Jubilee Mark Installation
 
As Mark Masons descended upon Ulverston Masonic Hall for the installation meeting of Jubilee Mark Lodge No 375, they will have passed under the shadow of the monument on Hoad Hill which dominates the town. There will be more on this vista dominating edifice later, meanwhile back to the main business!
Ready for the off, are: David Rotherham, Harry Kilgour and Phil Burrow

Jubilee Mark Lodge was consecrated in 1887. The centenary booklet does not explain how the lodge name arose but it can safely be assumed that it was in honour of the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria which took place that year.
David Kenworthy, Kieron Mullan, Bill Joughin, Rowly Saunders, Brian Davey, Geoff Bury,
David Rotherham, Alan Jones, les Preston, Stuart Brackstone and John Parrott
Outgoing WM Harry Kilgour was delighted to welcome David Rotherham to the meeting as the representative of the PGM. As he processed into the lodge David was in the company of several distinguished grand officers.
There were two provincial acting officers adding lustre to the proceedings in the persons of John Parrott of Furness Mark Lodge and David Kenworthy who had made the journey up from Semper Fidelis Mark Lodge on the Flyde.
Chris Gray, Peter Schofield, Steve Ellershaw, Reg Wilkinson, Paul Johnson,
Joe Crabtree, Brian Benn, Paul Rose, Graham Lloyd and Bob Fearnett
Incoming WM Phil Burrow was presented for installation by his proposer into Jubilee Mark, and his cousin, Jim Richards. As Phil so eloquently phrases it, “ Our Jimmy is to blame.”
Harry went about his duties and installed Phil in a thoroughly delightful manner. His efforts were much appreciated and he can reflect on a job well done.
Stuart Brackstone, David Smith, David Rotherham, Alan Jones, Les Preston and Brian Benn
Phil is currently the Worshipful Commander of Furness RAM Lodge and is also, for a short period, the occupant of the principal chair of Newby Bridge craft lodge. Phil enjoys his masonry and will no doubt be an excellent ambassador for the Mark degree.
 
On re-entry after the inner workings seven members lined up in the north. These went on to fill most of the progressive offices and the future of the lodge looks to be quite a bright one. Chris Gray who made the move into the chair of senior warden is the craft group secretary whilst his brother junior warden Steve Ellershaw’s claim to fame  is for being a prize-winning breeder of alpacas.
 
Others too played their part in making the ceremony such an enjoyable one. Brian Benn presented the working tools in fine style. Alan Jones delivered the address to the newly installed WM, Les Preston that to the Wardens, David E. Smith that to the Overseers and David Rotherham was made to sing for his supper and orate the address to the Brethren. They all added to the enjoyment of the proceedings. I chipped in with the presentation of the keystone jewel.
 
To mark the occasion Phil presented David with a cheque for £500 in favour of the West Lancashire Mark Charity.
An aerial view of the Sir John Barrow monument.
The office of WM of Jubilee Mark Lodge  is not the only one Harry is vacating. Until recently he was a first responder in the beautiful Lakeland village of Coniston. A back problem means that he has had to give up that role after many years actively serving his local community at times of medical emergency, something for which he deserves great credit.
 
After the formalities it was time to retire to the dining room where good food and companionship was the order of the day.
 
Now returning to the monument on Hoad Hill, if you have passed by it and wondered what it is about I will try to explain. It is known locally as the Hoad or the Pepper Pot but is correctly referred to as the Sir John Barrow Monument.
The First Baronet Sir John Barrow
It is not a lighthouse but was designed to imitate the Eddystone lighthouse. It is 100ft in height and is made of local limestone. The cost being met by public subscription to honour one of the noted residents of the town.
Sir John Barrow was a geographer, linguist, writer and civil servant. He was born in Ulverston in 1764, the son of a tanner who left school at 13 years of age. After a spell as a superintending clerk at an iron foundry in Liverpool he went on a whaling expedition to Greenland aged 16. He was later a member of the first embassy to China and for many years was the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty. He is reputed to be the person who suggested St Helena as the place of exile for Napoléon. A promoter of Artic exploration, the Barrow Strait and Point Barrow in the Canadian Artic are named after him – something that another favourite son of Ulverston Stan Laurel did not manage!
 
So next time you travel up to the top of the province and see the Pepper Pot you will know what it is all about - an acknowledgement of the achievements of someone from a working -class background who left school at 13 years of age.
 
Words and pictures by Dave Sear