Update on Guide Dog Mark
 
Regular readers of the West Lancashire Website may well remember a report posted on the 22nd. May 2019 regarding a visit to Adelaide Street Blackpool made by three Guide Dogs, along with their charges, and fundraising administration officers to receive cheques from the Fylde Lodge of Mark Master Masons for the sponsoring of a puppy to be trained as a Guide Dog. On the 29th November 2019 Very Worshipful Brother Douglas John Forster Past Grand Junior Overseer posted an item introducing Mark a Golden Labrador puppy and an outline of his lineage and promised updates as and when available.
Mrs. June Beardmore, Keith Beardmore P.G.M., Lynne Whittaker,
Peter Green Charity Steward with Mark and Brenda Capnall
Worshipful Brother Peter Green Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon / Fylde Lodge Charity Steward received a letter on the 5th. December updating him on Mark’s progress. Mark has moved in with Brenda and Gordon, his Puppy Walkers and Brenda informs us Mark as settled in well to his new home and he is already sleeping through the night in his puppy crate and wakes at 7 o’clock excited to start the day. Mark as demonstrated a real aptitude for learning and has got to grips with some basic obedience commands.
P.G.M. welcomes Mark
Brenda tells us Mark is a confident, self-assured puppy and isn’t fazed by anything he has so far encountered. Brenda and Gordon live near a police horse stables and often see police horses pass their house, an opportunity for Mark to get used to horses and vice versa. She tells us Mark is an outgoing puppy who loves people and other dogs, he is learning not to climb all over people who visit their house, which is normal for a pup of his age.
Guide Dog Puppy Mark
Following a telephone call to Peter a visit was arranged for Mark to be introduced to our Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Keith Alan Beardmore. On Thursday 6th February our Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master along with Mrs. June Beardmore  arrived at the home of Peter Green for a meeting with Lynne Whittaker and Mark accompanied by puppy training staff. Photographs were taken in the pleasant surroundings of Peters garden. An interesting discussion took place over tea and cakes Lynne and her staff explained the training programme for Mark, and indeed all Guide Dogs with Keith Beardmore explaining, in part, the structure of our Mark Masonic Charities.
 
We said our farewells and that we look forward to future updates of Mark’s progress.
 
Words and pictures by Ernie Gavan