In 2025, it was FROTH’s turn to organise the annual Ormskirk and Bootle Group Recipients’ Dinner for brethren and companions receiving Provincial appointments and promotions in Craft and Royal Arch. This was held at Litherland Masonic Hall and organised by FROTH Chairman Stephen Oliver and group vice chairman Malcolm Sandywell. The brethren and companions all met in the bar before the dinner, to catch up with old friends and to make new acquaintances.
The dinner was honoured by the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Thomas, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principles John Selley and Stephen Dunn, Chairman of Ormskirk and Bootle Group. They were escorted into the dining room by Greg Pinnington, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies and were greeted by rapturous applause from the brethren and companions.
At the start of the dinner, grace was delivered by the chaplain of Formby Lodge No 5659, Don Fraser and David Thomas then took wine with the recipients and with all the brethren and companions. There then followed a delicious three course meal, prepared and cooked by the new caterer at Litherland Masonic Hall, Mike Lamb. After dinner had been served, David then conducted the raffle, which raised £215 and with in the following day’s the money would be spent on a new freezer for hall.
After Don Fraser had returned thanks, toasts were proposed to the King, the Grand Master, Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Master. David then proposed a toast to the recipients of appointments and promotions in both Craft and Royal Arch. David then rose and said that the appointments and promotions had been due to the many years of hard work by the recipients. He hoped that the recipients would work just as hard in the future and encouraged those who had received acting ranks to go out and enjoy the rank. David then thanked Greg Pinnington on behalf of FROTH and the Ormskirk and Bootle Group Chairman for officiating. David finished by saying that he hoped that everyone would enjoy their Freemasonry.
Stephen Dunn then rose and firstly thanked David for what he had said to the recipients and that he was proud of the brethren and companions who had achieved first appointments and promotions. He then talked about the travelling gavel, which encouraged brethren accompanied by their WM to visit other lodges who have the gavel to claim it. He said that a member of Old Crosbeian Lodge No 4992 had even travelled to Devon to pick up their travelling gavel.
For 2025, it was decided to start the season of at the Recipient’s Dinner with the lodge with most brethren and WM present to claim the gavel. Stephen was then delighted to present the gavel to the WM of Bootle Pilgrim Lodge No 1473, Graham Daly, who then came forward to accept the travelling gavel on behalf of his lodge and finally Stephen thanked Greg Pinnington for his attendance.
The tyler’s toast was then delivered by Malcolm Sandywell, Vice Chairman of Ormskirk and Bootle Group. The principal guests then retired and the brethren and companions made their way to the bar for further refreshments and merriment.
