ProvGM hosts a Ladies Night as WM of Lodge of Perseverance

Whenever our Provincial Grand Master is the principal guest at events across the Province, we often hear him say at the festive board about getting ‘back to basics’ in our lodges with events such as Ladies Nights.

Pictured left: Kevin Poynton (left) has a catch up with lodge DC Bryan Henshaw. Pictured centre: Guests enjoying pre-dinner drinks and conversation. Pictured right: Southport Group Secretary Richard Jenkinson’s partner Kerry Edmondson and Southport Group Chairman’s wife Sharon Stock.

Well, as the WM of Lodge of Perseverance No 155, Mark Matthews and his good lady Debbie did exactly that and led by example and got ‘back to basics’ and held their Ladies Night in June 2025 at Southport Masonic Hall. Prior to the commencement of the dinner, all the guests met up in the bar for pre-dinner drinks and a chance to catch up with old friends and make new friends.

Pictured left: Mark and Debbie make their entrance to the dinner. Pictured centre and right: Guests enjoying the evening.

Just shy of 80 guests attended the glamorous evening, where great food was served by the hall chef and the team. All of the traditions of a Ladies Night continued throughout the night, such as a toast by the WM to the ladies, followed by a toast by the lodge JW to the ladies, which was responded to by Debbie Matthews who went on to tell us of her gratitude to being part of a very ‘special’ lodge.

Pictured left: Debbie makes her speech. Pictured right: Debbie receives a bouquet of flowers.

Following on from the toasts, Mark Matthews took to the centre stage with the microphone, reassuring everyone that he was not the night’s entertainment, he introduced the fantastic Julie A Scott, whom next year, celebrates 40 years since making her television debut on New Faces and she then took centre stage and performed many songs from the 60s and 70s including hits by Cilla Black.

After a short break, the evening saw the second half performance from Julie A Scott who sang of various hits from the 80s and 90s. The songs were so good that in turn guests were unable to resist partaking in a ‘boogie’ on the dance floor, led by the Mark and Debbie.

As the evening drew to a close, the final song of the night was indeed a ‘slowy’ by Julie, as she sang ‘The Power of Love’, by Jennifer Rush, quite fitting really for the occasion, while as Freemasons, we get a lot of love and support from our other halves.

With the final song over, and everyone departing for home, all agreed that it was a great night with excellent food, first class entertainment and very good company.