Imperial Mark Installation
 
On Friday 6th December 2019 Imperial Mark Lodge held its Installation meeting in the normally peaceful and quiet town of Poulton le Fylde which is situated on the Fylde Coast. The starting time was brought forward due to the arrival of a special guest in the town. Santa Claus was paying a flying visit to the town and the town centre was a buzz waiting for their special guest, fun fair rides, amusements and stalls selling all kinds of refreshments filled the town square. The Masonic Hall is situated in the town square and to avoid the congestion in the town square a 5 o’clock start was decided, this however did not deter a goodly number of Mark Masons attending the Installation Meeting.
Bro. Chris Sage WM with W.Bro. Clive Gitsham IPM
Most of the members of Imperial Mark Lodge and many of the visitors were already in the hall when our special guest, Right Worshipful Brother Peter Connolly Past Grand Master Overseer Past Provincial Grand Master arrived at Poulton Masonic Hall. He was greeted by Very Worshipful Brother Douglas John Forster Past Grand Junior Overseer the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Special Representative on the Fylde Coast who introduced the Worshipful Master and Master Elect.
Rt.W.Bro. Peter Connolly, WM and IPM
The Lodge was opened at 5 o’clock by the Worshipful Master Brother Clive Bruce Gitsham and the items of an administrative nature was completed. On a report Right Worshipful Brother Peter Connelly entered the Lodge accompanied by twelve Grand Officers. The usual salutations and responses were given and received. The Worshipful Master invited Worshipful Brother Anthony Thakrah Past Provincial Grand Junior Deacon Worshipful Master of Prince Setanta Lodge to occupy the Senior Wardens chair, Brother Patrick Dwyer Worshipful Master of Fylde Lodge to occupy the Junior Wardens chair and Worshipful Brother Brian Burgess-Dicks Worshipful Master of Wyre Lodge Provincial Grand Senior Deacon to occupy the position of Inner Guard, and act as Installing Officers.
W.Bro. Peter Weller, Rt.W.Bro. Peter Connolly,
WM, IPM with Past PGM Spec.Rep. VW.Bro. John Forster
Brother Chris J. Sage Senior Warden and Master Elect was presented by Worshipful Brother Roland Alderton Past Provincial Grand Senior Deacon / Lodge Director of Ceremony and Installed in a delightful manner by his good friend and work colleague Worshipful Master Brother Clive Gitsham. The Keystone Jewel was presented and explained by Worshipful Brother Tom Sloan Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden. The Brethren of Imperial Mark Lodge saluted and greeted their new Worshipful Master. The Working tools were presented by the now Immediate Past Master. The Address to the Worshipful Master was delivered by Worshipful Brother Shaun Haynes Provincial Grand Organist.
Grand Officers attending Imperial Mark Installation
The Worshipful Master appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year, the Wardens were addressed by Very Worshipful Brother John Forster, The Overseers by Worshipful Brother Brian Burgess-Dicks and the Installation Ceremony was brought to a close with an address to the Brethren by Right Worshipful Peter Connolly who then gave the greetings and congratulations of The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Keith Alan Beardmore. He congratulated Brother Chris Sage on attaining the chair of Imperial Mark Lodge and Worshipful Brother Clive Gitsham on his excellent ceremony of Installation and wished the Lodge well for the future.
W.M. and his colleagues Masters in Office with Spec. Rep. John Forster
On behalf of the Grand Officers Very Worshipful Brother John Forster gave greetings and he too wished the Lodge well. Right Worshipful Brother Peter Connolly along with the Grand Officers retired from the lodge room and wated in an ante room whilst the Worshipful Master closed the Lodge. A quick photo-shoot took place before repairing to the bar area for an aperitif before taking our seats in the dining room. Meals around this time of year are usually ‘Christmas Fayre’ and tonight was no exception and a splendid meal it was. The toasts were proposed, and the responses graciously received before we went out into the night air. Santa had departed and the rides and side shows shut down, time to make our way home.    
Words and pictures by Ernie Gavan