Lathom Mark Lodge 28 February
 
Masons mingled in the bar of Southport Masonic Hall on Monday 28th February. Then the members and visitors of the craft lodge that was meeting that night went off for their meeting.
Robert Woodiwiss and WM Ian Richards
A double initiation I believe, which just left those attending the Lathom Mark Lodge No268 meeting. Enter the acting DC to inform everyone there was no need to rush as the Worshipful Master and Master Overseer were stuck in traffic in Ormskirk?
Maurice Evans; Candidate; WM; Colin Sherman
Plan ‘B’ was to start when the Master arrived, until a charming voice said, ”You can start late, but do not be late down for dinner” and so then plan ‘C’ was put into action. The PGM’s Special Representative VWBro Maurice Evans, PGJO jumped into the Master Overseers chair and WBro Derek Gaskell, PPrGJW took the Master’s chair to open the Lodge.
The first item on the summons after the opening was an In Memoriam to WBro John Dixon, PGJD who passed to the Grand Lodge Above on 15th January 20022. John had been advanced into the Lathom Mark Lodge in 1976 and had been through the chair twice. WBro Dixon was a Grand office in both the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner and will surely be missed by all those who knew him. WBro Gaskell steadily worked his way through the items on the summons until the Worshipful Master arrived.
Maurice; Robert; Ian;Colin and Allen Foster
The master arrived just in time to do the advancement ceremony. WBro Gaskell left the Master’s chair so that WBro Ian Richards could take his rightful place and VWBro Maurice Evans handed over to WBro Geoff Gill, PPrGSO. Then the candidate Bro Robert Woodiwiss was introduced and placed into the safe hands of the Senior Deacon WBro Colin Sherman, PPrGJW for the rest of the evening. WBro Ian Richards performed a great ceremony and was ably assisted by his team.
Maurice Evans and  Robert Woodiwiss
WBro Allen Foster, PAGDC presented the Working tools to the candidate and also did the Conclusion. When the ceremony was complete VWBro Maurice Evans welcomed Bro Robert Woodiwiss to the Mark Degree and presented Bro Woodiwiss with a personal letter of welcome from the PGM, RWBro Keith Beardmore. Included with the letter was an invite to the Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting to be held at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Thursday 5th May.
Karl Brennan; treasurer & Jim Molloy, secretary
WBro Ian Richards can be proud of his first meeting in charge of Lathom Mark Lodge; and he has one more meeting to come in April. We wish Bro Robert Woodiwiss a long and happy association with Lathom Mark Lodge and every success to the Lodge for the year to come.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell