Widnes Masonic Hall, Kingsway, was built in 1959 and as well as being the home for a number of lodges and chapters within the Mersey Valley Group, also serves as a function room and conference centre for events in the local community. The hall can even be booked for a paranormal night and explore the spooky goings on at the hall, however, on this occasion the hall was to host the Mersey Valley Group Dinner.
Group chairman David Atkinson, assisted by group vice chairman John Gibbon welcomed all to the hall as visitors and guests mingled in the bar catching up with each other, and enjoying a drink of their choice, The Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Barry Fitzgerald announced that a reception had been setup for master’s in office and first principals of chapters and would they like to enter the reception.
The Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews was on hand, and accompanied by AProvGM Andrew Whittle and AtoProvGPs John Murphy, ProvSGW Michael Tax and ProvJGW David Rigby, ProvGSec Peter Taylor and ProvDepGSec Mick Southern, were dispersed around the room talking with the masters and principals. David Atkinson and John Gibbon, accompanied by Warrington Group Chairman Andy Barton, along with Howard Griffiths and Colin Rowlands, David Redhead and Ian Halsall all caught up with the brethren present and the room was soon full of laughter and stories from the masters and first principals present.
The time in the reception room sped fast, as always does when one is having fun, and Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Greg Pinnington, announced for the assembled brethren to please take their place in the main dining room. A quick look at the floor plan revealed the table to be seated at and all were ready to welcome, principal guest Mark Matthews accompanied by group chairman David Atkinson and other distinguished guests to the top table.
A delicious meal was then enjoyed with the brethren and companions talking at each table with friends old and new, and making acquaintances with brethren from lodges and chapters that they may have not met before. Past Provincial Grand Steward Alan Ledger, Anfield Lodge No 2215, then rose and gave a speech to the health of the Provincial Grand Master, detailing Mark’s career and his journey through Freemasonry, praising Mark for the work that he has done for the Province of West Lancashire which was met with enthusiastic applause.
In response, Mark thanked Alan for the toast to him, and remarked that on a previous occasion at a group dinner, that he had once given a toast to the health of a former Provincial Grand Master, Peter Hosker and look at what had happened since!
Mark praised the Chairman of Mersey Valley Group David Atkinson, and in particular wanted to extend his thanks to all of the masters and first principals present for all their hard work in support of their lodges and chapters. Mark also thanked Andrew Whittle and John Murphy for their support of the Mersey Valley Group and was looking forward to welcoming all to ‘his’ lodge, at Provincial Grand Lodge later on in the year. Mark took the time to extend his thanks and congratulations to group secretary Gary Mason, for his sterling work in organising the group dinner, and finally encouraged all present to continue to enjoy their Freemasonry. Mark finished his speech to the toast to his health once again to enthusiastic applause.
Provincial Senior Grand Warden, Michael Tax, then gave a toast to the Mersey Valley Group, explaining and congratulating the success of the amalgamation of the five former groups, which now consists of 34 lodges with another to join and 14 chapters, with over 900 members. Noting the varied number of lodges and chapters within the group, it would be remiss not to mention some of the older lodges in the group, notably Lodge of Loyalty No 86 founded in 1753 in Prescot, and Lodge of Harmony No 220 founded in 1796 in Liverpool, which moved to Garston Masonic Hall in 1925 where it has remained ever since.
The strength of the group and its success has been continued by David Atkinson, following on from the previous chairman John Murphy, and Michael congratulated them both on their hard work and wished David every success in all he continues to do for the Province, assisted by vice chairman John Gibbon and all of the group officers of the Mersey Valley Group.
In response, group chairman David, thanked Michael for his toast to the group and also passed on his thanks to all his group officers in making it such a successful year. David also mentioned that this year, the Mersey Valley Group would be stewarding at Provincial Grand Lodge and expressed his gratitude for those who had volunteered their services. Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Barry Fitzgerald, then announced that David had a very pleasant duty to perform, and he presented Mark Matthews with flowers for his wife Debbie and a small gift for Mark which he said he would enjoy later.
With the final toast of the evening in the hands of Tommy Lunt, the visitors and guests retired to the bar area for final farewells and arranging for carriages home, in reflection of a very pleasant evening in the company of the Mersey Valley Group.
Story by Mike Fox.