Saint George Lodge Mark 553
 
Celebrations of VW Bro. Eric Hughes PGJO 50 years in masonry
 
On the 21st September 2019 at Garston Hall, the Provincial Mark team attended a special meeting of Saint George Mark Lodge 553. This meeting was to celebrate an evening with VW Bro. Eric Hughes PGJO, who has reached a milestone of 50 years in masonry.
On their arrival the Provincial Team where warmly welcomed by the members present also the Provincial Team gave a warm and special greeting to the Celebrant VW Bro. Eric. The PGM RW Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore entered into the Lodge accompanied by Acting Provincial and Grand Lodge officers. The Master WM Peter Barker welcomed the RWPGM and offered the gavel, which he said he would be happy on this special occasion to accept for a short time.
Senior Team members were introduced to all present. The PGM asked for the Celebrant to be placed in the Chair of Adoniram, the DC then escorted the PGM to the West and it was from this position he gave a wonderful resume of VW Bro. Eric’s long life in general and his long, his enjoyable progress in his masonic career. Following on from this, the Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary read out, the details on two Certificates, one from Grand Lodge, the second from Provincial Grand Lodge.
The Celebrant was highly delighted and was obvious by a slight tear in Eric’s eye and a happy smile. VW Bro. Eric then had much pleasure in presenting Keith with a personal cheque for £500 for West Lancashire Charity, to be ring fenced for the blind school, to mark his occasion of reaching 50 years in masonry.
Everyone then settled back with a warm glow inside thinking over how pleasant the whole presentation had been. In what seemed like no time at all it was time for the PGM, Grand and Provincial Grand officers to retire from the Lodge and on this occasion in a really nice gesture the celebrant VW Bro. Eric was accompanied at the head of the procession by the PGM, an excellent end to a memorable ceremony evening.
 
A message from Eric
On behalf of my family and myself, I would like to thank the Rt. W. Prov. G. Master and his assistants, past and present, V.W.Bro. Peter Connolly, the rest of the Provisional team and distinguished Brethren for making this evening so very special for me.
 
I would l also like to pass on my gratitude to the Brethren who travelled the length and breadth of the Province, and from North Wales and Cheshire, to mark my 50th year in Mark Masonry.
 
I was overjoyed that there were seven Brethren present from Hawden Mark Lodge, which has been supporting St George Mark for over half a century and I thank them so much. I think there were 90 Brethren in the Lodge Room - I didn’t know I was so well known!
 
Special thanks must go to V.W.Bro Peter Connolly for present the toast to my health. It was both serious and humorous, and captured the spirit of the event perfectly. The evening would not have been possible without our Prov. G. Sec. W.Bro John Bicknell, our Lodge Secretary, W. Bro. David Alan Withey and the Rt. W. P. G. Master’s Special Representative, W. Bro. Derek Alan Horrocks. I appreciate all they have done to make it such a special night.
 
Tony Arkwright, our Catering Manager at Garston Masonic Hall and his staff provided an excellent meal and wonderful service. Dave Jones and Tony Cross’ photographs and write up have provided me with a wonderful keepsake of the evening, thank you.
 
I am humbled to have been honoured with this celebration and to have shared so many years of happy memories in Mark Masonry.
 
Yours faithfully & fraternally, Eric Samuel Hughes P.G.J.O
P.S. Our Prov. D.C. David Emerson (“don’t leave your wands in the Lodge Room, Brethren”) was again on top form!
 
Words and pictures by W Bro Dave E Jones Additional Photos by Tony Cross