Garston Three in One
 
On Saturday 20th January, against the advice from the weather agencies, some twenty Allied Masons ventured out on a cold, wet and windy morning to attend the Installation Meeting of Portal Council No1. which holds its meetings at the Masonic Hall in Garston, Liverpool. Portal Council join Liverpool Conclave and Excelsior
District Grand Prefect and District Grand Director of Ceremony
Royal Ark Mariner Lodge to form a three in one meeting each holding Its Installation Meeting on a different date. On this occasion it was Portal Council that was to hold its Installation Meeting. The District Grand Prefect Right Worshipful Brother Graham Paul Snape and the Master Elect, Senior Warden Derek Alan Horrocks are both Provincial Grand Masters Special Representatives in another Order and are therefore well acquainted. The District Junior Warden was appointed to represent the District Grand Prefect at the Installation but because of unforeseen circumstances was unable to attend, the District Grand Prefect welcomed the opportunity to attend in person.
D.G.P./ Dist. G.D.of C./ Acting Deacons
The first meeting, Liverpool Conclave being finished the lodge room was set up for Portal Council. The Worshipful Master Brother William Emmanuel Wenton opened the Council at 11: 30 a.m. and completed the domestic business and on a report the District Grand Director of Ceremony Worshipful Brother Raymond Pye Grand Steward announced that the District Grand Prefect was without seeking admission. The District Grand Prefect was escorted into the Council by Worshipful Brother Ernest Gavan Past District Grand Junior Warden / District Grand Sword Bearer and Worshipful Brother Geoff Moore Past District Grand Junior Deacon. The Worshipful Master welcomed The District Grand Prefect and invited him to take a seat in the Council. The District Grand Prefect, Very Worshipful Brethren, Grand and District Grand Officers were saluted, and the appropriate responses given.
W.M. welcomes D.G.P.
The next item on the agenda was to Install the Master Elect. The Worshipful Master invited Worshipful Brother Andrew Stephen Whittle to occupy the master’s Chair for the purpose of Installation. The Master Elect was presented to the Installing Master by the Council Director of Ceremony Worshipful Brother Christopher S. Walls. The Installing Master conducted, under the ever-watchful eye of the Director of Ceremony, an exemplary ceremony of Installation. Those Brethren, not yet Installed Masters which had earlier retired returned and acknowledged their new Worshipful Master. The Worshipful Master then appointed and Invested his officers for the ensuing year.
D.G.P. congratulates W.M. Derek Horrocks
After the risings the District Grand Prefect called the Grand and District Grand Officers to order while he gave greetings on their behalf. The District Director of Ceremony assembled the escort in processional order and The District Grand Prefect retired. The Worshipful Master closed the Council and retired from the lodge room.
I.P.M., D.G.P., W.M. & Installing Master W.Bro. Andrew Whittle
Whilst the room was being prepared for the next meeting, Excelsior Royal Ark Mariners, we utilised the time taking the photos to enable us to go into the dining room on time when the R.A.M. meeting had finished.
Having been informed that lunch was ready we went to our places and partook of a splendid three course lunch. It's been mentioned before that the toasts in the Allied Masonic Degrees seem to be just the right length as do the responses. The labours and refreshment of the day being over we made our way home. Another fine day of Allied Masonry, and the weather had improved too. 
Report and photos by Ernie Gavan