With the third year of being the WM of New Sanctuary Lodge No 6604 drawing to a close, one could have forgiven John Laughton a blow out of the cheeks and dream of a casual year as immediate past master in sight. Such, however, was not to be his fate. As he opened the lodge for the final meeting of the season, he was well aware that he was to enjoy that honour for yet a fourth year. This was not to be a normal proclamation ceremony, though. The lodge director of ceremonies had seen to that.
The director of ceremonies on this occasion was Ian Winnard and he had choreographed a fine ceremony with a few whistles and bells. He was pleased to begin by ushering in Ted Rhodes, on this occasion representing the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. Ted was accompanied by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Masters Harry Cox, Duncan Smith and from East Lancashire, Malcolm Worsley; group secretary Mike Brown; visiting officer John Topping, and three acting Provincial grand officers in the persons of Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Dave Sangster and Provincial Grand Stewards Chris Hardingham and Adam Turner.
After salutations had been honoured with responses by Harry Cox, Ted Rhodes and John Topping, John Laughton invited Ian Fell, Mark Heelis and Alan Albiston to be the installing officers and a Board of Installed Masters was declared, during which Ian Winnard proclaimed John Laughton to be WM for the ensuing year. The proceedings of the installed masters were concluded with an explanation of the working tools of an installed master, which were expertly presented by Mark Heelis.
Following Mark’s fine work, the board was closed and master Masons were admitted. They saluted and greeted the WM and the working tools in the third degree were presented by Andrew Chappell in fine style. The WM was then saluted and greeted in the second degree and the working tools were presented by David Boswell with an excellent rendition of the extended version. The lodge was then resumed in the first degree with salutes and greetings and the first degree tools delivered expertly by Gordon Major.
The address to the WM was then delivered in fine style by Ian Winnard; that to the deacons by David Sangster; that to the wardens was delivered by Duncan Smith; and that to the brethren of the lodge by Ted Rhodes. All in their unique and expert fashion. Ted followed up on his address to the brethren by bringing the greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, with a particular note of thanks to Ian Winnard and also to Delwyn Hernan, the immediate past master who led the salutes, greetings and working tools. The WM then presented Ted Rhodes with a list of donations to the total value of £3,577 to no less than 13 different recipients, many of them health care groups. Ted gave thanks to the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
On the risings, greetings were expressed by Duncan Smith on behalf of the grand officers, who particularly commented on the excellence of the ceremony. Greetings from the Provincial grand officers were conveyed by John Topping, who marvelled that this was the start of the WMs’ fourth term in office’. He added his appreciation of the director of ceremonies work and the excellence of the four explanations of the different working tools. Finally, greetings from the visiting brethren were offered by Gary Duxford, the WM of Windermere Lodge No 2217 in the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland. Gary wished the WM and the members of the lodge a happy and successful year.
The lodge had earlier successfully balloted for a joining member and with the business of the lodge concluded, the brethren retired to the banqueting suite for a sumptuous three-course meal. This was followed by the traditional toasts. In his response to the toast to the grand officers, Ted Rhodes congratulated New Sanctuary Lodge for staging an excellent ceremony of proclamation. He observed that the standard of ritual was first-class and showed just how much hard work had gone into the preparation for the evening. He also thanked the lodge for the splendid meal that they had provided. He went on to thank Ian Winnard for his hard work in preparing for the ceremony and Delwyn Hernan for his work as secretary.
Ted went on to praise Ian Fell for the work he was doing with the Fylde Light Blues Club. He also thanked the grand and Provincial grand officers for their support, Glenn O’Brien for his work as publicity officer for the evening, and Len Jolley for his accompaniment on the organ throughout the evening. Ted also congratulated Bob Marsden on his appointment as group vice chairman and John Darrell as group secretary for the Blackpool Group. Ted also discussed the use of Portal, the United Grand Lodge online information service, the Provincial Grand Ball on 13 March 2026 and the Provincial Grand Chapter meeting on 23 September 2026. Other subjects covered in his speech were community engagement, membership (particularly bringing members back) and the next charity festival which would end in 2032.
After a short toast to the WM by Delwyn Hernon, the Master’s Song was sung with his normal gusto and dulcet tones by John Darrell. The WM reiterated thanks to all those who had attended and taken part in the meeting. He then presented Ted Rhodes with a fine bottle of spirit for himself and flowers for his wife, Glenda. A raffle was held which raised the sum of £350, and there were 14 prizes on offer. Proceedings were brought to a close by David Boswell, who proposed the tyler’s toast.