Yachtsman’s Lodge No 3698, which meets within Woolton Golf Club, held an emergency meeting to conduct an initiation ceremony. It should have been a double first degree, but unfortunately one of the candidates was unable to be present.
On the evening the lodge was also informed that the junior deacon was also unable to attend. But all was not lost as, at a moment’s notice one of the guests offered to act as junior deacon; Alan Ledger was that man. The lodge was opened by WM Daniel Crichton who then requested Phil Gambrill to occupy the chair for the ceremony. The lodge brethren then honoured the calling to higher service of Robert Henry Wilkie.
Once the routine work had been completed, the initiation ceremony began. The candidate, Chris Ramsdale, was regularly announced and the acting junior deacon Alan Ledger and senior deacon Andrew Aitchison attended upon him. All officers acquitted themselves admirably and the lodge was grateful for the assistance of the acting officers too. Jimmy Campbell who had acted as junior warden presented an explanation of the first degree working tools and WM Daniel Crichton presented the Charge.
The ceremony of initiation being concluded, the new member retired from the lodge to restore himself to his former comforts and on his return, he was presented with a pair of white gloves from the lodge. Once all the regular communications had been received, the lodge was closed in due form and the brethren retired to the dining room so the festivities could continue.
The toast to Chris was presented by Phil Gambrill and Chris responded in very fine manner. The brethren enjoyed a meal of roast pork which they highly recommend! It was a very enjoyable evening and after the tyler had proposed the final toast, all made their home.
