The Master of Prince Setanta blows his own trumpet (well it's a cornet really)
On a bright but cold Saturday morning, I traveled to Morecambe to meet with the Master of Prince Setanta Mark Lodge No 1446, Stephen Thackrah and his wife Lisa along with his father Tony, who arrived with his photographer for the day, Lodge member, Mike Cook and his wife, Anne.
 
Presentation party Tony, Stephen Thackrah, Bella and John Forster Sp. Rep. for the Fylde Coast
We meet at the iconic Midland Hotel, on the seafront at Morecambe. it's the art decor hotel that quite often features in the Poirot dramas and many others, after a very pleasant and warming coffee, we made our way to the Morecambe Music Academy, where we were to meet a special musical young lady, Bella.
Stephen, Bella and Lynda
W. Bro. Stephen Thackrah, the Master of Prince Setanta Mark Lodge No 1446 meeting at Poulton Le Fylde, is now in his 3rd year in that chair, and charity is very close to his heart and this is only one of the many charitable gifts the Lodge has made.
Stephen is not very musical!
The Morecambe Music Academy is very special to the Thackrah family, as Stephen's uncle joined over 40 years ago, his dad has in the past been the chairman, his grandparents were life members and great supporters, his sister also played in the Academy, so, a real family connection. When they were told about Bella, whose grandfather was a Mark Mason in Morecambe, needed a cornet of her own to practice at home on, Stephen thought of the funds raised a very successful curry night at his recent Mark Lodge meeting might be used to fund an instrument. A call to the Provincial Mark Grand Charity Steward.and his funds were topped up to purchase a new Yamaha cased Cornet @ £700-00. A commemorative plaque was made for the case to let everyone who saw it, that the Mark Degree had given the cornet and off we went to present the same.
The plaque
We were welcomed by Lynda, Bella's tutor, and shown around their own building, with a band room and a number of different sized practice rooms. Bella arrived with her mum who told us about her fathers masonic credentials and connections with the Academy. On chatting to Bella she told me how much she enjoyed playing the cornet, first starting at school for a couple of years and then for a couple more years with the Academy, were great progress has been made, the smile on Bella's face certainly lit up the room when the case was opened and she was presented with her shiny new cornet. Although the cornet was really presented to the Academy, Bella is to keep and use it as her own for as long as she is with them.
Bella enjoying the moment
After the presentation was made and the photo's taken, Lynda and Bella, on her new instrument, gave us an impromptu duet, we listened in awe and knew that it had money very well spent. 
 
Picture Bro Mike Cook, Words V. W. Bro. John Forster Sp. Rep.