Brethren of Bootle Pilgrim Lodge No 1473, performed a double second degree at their November meeting. The WM Graham Daly open his lodge with an unrecognisable team of officers as most were as if stuck at work or off sick.
So, on this occasion, it was left to senior officers to fill the blanks with Keith Rushton as IPM, Nick Mackarel standing in as senior warden, Stephen Oliver, the DC, standing in for the senior deacon, Simon Gray as inner guard, Allan Hore as tyler and guest Malcolm Sandywell standing in as ADC.
The lodge was then opened in the first degree and the first pleasant duty was to offer the gavel to Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Thomas, who had come as a visitor to enjoy the evening, to which he did decline and wished that Graham and the brethren an enjoyable evening. The next duty was to hold a ballot for honorary membership for Ron Elliott, who at 94 is unable to attend the lodge anymore due to illness and now resides in a care home. The lodge then held a ballot for Christmas gifts for the lodge widows for the sum of £30 each, which like the previous was in favour.
The evening then got going and Jonathon Kinnear followed by Andrew Corin answered the usual question to the delight of the brethren. Lodge was then opened in the second degree and ceremony of raising Jonathon and Andrew to the degree of a fellow craft was performed by the Graham and shared with the chaplain George McDonald. On Jonathon and Andrews return back in to the lodge, acting ADC Malcolm Sandywell delivered the second degree tracing board in very eloquent manner.
The lodge was then resumed in the first degree and David Thomas presented a Grand Lodge Certificate to Kieran Owens, which he was more than delight to do. After the first rising Malcolm formed a procession with senior deacon Stephen Oliver and acting Provincial Junior Deacon Allister Horn and David retired from the lodge.
Graham then completed the rising and other business and the lodge was closed in due form and the brethren then retired to the bar for drinks and then into the dining hall for the festive board, which was enjoyed by all and have now come accustom to the delights of the new chef Mike Lamb at Litherland Masonic Hall.
Including the collection and a raffle the sum of £135.20 was raised for charities, which will be given out at the installation in March 2026. Before the end of the festive board, the WM announced that the Ormskirk and Bootle Group, as always, are delighted to have guest and furthermore the lodge still hold the Travelling Gavel which can be claimed by the WM and two of his brethren attending.