End of season advancement for George Harradon
 
George Harradon Mark Lodge No 956 finished their Masonic season with an advancement ceremony.    The meeting was held at Liverpool Masonic Hall at Hope Street on Thursday 16 May. 
Messers,Steve Walls; Bob Povall and Syd Ford 
There was a good turnout of visitors for the meeting which helped to make the night more exciting and pleasurable for the candidate. The lodge was lucky that the DC, VWBro Fred Hargreaves, PGJO, only had to find two visitors to officer’s chairs. 
Les Norton and Tom McLaughlin
WBro Alan Foster, PPrGSW acted as inner guard and WBro Tom McLaughlin, PPrGSD acted as Junior Deacon.   With the lodge duly formed the Worshipful Master, WBro Jorge Perez got the meeting underway and with the domestic business out of the way it was then time for the ceremony of advancement.    
Visitors, Steve Holland and Martin Glick
WBro Foster allowed the candidate to enter in the tradition manner used to admit candidates and then handed the candidate over to the Senior Deacon for the rest of the night. 
Overseers; Dave Jones; Eric O'Callaghan;Roger Boyle
With the candidate Br Tom Grimes, (a member of West Derby Castle craft lodge), in the safe keeping of WBro Derek Gaskell, PPrGJD the Worshipful Master worked through the ceremony.   On his return to the lodge Br Grimes was presented to the Overseers, first to Bro Roger Boyle, then WBro Dave Jones, PPrGSD and finally to WBro Eric O’Callaghan. 
Jorge Perez, WM and Tom Grimes, Candidate
Not much joy there and so it was off to see the Senior Warden, WBro Less Moore, PPrGSW, who seemed to take exception to Br Grimes, (but there sweets for everyone else).   WBro Tom Marlow, PPrGJW, was even more aggressive toward Bro Grimes, but the day was saved by the Senior Deacon who once again took care of the candidate. 
Mike Winterbottom and Peter Szatmary
It was the candidate who saved the day in the end though and he was then given the secrets of a Mark Master as a reward. It was an enjoyable and humorous, yet respectful ceremony done the in fine form by the team and WBro Perez. The ceremony had been done under very difficult circumstances for the Worshipful Master who been ill for a few weeks and is due for a heart operation on the 18th May. WBro Perez thanked all the visitors for their attendance and also took the opportunity to congratulate WBro Alan Foster on his Grand Appointment to AGDC; which he will receive in June.
Festive Board
After the ceremony it was time to come back to earth and elect a Worshipful Master and a treasurer for the following year.   WBro Derek Gaskell was elected Master Elect and WBro Mike Winterbottom won the contest for treasurer.    During the risings WBro Mike Winterbottom, PGSD and the PGM’s special rep for the Liverpool Mark Lodges, presented a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro Dr Peter Szatmary. 
Festive Board
With all safely gathered in WBro Perez closed the lodge and off everyone went for a very fine meal.    George Harradon Mark Lodge No 956 season started back in November when Bro Jorge Perez went into the chair, followed by a quiz night in February and advancement for the last meeting. The lodge is looking forward to more work next season.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell