28th. March 2018 its "Alliedfest"
 
On the 28th March 2018 West Lancashire Allied Masons celebrated and took part in the annual "Alliedfest". For those unfamiliar with the term "Alliedfest" it is that day in the year when the hardier (or perhaps foolhardy) attend two Councils, one in Chorley toward the South of the District and one on the Furness Peninsular in the extreme North of the District. The term " Alliedfest" was coined by our late and dedicated Brother Ieuan Michael Davies who was a major player in Freemasonry in the Northwest of England.
Most Excellent President Paul Renton and his assiastants Bro. Marc Goldsworthy and W.Bro. Geoff Catterall
The first meeting in Chorley was to Timothy John Lewis Council No. 190 which hold their meetings in Cunliffe Hall on Cunliffe Street. Having arrived early enough to enjoy Morning Coffee / Tea and biscuits we adjourned to the Upstairs Lodge Room for the first part of the proceedings. The Worshipful Master Right Worshipful Brother Douglas John Forster Past Grand Junior Warden opened the Council and welcomed the District Grand Prefect Right Worshipful Brother Graham Paul Snape into the Council. Salutations were given under the direction of Worshipful Brother Raymond Pye Grand Steward / District Grand Director of Ceremony. The Worshipful Master then quickly dispatched the domestic business of the Lodge.
The High Priest Team with The D.G.P.
On a report the Director of Ceremonies announced The Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Thomas Firth Jackson was outside the Council and seeking admission. The Director of Ceremonies called the Brethren to order who greeted The Grand Master with acclamation, and what a pleasure it was to receive The Grand Master back in Council after his recent accident. The worshipful Master welcomed The Grand Master who was escorted to his seat in the Council and salutation were given to which The Grand Master responded.
The team with The Candidates
The next items were to declare Worshipful Brother Geoffrey Catterall Past Grand Junior Deacon / District Grand Secretary as Master Elect and Worshipful Brother Robert Dickinson Past District Grand Senior Deacon as Treasurer for the ensuing year. There being no further business in this part of the Ceremony the Worshipful Master closed the Council and we all adjourned to the Downstairs Lodge Room for the next item of business to Admit to the Order of Grand High Priest Brother Michael John Clarke and sixteen other Brethren.
Chorley Masonic Hall
The Lodge Room having been prepared earlier the Most Excellent President Worshipful Brother Paul Renton Past District Grand Senior Warden opened a Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest. On an alarm Companion Clarke was admitted into the Lodge and Anointed, Consecrated and Set Apart to the Office of High Priest for and on behalf of sixteen other Candidates. W. Bro. Renton was assisted in the Ceremony by W. Bro. Catterall and Brother Marc Goldsworthy the Worshipful Master of Thomas Firth Jackson Council and David Lamb Council (E.L.). W. Bro. Renton also delivered the Lecture of the Order, the Most Excellent President then closed the Convention of the Order of Grand High Priest bringing an end to the mornings labours.
D.G.P., W.M. Marc Goldsworthy, Can. Bro. Barry Fitzgerald with the Dep.D.G.P.
The Brethren repaired to the bar / dining room for refreshments, a delicious two course lunch followed by coffee / tea. The toasts were not too long as were the responses. The Worshipful Master again repeated how please we were to see The Grand Master back and in good form. He also congratulated the Master Elect and hoped he has as good a year in office as he had. The Labours and Refreshment being over it was time to make our way homeward or in some cases Dalton in Furness to attend Thomas Firth Jackson Council No. 262 for round two.
W.Bro Mark Barton Supporting Bro Fitzgerald colleages on the Craft D.C's. Team
The journey to Dalton was not as arduous as we thought in fact we had time to visit a local hostelry for liquid refreshment. Still time waits for non and soon we were making our way to Dalton Masonic Hall a quaint little Hall just off the main road. At 6.30pm we were called to order by the Acting Lodge Director of Ceremonies Worshipful Brother Raymond Keith Lamb Past District Grand Junior Warden / District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies. The Worshipful Master Marc William Lester Goldsworthy opened the Council and welcomed into the Council The Right Worshipful District Grand Prefect. After the minutes had been approved a ballot took place for Brother Barry Fitzgerald, a Mason from Ulverston, becoming a member of the Council.
Master Elect Bro. Andrew Bartlett
The Ballot proved favourable for the Candidate and on an alarm Bro. Fitzgerald entered the Council and was Introduced, Received and Admitted as a Brother of St. Lawrence. by the Worshipful Master. The Lecture was delivered by Worshipful Brother John Bicknell Past Grand Steward in his usual faultless manner. The degree of St Lawrence was adjourned.
W.M. Marc Goldswothy
The next item of business was to Admit into the Degree of Masons Elect of Twenty-seven and Created Grand Tilers of Solomon Brother Peter Schofield and Brother Barry Fitzgerald.  The room was prepared for a Grand Tilers of Solomon Ceremonies and the Acting Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. Ray Lamb conducted the ceremony assisted by Very Worshipful Brother Stuart Leach Past Grand Registrar and Worshipful Brother Stephen Pemberton Past Grand Junior Deacon. The Lecture in this Degree was delivered by Worshipful Brother Ernest Gavan Past District Grand Junior Warden / District Grand Sword Bearer in his own inimitable manner (modestly he wrote).
A Grand Council Certificate was presented to Brother David Sears by The Right Worshipful District Grand Prefect, at the request of the Worshipful Master. Brother Andrew W.A. Bartlett was declared Master Elect and Worshipful Brother William L. Richmond Past Grand Junior Deacon / Deputy District Grand Prefect was declared Treasurer for the ensuing year. There being no other business to conduct the Worshipful Master closed the Council.
D.G.P., Bros Peter Schofield, Barry Fitzgerald and the W.M.
All the photographs having been taken earlier gave us the opportunity of enjoying a pre-dinner drink albeit in some cases non-alcoholic. In the dining room we partook of another two-course meal. Again, the toasts were short, in his response to the toast to The District Grand Prefect thanked us all for our support at either one or both meetings and that we had probably heard enough responses today, and after all some had a train to catch. Job done we made our way home another great day of Allied Masonry at its best, albeit a very, very, very long day.    
Report and photos by our Ernie Gavan