The first regular meeting of 2024 for Country Pursuits Lodge of West Lancashire No.6615 took place at Lancaster Masonic Hall, Rowley Court. The brethren of this South Fylde Group specialist lodge last met together at the January installation Meeting in St Annes-on-the-Sea, when Ian Heyes took the WM’s chair.
This is the first time that this travelling lodge had met at Rowley Court and the 47 members and visitors assembled were pleased to be back together after months apart. WM Ian Heyes managed the lodge business very efficiently, supported by secretary Chris Tittley and treasurer Andy McClements. The main agenda item for the evening was to initiate Joe Robinson.
The ceremony of initiation was skilfully delivered by the WM, overseen by the director of ceremonies John Fenton, with the support of all lodge officers, in particular junior deacon Will Buchanan and assistant secretary David Jenkinson who gave faultless deliveries of key aspects of the ritual. At the completion of the ceremony, Chris Tittley presented Joe with a welcome pack envelope from the South Fylde Group.
For the meal at the festive board, was a splendid serving of sausage ring, chips, onion rings, peas and thick gravy. A well-stocked raffle table featuring an antler-headed country walking stick, crafted by lodge member Bob Reeves was the first prize, to be followed by numerous bottles and chocolates. Charity steward Richard Dennison managed to extract £300 in total from the brethren assembled by selling £1 raffle numbers in super-quick time. Richard thanked all the brethren who had donated raffle prizes. These prizes were distributed by David Jenkinson and senior deacon Mick Woods.
The toast to the candidate was ably given by his proposer Adam Ellis, who spoke with affection about Joe, his career as an EDF Energy technician at Heysham Power Station and his superb qualities as a brother-in-law, husband and father.
Joe responded to this toast by thanking Adam for proposing him into the lodge, to Colin Preston for agreeing to second him and to everyone who had made the evening such a special event for him. A rapturous round of applause was given to Joe.
Report and pictures by John Topping.