Companions of Arrowhead Chapter No 8500, held their installation at Bryn Masonic Hall. The chapter opened at 6pm with the regular business being conducted before Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals John Selley was admitted, together with several acting Provincial grand officers and the Wigan and Leigh Group Chairman Ian Green.
Once all were seated, Bob North was placed in the chair of scribe Nehemiah for the purposes of installation prior to Dennis Skett being obligated and installed as third principal of the chapter. Ed Blagbrough was presented as second principal elect and duly obligated after which Keith Woodall occupied the chair of second principal for the purposes of installation.
Those below the rank of installed first principal were asked to leave for a short while during which time first principal elect, George Head, was presented to the first principal and duly obligated, with a passage of scripture being recited excellently by John Mason and a solemn prayer from Dennis Skett.
The first principal thanked the officers and companions of Arrowhead Chapter for their support during his year, after which first principal elect was installed in a duly constituted Conclave of Installed First Principals, much to the acclaim of all present. Having invested his immediate past first principal, first principal George Head closed the Conclave of Installed First Principals.
Next, George opened a Conclave of Installed Second Principals, at which point second principal elect Ed Blagbrough was readmitted and installed in his chair by George Head, also in a very commendable fashion. Having closed the Conclave of Installed Second Principals, all the companions were readmitted and saluted the three principals appropriately and respectfully.
At this point the robe addresses were given as follows; the scarlet robe address by Neil Keegan, the purple robe address by John Barnes and the blue robe address by John Aitken. All three robe addresses were expertly delivered with meaning and sincerity.
The immediate past first principal then presented the charter of the chapter, the Book of Constitutions and the bye-laws to the first principal, after which the various chapter officers were installed. Once all officers were in position, addresses were given to the officers as follows; to the first principal by John Aitken, to the three principals by Joe Feeney, to the chapter officers by Keith Lang and to the companions of the chapter by John Selley.
This being the completion of the installation, John Selly brought the greetings of the Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews to all the companions. Following this, the first principal presented the charity cheques to John which were going to; £250 to Think Ahead, £250 to 3 Wishes, £250 to Wigan and Leigh Hospice, £500 to Ashton Masonic Hall. Making a grand total of £1,250, a magnificent amount. John thanked the companions of the chapter for their very generous donations.
The chapter then proceeded with its regular business with the principal guest and retinue retiring after the second rising. All further chapter business was then completed and the convocation closed in due form. An enjoyable Provincial bar preceded a sumptuous festive board, which is only to be expected from Christine and Phil, during which there were several toasts and an excellent raffle which raised around £150. All concerned retired home happy in the knowledge that they had experienced a great evening in fantastic company.