Annual Meeting of Grand Council
 
On Tuesday 24th October a goodly number of West Lancashire Allied Masons left their homes early morning, in what it as to be said was rather unpleasant weather, and made their way to the capital to attend the Annual Meeting of Grand Council. It was a pretty uneventful journey for the Fylde delegation, in fact the highlight was changing at Crewe. We arrived in London and made our way to Great Queen Street, the venue for this year’s meeting.
 
Dep. D.G.P. in Active Officers Procession
Grand Master retires
W.Bro. Ray Pye G.Stwd.
W.Bro. Jimmy Rogers P.G.Std.Br.
The Grand Connaught Rooms
The meeting was scheduled to start 1.15 PM, so we were requested to be seated at 1.00. At 1.15 PM we were called to Order to receive The District Grand Prefects, The Distinguished Guests from other Grand Councils, The Past Grand Wardens and The Active Grand Officers for the year. We then welcomed into Grand Council The Most Worshipful Grand Master Thomas Firth Jackson.

Three Allied Masons enjoy a pre-dinner drink
A rare photo of me
V.W.Bro. Bob McGown relaxing outside Pillars
Grand Council was opened by The Grand Master and first on the order of business was in memoriam of those Brethren who had been called to higher service.
Next items were of a domestic nature brought before Grand Council.
Photo's of ornate ceiling
D.G.P. and R.W.Bro. John Forster enjoy a drink together
West Lancs District Grand Wardens
Most Worshipful Brother Thomas Firth Jackson was re-elected and Proclaimed as The Grand Master for the ensuing year and given salutations to which he suitably responded. He then re-appointed Right Worshipful Brother Clive Robert Manuel as Deputy Grand Master. The Deputy Grand Master was given salutations to which he suitably replied. Very Worshipful Brother John Norman George Howitt was re-elected Grand Treasurer. There then followed the appointment and investiture of the Grand Officers for the year 2017/2018.
Three Allied Masons enjoy the Banquet
Bob Mcgown and John forster
Bill and Stephen share a joke

Next items on the agenda were to appoint Auditors, to appoint two members onto the Executive Committee of the Order and to elect two members onto the Executive Committee. There being no further business The Grand Master Closed Grand Council.
Ernie Waites and Ray Pye
Two council secretaries conferring
17
18 Andy Bartlett, Geoff Catterall and Maurice Evans
20 D.G.P. making a point
When the procession had cleared the Temple, we made our way to local hostelries for a refreshing pre-dinner drink and to talk about the day’s proceedings.
 
Dinner was in the Grand Connaught Rooms right next door to the Freemasons Hall in Great Queen Street, where we enjoyed a delightful three course dinner with a glass, or two of wine to aid the digestion. In Allied Masonry the toast seems to be just the right length as do the responses and before long we were making our way to the railway station and the journey home. When we arrived back in Lancashire would you believe it, it was still raining. 

      

Report and photos by Ernie Gavan