Full Board at Morecambe Mark
 
The ongoing problems at Morecambe Masonic Hall meant that the latest meeting of Morecambe Mark No 716 had to be moved to Rowley Court, Lancaster.
The assembled Brethren
Despite the travel there was still a good turn-out for the meeting. The principal business was an explanation of the Mark tracing board.
 
Secretary Chris Butterfield, along with A.D. C. Alan Gregory, had organised the presentation so that all present were able to take part. Scripts were provided and everyone had a photocopy of the tracing board so that they could follow the presentation. The three latest recruits to the lodge were placed before the board and after an introduction by WM David Shaw it fell to Chris to point out the various items to them.
Chris Butterfield, Tony Harrison and Alan Gregory
Although by inclination I am not a fan of work being read I can observe that it did work very well indeed. The ritual lends itself into being subdivided into manageable chunks. The fact that everyone was included added to the explanation. It also added greatly to the enjoyment that everyone had a copy of the tracing board and could follow as Chris pointed things out, rather than the usual method of someone on the other side of the room pointing out things you cannot really see. It is certainly something worth considering if your lodge has an evening to fill.
 
The evening also witnessed the presentation of Grand Mark Lodge certificates to Ian Woods, Simon Forgham and Gareth Harrison who were given a brief explanation by Tony Harrison.
Simon Forgham, Gareth Harrison, David Shaw and Ian Woods
The supper was a buffet provided by Maxine Ball. Maxine had had a busy day. She had been up very early as she had to prepare for a brunch for a craft lodge that met in the morning and also had a special event after lunch.
On New Years Eve Maxine supplies an “up-market” buffet for a local firm. So pleased are they with her food that she was engaged to provide the afternoon tea when they had King Charles visiting them during his visit to the area. A very proud Maxine, despite knowing for several months, had had to keep it all under wraps until after His Majesty, whose presence she had been in, had left.
 
Then it was back down to earth and Morecambe Mark Lodge!
Maxine Ball, caterer to His Majesty King Charles III and Morecambe Mark Lodge
On arriving at Lancaster Masonic Hall we had been unable to access the dining room where we usually congregate as it was being used by an outside party until 8.00 pm. There were several guesses as to what was going on in the dining room with the favourite being some sort of dance class. In fact it turned out to be the junior girls cricket players practicing their skills using soft balls. An unusual means to get more use, and income, from the hall.
 
Words and pictures by Dave Sear