NEWSLETTER FOR MARK MASTER MASONS and ROYAL ARK MARINERS OF SOMERSET ISSUE 16 Summer 2014 http://www.somersetmarkmason.co.uk

Greetings to our new Provincial Grand Master

Saturday 3rd May 2014, at the Webbington Hotel, Loxton, Axbridge, was a day to be remembered by all Mark Masons in Somerset. For it was the day that Worshipful Brother John Graham Morgan was Installed as our new Provincial Grand Master by The Pro Grand Master, The Most Worshipful Brother Benjamin Addy.Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form by The Right Worshipful Brother Anthony Walter Samson Hick, Past Provincial Grand Master, after which all stood to receive the Pro Grand Master & his Assisting Officers.On assuming the chair, the Pro Grand Master appointed his Officers & was saluted under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies. After which he addressed the brethren as to the purpose of the meeting.On his direction, the Grand Director of Ceremonies retired to ascertain that the Provincial Grand Master Designate was in attendance, on his return he affirmed that Worshipful Brother John was in attendance & requested to be installed. The Patent of Appointment was examined, the Grand Director of Ceremonies accompanied by certain appointed brethren retired & re-entered the Lodge to introduce the Provincial Grand Master Designate.The ceremony continued smoothly as per the Order of Proceedings. W. Brother John took a solemn obligation & was conducted to the Installing Officer who invested him & installed him into the chair of his office. The Provincial Grand Master was proclaimed & saluted under the direction of the Grand DC.

Worshipful Philip Clifford Voisey was next appointed as Deputy Provincial Grand Master & was duly escorted into the lodge in due form & ceremony. As before the Patent of Appointment was read by the Grand Secretary, W. Brother Philip was addressed as to the nature of his duties, took a solemn obligation, was invested by the PGM & conducted to his seat by the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies. W. Brother Philip was in turn proclaimed & saluted by the assembled Brethren.The Provincial Grand Master rose to address & thank the Pro Grand Master & his Assisting Officers for their work, after which, all rose as the Installing Team retired in procession.

This very special day in the Somerset calendar, will be celebrated in pictures in the next Triangle Magazine.

For the last time all Somerset Mark Masons with their family & friends joined together at the Redcliffe Hotel Paignton for the ever popular Annual Ball. For the last time our Provincial Grand Master, The Right Worshipful Brother David Brian Nelson together with his lady Catherine were our hosts before his retirement as PGM in April. For the last time, Worshipful Brother Tony Snook together with his lady Dorothy had planned & organised the entire weekend with their usual perfection, honed from countless years of experience preparing for this wonderful weekend; for they too would now be retiring. For the last time, we said goodbye to all the hotel staff who have made us so welcome over the many years, many becoming friends.We can now look forward, for the first time to a different venue next year, hosted by our new Provincial Grand Master, The Right Worshipful Brother John Graham Morgan with his Lady Wendy together with his Deputy PGM, W. Brother Philip Clifford

Voisey with his lady Gill.

As per the article above, this our last visit to the Redcliffe Hotel wi l l be featured with many pictures in t h e n e x t edi t ion of your Triangle Magazine.

Final long week-end at Paignton

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The weather was stormy, the wind was gale force, but despite this well over 100 Mark Master Masons arrived at the Webbington Hotel to witness the official hand-over of the new motorcycle to the Freewheelers. The bike had in reality been delivered to them two weeks before as it was needed to replace a machine that was temporarily out of action. Two weeks later at the presentation “The Nelson”, our named bike, had already travelled 2,000 miles in response to its emergency work! The Presentation was a great success; the highlight being to persuade our PGM David to mount the bike for the photo shots, what can’t be seen in the picture are the flashing blue lights! Many photographers were present & reports with pictures were printed in several local newspapers. The morning finished with a hot buffet that was appreciated by all before braving the weather again & home. A happy shot of Geoff Seaman with his useless umbrella and a happily confused Eric Kellett is featured here for your amusement! Copy/pics,Ed.Eric’s official report follows:-

Blood Bike Charity.A chance meeting in a supermarket car park led to the presentation, at the Webbington Hotel on Wednesday 12th February, of a new emergency response motorcycle to the Freewheelers by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Somerset.After extensive fundraising throughout Somerset the members of Freewheelers (all of whom give their time without remuneration), were able to afford the running costs of their bikes but not able to raise enough to replace worn out machines. Somerset Mark Masons were so impressed with the ethics and commitment of the Freewheelers (who provide an out of hours transport service for blood and other vital supplies between NHS hospitals in Somerset, thus saving the NHS a vast sum of money), that the Provincial Grand Master launched an appeal for funds among the 24 Mark Lodges in Somerset. The response was such that within 16 months the Lodges gave £20,000. This was enough to provide a brand new BMW 1200RT motorcycle fitted with all the necessary emergency equipment and enough money also to cover the running costs for its first year of operation. Richard Reeves of Freewheelers said the fantastic gift of the bike, which has been named ‘The Nelson’, will enable them to continue their work which is provided to the NHS completely without charge…Eric Kellett

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Pictures of that very special day

Right,Geoff with

the wind-up and

below leftEric seems the same!

