Tuesday 18th March 2025 was the day when the Provincial Grand Master, The Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Team dropped in on Gilkirke to join in their Centenary Celebrations. A good number of visitors were also present. As usual a warm Mark welcome was extended to all visitors, and we had plenty of time to take in this lovely new building and have a chat before the meeting itself.
The Lodge was duly opened by the Worshipful Master W.Bro. Simon Gazzard. Eventually there was a report, and it was announced that R.W.Bro. J. Trevor Bolton Prov.G.M. was without and demanded admission. He was accompanied by the Dep.Prov.G.M. W.Bro. Andrew J. Brown, and an escort consisting of the Prov.G.D.C. W.Bro. Mark Holland and a retinue of Provincial Officers. When Trevor was offered the gavel, he accepted it and took the Chair of Adoniram, he then put in place W.Bro. William Light as Senior Warden and W.Bro. Kevin Lloyd as Junior Warden and the rest of his Provincial Officers to replace the Officers of the Lodge for the Centenary Warrant presentation.
The Centenary Warrant was read out by the Prov.Dep.G.Sec. W.Bro. Jason Cunningham and was delivered by Mark into the hands of Trevor who then presented the Certificate to the Worshipful Master, congratulating the Lodge and its members on such an illustrious history. He reminded the W.M. that this Centenary Warrant was to be presented pure and unsullied as he now received it to his successor along with the Lodge Warrant at the next Installation meeting.
We heard an excellent history of the Lodge and reading of an extract from the Consecration meeting, this included information about how the Lodge was founded and the various buildings it has occupied up until vacating their last building and moving into temporary accommodation whilst the new one was constructed. This presentation was delivered by the secretary of Gilkirke W.Bro. Geoff Askew and was well received by an interested audience. The Prov.G.Chap. W.Bro. Roger Quick then gave a superb Oration exploring interesting facts and combinations of numbers relating to the Lodge and the Consecration date. Where he digs this stuff up is beyond me! great entertainment, thank you Roger.
The Officers of the Lodge then resumed their positions and Trevor handed back the gavel and management of the Lodge to Simon. The business of the evening was soon concluded and with that Trevor, Andrew and the team retired.
We were soon joined by the Lodge members and visitors for refreshments, conversation and an excellent Festive Board. Toasts and speeches broke up the conversations and were appreciated by all attendees, soon the Tyler was summoned to bid us all Adieu and we reluctantly departed – some of us clutching the spoils of the raffle (in my case an Easter egg that my daughter has claimed).
Gilkirke is always an enjoyable place to visit, easy to find and with ample parking – why not pop over to a future meeting and be a part of this fine Lodge’s second Century?
With thanks to
W.Bro. Kevin Lloyd
Prov.G.J.W.