Productive Scorton
 
The business meeting of Scorton Mark Lodge No 1103 held at Garstang Masonic Hall proved a very productive one.
 
Senior Warden Frank Hogarth was elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year with Mark Asbury fighting off all the competition to cling onto his role as Treasurer.
Mark Astbury and Frank Hogarth
The evening also witnessed two additional members being added to the lodge numbers. Tony Alderton was accepted as a joining member with his son Roland, who is the WM of Walton Mark Lodge No 161, being present to witness the occasion. The acquisition of such an experienced and respected Mark mason will undoubtedly benefit the lodge.
 
In addition a ballot for Neil Stuart Atkinson as a re-joining member proved favourable although unfortunately he was unable to be present.
Lodge A.D.C. Martin Swarbrick proposed a candidate for the lodge. W.M Bill Richmond seemed to take some pleasure in informing Frank that the duty of installing the new candidate, subject to ballot, would fall under his watch and in the presence of a team visit to boot. No pressure there then for Frank on his maiden outing as W.M.!
Tony Alderton, Bill Richmond and Roland Alderton
Due to absences on the evening the positions of senior and junior deacon required filling. Visitors Darren Stainton the W.M. of The Furness Mark Lodge No 36 and Peter Quirk of Jubilee Mark Lodge No 375 “volunteered” to undertake the roles after I had gleefully pointed them out to D.C. Stuart Mowbray.
 
However, no good deed goes unrewarded as at the meal following the meeting Peter won the first raffle prize of a bottle of whisky. The next number belonged to your northern correspondent and I opted for the box of Lancashire teabags. These I rather magnanimously presented to Darren for his service as senior deacon so that he could have a drink on me later. Thanks? All he did was moan that I hadn’t chosen the red wine, there’s no pleasing some folk.
Darren Stainton, Stuart Mowbray, Peter Quirk, Martin Swarbrick and Jim Richards
I am pleased to be able to report that the gammon served up for the meal was first class.
 
It was a very pleasant evening illustrating the Magic of the Mark and well worth the trip round Morecambe Bay for the visitors from the top of the province.
 
Words and pictures by Dave Sear