Team visit to University Mark Lodge No1062
 
University of Liverpool Mark Lodge No1062, normally hold their lodge meetings at the Liverpool Medical Centre, but on Monday 16th September their meeting was held a few hundred yards around the corner in Hope Street, at Liverpool Masonic Hall. This was to accommodate a Provincial Team visit by the PGM and the new team. (Corinthian Mark No1052 kindly lent all equipment for the evening.)
Members of University of Liverpool Mark Lodge all wear their clowns for meetings and this brought a bit of added colour to the lodge room. It is not often these days that a Mark lodge opens without having visitors filling some of the officers chairs and this meeting was no exception, WBro Rev Keith Halsall stood in as Chaplain; WBro Derek Gaskell as Senior Overseer and WBro Ian Walton took the role of Junior Deacon.   Taking the role of Senior Deacon, fell to none other than RWBro Peter Connolly, PProvGM and so with everyone in place the Worshipful Master WBro Chris Walls, Prov GMO, opened the lodge. Among the items of lodge business was to read the dispensation for permission to the move of the meeting. This was followed by the election of a Master Elect. 
There was only one candidate and so WBro Chris Walls declared himself Master Elect. The WM then declared WBro John Lyon-Taylor; treasure and WBro Stephen Roberts as Tyler. Then right on cue enter the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, WBro David Emerson, PGSD, to announce the Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Keith Beardmore and the Provincial Team.   WBro Chris Walls welcomed the PGM and offered him the gavel of the lodge which on this occasion the PGM accepted. When the salutations were complete, RWBro Beardmore introduced the member’s his Provincial team to the visitors and members before handing the chair back to WBro Chris Walls.
It was now time for the main event, (not that having a team visit is not an important event), the advancement of Bro Jamie Flavell. The candidate was announced by the inner guard Bro David Waddington, who then placed the candidate in the very capable hands of the Senior Deacon, RWBro Peter Connolly.   (Peter never fails to enjoy this role which he makes his own and makes the ceremony into a special night for both the candidate and those attending the meeting.) All the team taking part entered into the spirit of the ceremony. The Junior Overseer, WBro Prof. James Alty and Master Overseer, WBro Dave Roberts, (both lodge members), produced some stellar ritual to enhance the night.   However it is not an exaggeration to say that the ceremony by the Worshipful Master, WBro Chris Walls was faultless and delivered with feeling!
At the end of the ceremony Bro Jamie Flavell was presented with a letter welcome form the PGM by WBro Mike Winterbottom, PGSD, the PGM’s special rep for the Liverpool Mark Lodges. During the first rising, RWBro Keith Beardmore went down and greeted Bro Jamie personally. After the meeting it was time for drinks before a fine festive board, in a packed dining room. The APGM, WBro Giles Berkley opened his response to the toast to the Grand Officers with the theme from ‘University Challenge’. It was a response full of humour and praise for our Provincial Grand Master.
Responding to the toast to his health, RWBro Keith Beardmore thanked University of Liverpool Mark Lodge No1062 for moving their meeting to accommodate a Team visit and adding that most team visits are to Installations not advancements. He was also full of praise for all those had taken part in the advancement ceremony. The PGM also thanked his special rep, WBro Mike Winterbottom for all his hard work within the Liverpool Mark lodges. He then went on to plug for Royal Arc Mariner degree, urging those Mark Masons who are not members to join. It is only a matter of having a word with the Lodge Royal Arc Mariner ambassador to get more information. It was a very enjoyable evening and a successful ‘away day’ for University of Liverpool Mark Lodge No1062. We wish Bro Jamie Flavell a long and happy time in Mark Masonry.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell