Tracing Board at Scorton
 
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom could stay these carriers from their rounds” is the creed of the U.S. postal service and could be applied to the journey of Kieron Mullan from Barrow in Furness to the meeting of Scorton Mark Lodge No 1103 at Garstang where he was delivering the explanation of the Mark tracing board.
Bill Richmond and Kieron Mullan
The ominous dark clouds, which appeared on the drive east along the A590, resembled those that hung above Mordor as Frodo Baggins approached his destiny in the Lord of the Rings.
 
The portents in the heavens above proved to be correct as the top of the Lindale bypass was quickly becoming covered in snow, only for it to disappear from the tarmac at lower levels but then fall even thicker on the M6. But as we drew nearer to Garstang it stopped altogether, although I have to report that the two sets of temporary traffic lights on the A6 didn’t do a lot for one’s blood pressure!
Jim Richards, David Partington and Graham Benson
As is the norm a warm welcome greeted the visitors at Scorton with WM Bill Richmond leading the way.
I was given the responsibility of acting as prompter for Kieron and I am able to report that his delivery of the explanation of the Mark tracing board was quite simply superb. I was pleased to accept the opportunity of presenting the Keystone jewel to Bill.
 
On the evening Jim Richards of Jubilee Mark Lodge and Graham Benson WM of The Furness Mark Lodge were called into action to cover for two of the Overseers who were unable to be present.
 
Senior deacon David Partington had been unable to attend the installation meeting and was invested with the insignia of his role on the evening.
 
The meal which followed was accompanied by the camaraderie and craic which typifies the Mark degree. In what was his last visit to the lodge as WM of The Furness Mark Lodge Graham replied on behalf of the visitors and thanked the members of Scorton for making him feel so welcome during his visits over the 18 months he had been in office.
 
The return journey to the top of the province proved wet and windy with most traces of the earlier snowfall having melted away.
 
Words and pictures by Dave Sear