Anchorsholme Chapter No 5854 held their installation convocation at Cleveleys Masonic Hall, a ceremony which saw Geoff Diggles being installed as first principal. The companions were delighted to have as its principal guest, Paul Hesketh, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals.
Paul was supported by fellow grand officers Duncan Smith, Past Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, Harry Cox, Keith Jackson and the North Fylde Group Chairman John Cross together with acting Provincial grand officers Neil Higgins and Alan Barnes, and Ian Stirling.
Gavin Egan opened the chapter in conjunction with his co-principals Geoff Diggles and Ian Winnard. At an appropriate moment in the proceedings and on a report, chapter director of ceremonies James Rashid announced that Paul Hesketh requested admission. Paul processed into the chapter and was formally welcomed by Gavin.
During what can only be called a first-rate ceremony, Gavin asked for the assistance of John Pitches, Alan Lock, and Bob Stafford to act as installing officers. The new principals were duly installed into their respective chairs; Geoff Diggle as first principal, Ian Winnard as second principal, and Dave Holloway as third principal.
Scripture readings were given by Bob Stafford, John Pitches and Adam Simpson. The robe addresses were given by Barry Simmonds, Del Hermon and Chris Hardingham. The address to the three principals was delivered by John Chesters, while the address to the officers of the chapter was given by Duncan Smith, leaving the final address to the companions of the chapter, to the chapter’s distinguished guest, Paul Hesketh.
Once the officers for the coming year had been appointed, invested and the installation ceremony completed, it was time for Paul to rise from his chair and bring the greetings on behalf of the Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews. He congratulated the new principals and all the companions who had taken part in the ceremony, singling out those companions who had delivered the robe addresses to such a high standard.
Geoff then had the pleasant task of presenting the amounts given to charity during Gavin Egan’s year in office. An impressive total of £1,116.50, which amounted to: £500 to Headway, £100 to Kindness Counts UK, £400 to Brian House Children’s Hospice, £101.50 to West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and £15 to ‘The Big Sleep Out’. Paul thanked the companions of the chapter for their very generous donations. The new principals then completed the evening’s business, closed the chapter and invited all the guests to join them at the festive board.
In his response to the toast to the health of the grand officers, Paul Hesketh thanked his fellow grand officers for supporting him and he conveyed his own congratulations to the newly installed principals. Paul praised the immediate first principal, Gavin Egan, for all that he had done for the chapter over the previous year. Continuing his congratulations, Paul thanked all the companions who had taken part in the ceremony and singled out the scribe Ezra, Umesh Dholakia, and the director of ceremonies, James Rashid, for their hard work behind the scenes in putting such an excellent ceremony together, summing up the evening as a ‘feast of Royal Arch Masonry’.
Continuing his response, Paul spoke passionately about the Royal Arch, the indissoluble link between the Craft and the Royal Arch and the importance of Craft members taking the natural next step, the fourth and final step in pure antient Masonry into the Royal Arch. Paul said: “The Grand Superintendent, Mark Matthews, impresses on us that we should all be membership officers, looking to recruit the right men into our Masonic Orders.”
The Principal’s Song was sung by John Chesters accompanied by Keith Jackson on the piano. A raffle raised £367.67 to further add to the chapter’s charitable endeavours during Geoff’s year in the chair.
