“Hello”
 
My name is “Mark” and I’m the youngest recruit to the happy band of the West Lancashire Mark Degree. 
I was born on the 23rd of August 2019, I am a Golden Retriever, my dad’s called Trigger and my mum is Nancy, I have 6 brothers and sisters, called, Paddy, Dollar, Albi, Lilibet, Dream, and Dusty.
We have all been bred especially to be trained as Guide Dogs.
 
I’m looking forward to a long and useful life in the home of my yet to be decided new best friend, when I can help him or her with all I can to make their life as normal as possible, what a great life I’m going to have acting as the eyes of my two legged life partner.
 
Before any of that can happen, I have to be trained to very high standards, this has become possible by the members of Fylde Mark Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 296. The Charity Steward Worshipful Brother Peter Green Past Provincial Grand Senior Deacon, came up with the idea of the Lodge sponsoring a puppy to be trained as a guide Dog, he then asked if the Mark Province would support this very commendable venture. When they answered “Yes” it was time to start the ball rolling and Peter made many phone calls and visits to the Blind Society, all before I’d even been born. I have heard that my training will take two years and the Mark Degree have promised £5,000-00 towards my feeding and preparation for my new life. Now being a very small dog at the moment (as you can see from my picture), that sounds like a lot of bones to me!
There will be photo opportunity’s during the next two years to show my progress, so that the members of Fylde Mark Lodge and the Mark Province of West Lancashire will be kept informed of my “Advancement”.
 
I’m told that the Mark Degree is looking for worthwhile projects to assist in, the Charity Steward should be the first one to approach, then on to the leaders of the area Mark Charity Groups.
 
I hope to bring you updates over the coming months, and I would like to thank you all for your very generous donations which have made this happen. 
Best big licks,
Mark   (the soon to be Guide Dog.)
P.S. I’ve already started to “Mark” well.     
Words and pictures by John Forster