The Deputy visits Cleveleys
 
20th September 2017
 
On a late summer’s evening the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Very Worshipful Brother Geoffrey H Lee attended Cleveleys Lodge of MMM’s Installation.
Grand Officers
He was accompanied by the one of the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters
 
W. Bro. Giles Berkley, two of the superb Director of Ceremonies Team, W Bro’s Arthur Robinson, Grand Steward and Tony Farrar, Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies, and at least 9 of this year’s Acting Provincial Officers. Added to these were the Provincial Grand Chaplain V. W. Bro. Stephen Leach and 9 other Grand Officers, so as you can imagine the parade into the Lodge Room was very impressive.
DC's team
The Deputy was warmly welcomed by the W.M. Bro. Bob Walker who offered the Lodge gavel, it was returned by the Deputy who commented that the gavel had a stain on it; the W.M. replied that the gavel was stained the last time it was returned when offered! I pleased to say there are no more stains on it.
 
The salutations over, Masters of other Local Lodges were placed in the Installing offices, W. Tony Blundell was asked to take the Masters Chair and in a faultless ceremony he Installed the Senior Warden Bro. Steve Hagan as the New Master.
Ass PGM Wyanne, Beacher JW, Steve Hagan WM, Daren Gardener SW & Deputy PGM
The addresses were all delivered in a manner to complement the super ceremony we had just witnessed, Address to the Master, W. Bro John Forster the Special Representative, Keystone Collaret, V.W. Bro. Stephen Leach, next were the addresses to the Wardens and Overseers, these were given by last year’s Provincial Wardens W. Bros. Alan Foster and Alan Fairhurst, (yes they are still going out visiting together), and just when we thought things could not get better, it did, Bro. Mike Thistlethwaite explained the working tools to the Master in such a way that you could have literally heard a pin drop. All to be finished by the Address to the Brethren, by our attending Officer, with the pose and clarity that only a solicitor could manage.

WM with Giles and Geoff
After the Deputy had brought the greetings of the P. G. M. a cheque for £300-00 was accepted for Mark Charities.
 
On the item under the heading Propositions, two new candidates were proposed and before we had entered the Lodge room there had been a ballot for two joining members, Cleveleys Mark 1176 really is going from strength to strength since moving back to Cleveleys from Fleetwood.
 
On the first rising W. Bro. Giles Berkley responded on behave of the numerous Grand Officers present, with the eloquence that we now are coming to expect from him.
Giles Berkley, John Forster, WM, Jimmy Rogers and Geoff Lee
The Festive Board had the fun, banter, laughter and good food that Mark Masonry is known for, with witty speeches and equally funny responses, in fact it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening from start to finish, when can we do it again?
 
The last one to leave was W. Bro. Jimmy Rogers, the new Secretary, with a smile on his face knowing all his hard work had not been in vain and appreciated by all.
Pictures by Tony Farrar
& Words by John Forster