Progress Lodge of Mark Master Masons. No.898
Ashlar House, Soul St, Preston. PR12QU
The 3rd Central Lancashire Festival, entitled “The Lecture on the Mark Master Masons Degree”
This Special Presentation is known as “A Comedy of Errors”
 
Car fuelled up, Garmin and Snoopy fired up, pleasant afternoon weather conditions and a great evening to look forward to, not just a Mark Masons Meeting which we all enjoy, but a very rare outing by the Mark Master Players with their special version of the lecture known as “A Comedy of Errors”.
Lodge awaits
Lodge Banner
Off we go early because of the usual traffic congestion around the “Smart” motorway 50 mph road works which now seem to have been going on for about ten years and as we all know will ultimately make no difference whatsoever to speeding up traffic.!   I did say early and I don’t know what happened but I pulled up outside the hall at 3pm, ah well better than being late, off to the Market Centre for a nice cup of coffee and seek out a Valentines Card after all it was the 13th February.
View from WM Chair
PGM inspecting Banners
For any who haven’t yet visited Ashlar House it really is an amazing building, the ground floor consists of the usual welcome areas, a well appointed dining room, bar, lounge and kitchens, once up the wide staircase to the first floor it opens out on to a landing with display cases, banners, jewels in fact all manner of interesting history items.
View through JW wicket
Dedication wall plaque
This is where the journey begins, around every corner and passage there seems to be one Temple after another, not just small makeshift rooms but well furnished and fully fitted out, complete with wonderful Masonic artefacts and individual Lodge banners, it is well worth a visit if you find yourself in Preston on other business just call and have a browse around the hall and its many history items, the management I’m sure would welcome you.
A very old Craft Banner Unanimity No.113
The murial on the stairs (Mozart's Magic Flute)
Now to the business of the evening, the Lodge opened on time at 6pm prompt, usual housekeeping matters were dealt with and then it was time for the PGM RW Keith Alan Beardmore to enter accompanied by the Provincial Team Members along with Grand and Provincial officers, on being presented to the WM Bro.R.Dickinson PPrGReg Keith was offered the gavel, as is usual, on this occasion however with a glint in his eye he politely declined the offer, on speaking quietly he said “I’d he’d like to sit with all present relax and enjoy the proceedings, no pressure there then for the WM.
Dining room awaits
The Prov Organist in full flow
The Lodge was then called off and all present were delighted to welcome two Craft Masons who had been invited along to not only witness the lecture but to feel the warmth which is always present in the Friendly Mark Degree.
The scene is set
The story begins
Now to the highlight of the evening and not wishing to give too much away the scene was set, “The Brew Hut” tea break time at the quarries in a far off distant time, one other small clue to proceedings, the chat among the rank and file workmen enjoying a well earned tea break was as is often the case today mainly about “The Management”.
This is acting   
Making a point
Now that’s all I’m afraid can be said about the presentation, it was excellent and received a well deserved long standing applause, the PGM thanked all taking part including the behind the scenes team, W.Bro.Tony Shaw with the assistance of Andrew Baker and Melvyn Carter produced the script and pulled together several practises to ensure that we all enjoyed a special evening. Others in the cast were Gowan O’Hagan, Alan Eastham and Ray Thompson. The whole presentation was complimented by V.W. Bro.Glyn Davies, the shop steward complete with his cloth cap delivering narration and setting the scene.
The Progress Mark Master Players
General photo Lodge is still called off
Before the Lodge was called back on to work the PGM spoke personally to the Craft Masons thanking them for attending and hoping they had enjoyed their visit to Progress Mark Lodge.
DC’s Team
Soon it was time for the PGM to retire accompanied by his Provincial Team, Grand and Provincial officers and as is usual once the meeting was closed everyone assembled for a quick photograph session. Now it was off to the bar for some liquid refreshments before taking up their seats in the well appointed and dressed dining room, it doesn’t matter where you get seated a friend will be sat next to you even if you have never met before, there will be plenty of interesting chat and news from all over the province.
Group Photo
Bigger Group
Dave Sear with our Illustrious Web Master Mike Beesley
An excellent meal was served up by very attentative staff, then everyone present settled feeling quite full and contented to honour the usual Toasts and treated to some excellent interesting speeches, which of course included thanks to all who had put so much hard work into the Lecture. Who won first prize in the draw none other than the very hard working Ernie Gaven ProvGTyler, who looks after and transports so much of the Provincial kit around the Province everyone cheered when he picked up his nice bottle of Brandy (well I think they were cheers).
PGM takes wine with Bob Dickinson WM
Paul Snape, Ian Nairn and Michael Clarke
A Great atmosphere at the Festive Board
Once again it was all over too soon, handshakes, goodbyes and good wishes said it was out into the night air, not too cold and a huge part moon lighting up the sky, do I need Snooper and Garmin to get me back to Manchester past all those speed cameras, in a word yes, slightly longer trip coming up on Friday, Ulverston, is that near Scotland?
Mark Well..
Austin N.Fletcher.
PPrGJO.
Flixton Shepherd Eastwood Mark Lodge No.1173