A full Provincial team joined Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge No 4731 to celebrate its 100th anniversary of consecration. The chief instigator of the lodge was Louis Cohen, who as WM of Rectitude Lodge of Blackpool No 4122 realised that the time was fast approaching when a daughter lodge of Rectitude Lodge of Blackpool should be formed.
However, some difficulty was experienced at the time of recruiting 25 founder members and authority was given by Province to appoint founders and promoters. The difference being that promoters were master Masons with less than three years’ qualifications. Two years later, a petition was granted and arrangements were made for the new lodge to meet at the Blackpool Cliffs Hotel and the consecration date was 9 September 1925.
Founders and promoters’ fees were £10 10s 0d and the lodge subscriptions were fixed at £3 3s 0d per year, including dining fees and installation festive board. The crest and motto, Juste Gubernare (Steer Straight) was designed, approved and formally adopted. The design of the crest being the one used by Bispham-with-Norbreck urban district council.
During the lodge’s first operating year, 35 ceremonies were conducted, including 14 initiations, 13 passings and eight raisings. The lodge meeting of March 1926 not only comprised of a normal business meeting but also two passings and two raisings.
During the second World War, Masonic business was suspended and all the large hotels in Blackpool were requisitioned by the government. United Grand Lodge were later successful in obtaining permission for Masonic work to continue, but Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge had to relocate to the Palatine Hotel. Although a room was formed for the lodge’s use, they were not allowed to do any catering, so the festive boards were held at the King Edward Room at the Tower Café and at RHO Hills restaurant.
During the war years, the lodge had many visiting members of the armed forces and in 1941 an emergency meeting took place so that the lodge director of ceremonies could be raised to the third degree before being posted overseas.
By October 1948, Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge were fortunate to be able to move back to their original home at the Cliffs Hotel until May 1964 when they moved to the Masonic Suite at the Imperial Hotel. In the first 50 years of the lodge there was 135 initiations, 21 past masters received Provincial honours and one received Grand Lodge honours. During the 1980s and 1990s the lodge went from strength to strength having on average 74 members and visitors at installation meetings.
Along came the new millennium and Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge celebrated 75 years of continuous working. On 11 September 2000 they held a banner dedication ceremony, this was held in grand style with many acting Provincial grand officers in attendance. After an anthem by the lodge choir and prayers, the lodge banner deputation passed around the lodge and displayed the banner to the assembled brethren. The banner was then delivered into the keeping of the WM on behalf of the lodge.
By 2003, most lodges had moved away from the Imperial Hotel and Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge followed suit and relocated to the Masonic Hall at the Park Club, Cleveleys. In 2019 the lodge committee decided to change the time of the meeting to 11am, this made the lodge the only daytime lodge to meet at Cleveleys.
Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge have had 8,262 visitors over the last 100 years, this equates to approximately 10 to 15 visitors every meeting and on the centenary celebration day, that number was swelled by another 73 visiting brethren.
On the day, the lodge was opened and the dispensation read; the complete team of Provincial grand officers entered the lodge and the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews opened Provincial Grand Lodge. The centenary warrant was read by Deputy Provincial Grand Secretary Mick Southern and Mark then presented the warrant to WM Cobarsanellore Ramesh. The Provincial Grand Chaplin Reverend Canon John Hall then delivered his oration and re-dedicated the lodge. Alms were collected and Provincial Grand Lodge was closed. The brethren of Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge were then allowed the honour of wearing their centenary jewel. The lodge was closed and brethren retired for the festive board.
A delightful four course festive board of house special pate, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, sticky toffee pudding with sauce and ice cream followed by a cheese and biscuit platter, supplied by Yes Chef Catering. £400 was raised in the raffle for Masonic and non-Masonic charities and the evening ended with the tyler’s toast delivered by Provincial Grand Tyler Neil Higgins.
