VW Bro Terry Hudson PGJO celebrates 50 years as a Mark Man |
20th April 2017 |
| This was a very special and unique night for Bispham-with-Norbreck Mark Lodge at Adelaide Street in Blackpool. We were treated to another visit by our Provincial Grand Master, Keith Beardmore, to celebrate the 50th year as a Mark Man for Terry Hudson. 70 people packed into the Lodge room to hear Keith give an excellent and insightful view behind the scenes of a Masonic life which has spanned almost 55 years in the Craft, 53 years in the Royal Arch, and now 50 years in the Mark Degree. A rare achievement indeed. Keith had indeed spoken to Sonja, to get some real background for his excellent presentation, which we all found fascinating. Terry only squirmed a few times! |
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Keith Beardmore congratulates Terry on 50 years in the Mark Degree |
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| What a grand show of support |
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PGM takes wine with our WM, Steve Smith
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| Steve Smith, Barry Shaw & John Bicknell |
| The Lodge donated another £866 in Lodge, to be given in support of the upcoming walk through London on May the 6th. The total so far has exceeded all expectations, and is rising daily. |
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Terry encourages James Rashid! |
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| Andrew Dickson, secretary & powerhouse of the Lodge - well done! |
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Tony Farrar, Giles Berkley & Alan Fairhurst |
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| Dave Emmerson, Prov.DC & John Bicknell, Prov.Sec |
| The Festive Board was, as ever, superb, with Dave Emmerson marshalling all his assistants to keep things rolling, and the food was first class. John Forster, our Special Representative, spoke briefly in response to the toast to the Grand Officers, and rolled into proposing the toast to the PGM, who also responded briefly to give our celebrant more time to respond to the toast to his health. |
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Terry celebrates with Keith Beardmore
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| Bro Nicholson, Jack Blackburn and Harry Cox |
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VW Bro's Brian Davey, Stephen Leach & John Forster |
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| John Brumfield & Dolphy Taylor |
| This toast to Terry was given by me! Can you imagine a more daunting prospect than speaking ahead of Terry Hudson at the Festive Board? With a mixture of inside stories from Sonja, and a lot of help with the preparation from Terry himself (thank you Terry!) I got through, as Terry's warm-up act.........and then after the presentation of a 1928 Founders jewel to Terry, it was on to the main event. |
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Tony Hanson left, John Chapman JW on the right |
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| Bill Ainsworth & Jimmy Rogers |
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Steve Walls (right), then John Powell, Pete Weller & Neil Brown |
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| Joe O'Brien and Bill Snell on the left, Tony Moran opposite |
| Terry had the whole room absolutely hanging off every word as he spoke emotionally about some of the highlights of his Masonic career, and especially some of the characters he has met in his 55 years as a Mason. He finished all too soon, to rapturous applause and a standing ovation. He had been amusing, erudite, engaging, and of course deeply touched by the out-flowing of good will toward him, from his many friends in the room. No-one could fail to be deeply impressed by this man, who has been our Lodge Patriarch, and is our senior member, and mentor in all things. |
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Young St. Annes Mark Brethren! Stuart Thornber, David Randerson & Ron Weatherill |
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| Howard Nordwind, Joe Codling (JO stand-in!) & Vinny Carte |
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Stewart & Brian Sagar, with Ken Boon |
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| Albert Cherry and Barry Bromhead left, Ian Hampson right |
| Thank you for your wonderful service Terry, to our Lodge, and to Mark Masonry in general. You have Marked Well! |
| Words and pictures by Giles Berkley |
