Palatine Council No.89
 
Five days before Christmas is perhaps not the best time to hold a lodge meeting, however, thirty-seven Allied Masons made their way to Garstang to attend the December regular meeting of Palatine Council. Palatine Council hold their meetings in "Wyrebank" Masonic Hall a splendid venue on the side of a Lancaster Canal basin where many narrow boats and cabin cruisers have their moorings adjacent the "owld tithe barn" public house. Normally this would be an idyllic location but for it being very dark, except a few Christmas lights, and a heavy, no very heavy downpour.
DG.Prefect, W.M. B Fox, Candidate William Alan Swindlehurst with The MW Grand Master Thomas Firth Jackson.
The awful weather did not deter our ardent masons who arrived at "Wyrebank" to a welcoming cup of coffee. At 6.30 p.m. on 20th. December the Worshipful Master Brother Brian Fox opened the Council and bid welcome to The Right Worshipful District Grand Prefect Graham Paul Snape and his Deputy District Grand Prefect Worshipful Brother William Lawrence Richmond Past Grand Junior Deacon both of whom were saluted and to which they both suitably responded. The Council Director of Ceremony Worshipful Brother Raymond Keith Lamb Past Grand Standard Bearer / District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremony retired and, on a report, announced that the Most Worshipful Grand Master was requiring admission. The Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Thomas Firth Jackson was received into the Council with acclamation and welcomed by the Worshipful Master, he was escorted to a seat in the Council and the usual salutation were given to which he suitable replied.
Four master’s in office: Bros. A B. Alderton Michael Edward Herbert Council (EL), B. Fox Palatine Council,
A.W.A. Bartlett Thomas Firth Jackson Council and G Catterall Timothy John Lewis Council.
The Worshipful Master completed the administrative items on the agenda and a ballot took place for Bro William Alan Swindlehurst which proved in favour of Bro. Swindlehurst becoming a member of the Order. On an alarm Bro. Swindlehurst was Introduced, Received and Admitted as a Brother of St. Lawrence by the Worshipful Master. The lecture of the degree was delivered by Worshipful Brother Geoffrey Catterall Past Grand Junior Deacon / District Grand Secretary in his usual faultless manner. Bro. Swindlehurst was escorted to a seat in the council. The degree of St. Lawrence was adjourned.
District Grand Prefect, W.M. and Deputy District Grand Prefect
A degree of the Knights of Constantinople was opened and Bro. Swindlehurst was Admitted into the degree by W. Bro Ray Lamb ably assisted by a number of Grand, yes, Grand Officers. The lecture in this degree was delivered by the Council Tyler Worshipful Brother Mark N. Brown. A degree of St Lawrence was resumed, and the Worshipful Master concluded any other business. The Most Worshipful Grand Master congratulated all those who took part in both ceremonies and retired from the Council. On the first, second and third rising The District Grand Prefect gave greetings on behalf of all the Grand and District Grand Officers and accompanied by his Deputy District Grand Prefect retired. After the fourth rising the Worshipful Master closed the Council.
 
The photo-shoot having already taken place prior to the meeting we repaired to the bar / lounge for an aperitif before taking our places at the festive board. The meal, a delicious three courses of soup, gammon steak and sticky toffee pudding was a welcome change from the usual "Christmas Fayre" one gets at this time of year. The usual toasts were given with suitable responses, except on this occasion a toast was proposed to Bro. Swindlehurst our Candidate of the evening wishing him may happy years in the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees and good health to enjoy them, in return Bro. Swindlehurst thanked all the brethren involved in the ceremonies and said he was sure he would enjoy Allied Masonry. The evening finished we made our way to the car park for our homeward journeys and yes it was still very dark and still very wet but nonetheless a another very enjoyable evening of Allied Masonry.   
Report and photos by Ernie Gavan