Provincial Grand Lodge 2017

Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of West Lancashire
Southport Convention Centre, The Promenade, Southport
Wednesday 23rd May 2017

Early morning start for this very important meeting, up at 6am fire up the old Opel, wake up Snoopy and Garmin and off we go. Glorious blue sky and sunshine, not much traffic to speak of, even got clear of the on ramp without stopping now that’s a first. Very pleasant trip all the way to the sea front at Southport, it really is a great place to hold these meetings, easy to find the Centre and park (£4.50 for all day, not bad in this day and age) once inside I have always found it excellent, an easy sign in procedure then it’s down a flight of stairs to a large reception area to sit and have a chat with friends old and new complete with coffee and biscuits.

*The Hall is Ready*

*Even the PGM has to Practice*

PGM Gives Blood

Tests in action

*The Queue (Spot Peter Connolly filling in his form)*

The Queue gets longer

View from the PGM’s Chair


RAM Commanders Practice

*Now pay attention*

Extra advice from John

Relaxed PGM before the meeting	Stephen We Do It This way

The Always smiling Prov Tyler Ernie Gavan	Two Great Mark Masons Steve and Arthur

WM’s Coffee Reception



If of course you are lucky enough (so some would say) to be taking part in the actual ceremony it’s straight into the main hall for 8.30am to take your place under the guidance of the drill sergeants (Prov DC and his Asst DC’s) upset them at your peril. !! Only joking, they are great really and have already spent hours and hours working through the positions and timing required to present a first class spectacle for everyone present to witness. To be fair we did get nearly an hour yes a full hour off before the meeting commenced.

*The Chair Awaits*

*PGM always ready to chat*	*and Ready for Action*

View from the Control Box

Now where do we start?



*All await the PGM*

PGM Retires
During the morning in the reception area The West Lancs Mark Charities in association with The Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Unit had arranged free PSA Testing for the early detection of Prostate Cancer by a simple blood test for anyone who wished it. First in line to put everyone at ease was of course Keith the PGM, the queue at one point stretched from one side of the building to the other which showed how well received and worthwhile the effort had been, well over 200 Masons were tested before or after the meeting. A very generous donation was given to the Cancer support Unit, but as the PGM said “if it saves the life of only one man it will have been worth every penny”

*Take your seats*



Prov Asst PGM’s

*PGM & Dep PGM*

PGM & Principle Guest

A Happy Table
The actual meeting as you can imagine started on time at 2pm, now as oppose to trying to describe events I thought that on this occasion I would let the pictures do the talking, suffice it to say if you haven’t yet attended a Provincial Meeting make every effort to do so next year, no matter what your rank you will be most welcome, meet your Brothers from all over the Province and beyond, sit and have a chat, a drink or a meal at the festive board and in doing so make perhaps new life long friends in this the Happy Friendly Degree.
Mark Well
Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher of
Flixton Shepherd Eastwood. No.1173