of business were dealt with including a tribute to the recently departed W. Brother R. Tony Foulds PPrGJW. Bro, Roger T Boyle was elected Master Elect, W.Bro. Michael Winterbottom was elected as Treasurer and W.Bro. Graham Radford completed the trio being elected Tyler.
Ornate Ceiling
The WM’s Ready
The Master Elect is Ready
Following the knocks on the door the PGM R. W.Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore entered the Lodge accompanied by Acting Grand and Provincial Grand Officers. The W.M. was pleased to welcome Keith and offered him the gavel which on this occasion he said he would accept if only for a short period so that he could introduce members of the team to the everyone present, which he always enjoys doing. The meeting now continued, and Bro. Roger Boyle was duly Installed in the Chair of Adoniram in fine style by the now I.P.M. W.Bro. Derek Gaskell PPrGMO assisted by the D.C. V.W. Frederick Hargreaves PGJO and other members of the Lodge.
He Who Must Be Obeyed
With Retiring Special Rep
Three Wise *******
At the closing of the Board of Installed Masters and when all the officers for the ensuing year had been appointed and invested the IPM announced to all that the Installation Ceremony was now complete apart from the Keystone Jewel which was presented and explained by V.W. Bro. Fred Hargreaves PGJO. The PGM stood and congratulated the new W.M. and wished him a healthy and happy year in office, pointing out that his time in office would fly by and to enjoy every minute of it, the PGM Keith also congratulated the I.M. for the excellent manner in which he had conducted the Ceremony along with the other officers of the Lodge who had taken part. The W.M. was pleased to present Keith with a cheque to the value of £250 made out to the West Lanc’s Mark Charity Fund, a magnificent amount considering what Lodges have gone through for the past two years. The Tools of the Mark Degree had been presented and explained by the IPM, now he gave the Address to the W.M. (no stopping him) the Address to the Wardens was given by W.Bro. Eric Hart, Address to the Overseers was given by W.Bro. Mike Winterbottom PGSD and the Address to all the Brethren was given by our PGM V.W Bro. Keith Beardmore.
Congratulations
New WM & IPM
Hard Working Secretary
Next was something you very rarely are witness to in any Lodge meeting a Field Promotion, the PGM requested W.Bro. Derek Gaskell PPrGMO to come to the floor of the Lodge where he said for all his hard work and as a Mark of the Man he was very pleased to Promote him to the high honour of PPrGJW, now Derek isn’t usually stuck for words but on this special occasion he just didn’t know what to say as it came as a complete surprise, however I think we could all tell by the look on his face that he was highly delighted.
Special Reps  Congrats from the out going to the New Rep
Two Cool DC’s
Cheers to the New WM
The time had come for the PGM to retire from the Lodge accompanied by Acting Grand and Provincial Grand Officers, before too long the remaining Lodge business being concluded it was closed accordingly in due form. The usual photos were taken to record the occasion, everyone then made their way to the dining room for the Festive Board. An excellent Meal was served by the very efficient and friendly hall staff, the usual Toasts and Responses were given and all were well received, however there was yet another surprise to come, the PGM reported that W.Bro. Michael Winterbottom PGSD his Special Representative for the area had requested to stand down (retire) from the post, Keith said that he had done an outstanding job in attending Lodges and promoting the qualities of the Mark Degree to which loud acclaim was given by all, he then turned to W, Bro. Steve Walls PGSD and invited him to become his Special Representative for the area, who in complete shock eventually said he would be delighted and do his best to continue the good work done by Michael.
Congrats to the new PrGJW
Cheers to the new WM
Who is this?
There it was all over another great evening in the Mark Degree, everyone having said their genuine goodbyes to each other made their way out into the chilly night air, for myself I just wondered if I would have a parking ticket on my windscreen, well I couldn’t see one so with a sigh of relief I thought soon be home, 30 minutes back to Manchester, who am I kidding, left at 10.05, arrived at 12.30. they didn’t just close 3 lanes on the M62 this time, after ten minutes they closed the whole motorway, and sent everyone up a slip road towards somewhere called Newton, everyone including at least 30 massive wagons were driving round in circles,  well I eventually realised I was in the Warrington area and saw a sign for Irlam, now I thought that’ll do for me, came to a roundabout and guess what the A road to Irlam was also closed. Nightmare.
The Last Words
Anyway, Take Care of Yourselves and Each Other, a phone call, TX, E Mail even a note in the post, it will be much appreciated especially by anyone living on their own at this time of year Stay Safe.
Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher PGJD. Flixton Shepherd Eastwood Mark No. 1173