When Kevin Ainsley had to leave his initiation meeting to dash off to work, he little imagined that he had missed one of the most impressive parts of any initiation ceremony, that is the ‘charge after initiation.’ Never fear though, Fairhaven Lodge No 5076 is made of sterner stuff.
The next time Kevin attended his new lodge the missing link from the former meeting was a must and so, step up that stalwart of ritual, David Atkinson. Atki to his friends performed a word–perfect rendition of the charge to the satisfaction of the members and the amazement of Kevin. What was to follow was equally impressive.
Stuart Hiley, the WM of Fairhaven Lodge is a manager by trade and delegation is one of his key skills. When it came to choosing a past master to take the chair to perform the ceremony of passing to the second degree, he was able to call upon the South Fylde Group Membership Officer, John Conroy, also noted for his skill with the spoken word. John is normally the director of ceremonies so great things were expected and he didn’t disappoint.
The candidate for passing was Nick Issitt, a data and information analyst by trade, who lists his hobbies as visiting BBQ restaurants in the North West and mountain biking. One imagines that he has to top up with plenty of the former to provide him with plenty of energy for the latter. One thing which became very clear during the evening is that Nick has his wits about him. He answered his questions with a confidence and accuracy, which impressed the assembled brethren. This made the job for stand-in junior deacon John Nicholls, that much easier. Not that John needs any help, being a ‘silver matchbox’ holder of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement in London.
Throughout the ceremony of passing, Nick conducted himself with dignity and aplomb, ably guided by Chris Thompson, who was acting as senior deacon for the evening. The working tools in the degree were expertly explained by Stuart Hiley, who was proudly displaying the lodge’s Hall Stone Jewel throughout the meeting. David Arrow also excelled as senior warden and is rapidly becoming a stalwart of the lodge.
Another stalwart of the lodge, Neil Curtis was receiving congratulations during the evening, having been named as a Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works designate. Neil, who is the immediate past master, has been master of the lodge three times, the most recent occasion for a two-year stint. Talking of stalwarts, secretary Kevin Burns found himself multi-tasking. As well as his own secretarial duties, he found himself acting as tyler during the ceremony, acting as chaplain at the festive board, as well as proposing the toast to Nick’s health. A secretary’s work is never done!
Well, is it ever? Kevin had provided place cards for the dining table, alternative meals for those not fond of beef and finally got to sit down for a rest when dinner was served. John Conroy, however, being the director of ceremonies, still had work to do and conducted wine takings and toasts with ease, while still managing to finish his meal. One significant wine taking was with the lodge’s newest honorary member, Ian Ward, who was for many years the South Fylde Group Chairman.
Ian had thanked the lodge members for this honour during the first rising of business, when he brought the greetings of grand officers. Giving greetings from Provincial grand officers was Peter Robinson, the lodge charity steward. During the festive board Peter conducted a raffle which raised the sum of £101 for charity, with the prize of a bottle of spirit being won by Mel Gray, the junior warden. Then onto the toasts.
The toast to Kevin Ainsley was proposed by John Conroy with glowing terms. Kevin, who works at the BAE Systems plant at Warton, lists his hobbies as pickling and following Newcastle United Football Club. In his response he thanked Atki for his excellent charge and voiced his appreciation for the warmth of the welcome he had received from the brethren. This was followed by Kevin Burns’ toast to Nick. Kevin congratulated Nick on the way he had answered his questions which, he said, he was delighted to describe as exemplary. In his response Nick thanked everyone involved in a memorable ceremony, which he had been at pains to take in and understand the meaning of the words. He added that the time lapse between his first and second degree ceremonies had aided in the process of absorbing those words more thoroughly. This was followed by the toast to the visitors, which was proposed by Mel Gray.
Responding for the visitors, South Fylde Group Publicity Officer Glenn O’ Brien told a true story of the last time he had attended Fairhaven Lodge for a passing ceremony. On that occasion the then WM, Andy Harwood, had been held up in traffic on the M6 motorway. Atki had stepped into the breach at the last minute and performed the ceremony. The most amusing part of Glenn’s speech was his mimicking of the lodge officers when a knock came on the door, which everyone thought was the late running Andy Harwood.
No. It wasn’t Andy. It was Keith Kemp, the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. He in turn announced that the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison demanded admission. “Well “Glenn said, “Gobs had never been so smacked!” However, he went on to describe a very enjoyable evening. Glenn concluded by thanking the lodge members for all of the happy and memorable meetings he had enjoyed over the years and hoped to be present for many more.
The evening was closed by the tyler’s toast which was proposed by the acting junior deacon/hall steward/matchbox holder, John Nicholls. They’re nothing at Fairhaven Lodge if not the most multifunctional group of Masons to be found anywhere in West Lancashire. Doubling up on degree rituals, no problem. It’s just a double whammy!