From left to right:- RWBro. David Nelson, Freewheelers, Megan Brooks, Steve Brooks, & Richard Reeves & centre W. Bro. Eric Kellett,

1st. W. Bro. Walter WoodW. Bro. David Burrows

W. Bro. Chris WhiteVWBro. Cliff Hannabuss

Mrs Jane DunnW. Bro. Steve Defries

W. Bro. Bob ColeW. Bro. Harry Jordan

Miss Kizzy HaggettW. Bro. Phil Voisey

Bro. Fin ChristensenBro. David Colston

W. Bro. Stephen HawkinsW. Bro. John Bathe-Taylor

Bro. Dudley TremaineW. Bro. Brian Rees

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Provincial 600 Club Winners

Provincial Seminar

Feb.“““

Mar.“““

April“““

May“““

Draw Name Lodge

15481608128154812957817308071656807781807

191216087811608

Congratulations to our lucky winners. Each Draw take place

at a different lodge each month, the WM and his Wardens draw the lucky winners.

Prizes: 1st. £150, 2nd. £100, 3rd. & 4th. £50.

Entry Forms available from your Lodge Charity Steward.

Calling all Secretaries, Scribes & Directors of Ceremonies

Don’t miss this important meeting at Wedmore Masonic Hall,

Friday 29th August 2014 at 7.00pm.On this occasion the meeting will be

chaired by our Provincial Grand Master RWBrother John Morgan.

The meeting will also welcome Assistant Secretaries, Scribes &

Assistant Directors of Ceremonies

Light refreshments will be providedThe bar will be open

Hand-outs will be available for all

It is important that every lodge in the Province be represented.

Past Deputy honoured by PGMAt the regular meeting of Irwin Lodge No 119 at Keynsham on 17th March the Provincial Grand Master. R.W.Bro David Nelson, surprised his Past Deputy PGM, V.W.Bro Ray Guthrie, by presenting him with his Certificate of Merit. V.W.Bro Ray was Deputy PGM of the Mark degree in Somerset for eight years from 2004. The certificate cites his “Long, dedicated and valued service to his Lodges and to the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner degrees in the Province of Somerset”. He thanked the Provincial Grand Master for his great kindness in presenting the certificate and for the very fine solid silver Somerset Mark Token presented along with it.

Well Done Clive!

Else Lodge No. 102. Member Bro. Clive Sutton’s special dayThe occasion was at the Avalon Conclave number 379, of the Order of the Secret Monitor held at Glastonbury on Wednesday 14th May 2014.The photograph shows Clive just after his installation as Supreme Ruler by Worthy Brother Graham Jeffery together with his officers. Also present were the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler R.Wy.Bro. Trevor Cooper, the Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler V.Wy.Bro. Bill Lloyd PAGDC and V.Wy.Bro. John Massey.Clive said, “This was a very special occasion for me as it is the first chair I have occupied since joining masonry all those years ago! It was a fun and splendid evening and I felt very humbled by the whole experience”. The ceremony was followed by a festive board at the George and Pilgrims hotel...Clive was talking to Pat Morrisey.

William Long Lodge, No 191

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Sixty Years Young for Fenton

A happy sequel to the PGM’s very successful presentation of a fully equipped Motor Cycle to the “Freewheelers, Riding for life” charity came at the March meeting of the William Long Lodge of Mark Master Masons, meeting at Burnham-on-Sea. There the Worshipful Master Julian Frost & his team had the pleasure to Advance Brother Mark Blackburn into the Lodge. Brother Mark is a member of Lodge Uno-Corde, No. 5736 & also one of the voluntary ‘Blood Bike’ riders for the Freewheelers charity. His introduction to all at the Festive Board was greeted warmly with much acclamation.The Lodge is in fine form, with several potential candidates waiting to be Advanced.Thanks to Chris Becket for the information, pic,Ed.

Worshipful Brother Fenton Rutter Joined Science Lodge in June 1953 and became Worshipful Master in 1970. He was later promoted to Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden. He is 91 and still regularly, (most days) goes into his office to see how his business is progressing.RW Bro David Nelson presented Fenton with his Certificate at his home in December 2013.David was accompanied by, Back Row: W Brothers Tony Hitch, Richard Old, Tony Wilcox and Alan Hayward. The front Row shows: W.Bro Fenton with RW Bro David Nelson and Mrs Rutter.…Tony Wilcox. Secretary, Science Lodge, No. 1228.

At the Mark meeting in March & in the presence of The Provincial Grand Master RWBrother David Brian Nelson & his Deputy, W. Brother John Graham Morgan (PGM Designate), the following Presentations were made.From the Worshipful Master, W. Bro. Paul Cullum, a cheque for £325 to Mrs. Shelagh Evans of the Williton Signers who produce readable & instructional books for children with severe reading difficulties. These books are also supplied to Hospices in the South West. This charity has been the Worshipful Master’s project throughout the year.From The Worshipful Commander, W. Bro. Richard Wickham,

a cheque for £200 to Mrs Christine Payne of the Alcombe Food Cupboard. W. Brother’s Paul & Richard also presented, on behalf of all their members, a retirement gift to our retiring Provincial Grand Master, RWBrother David, that being a trip for two to the top of the Shard in London!Also, & for your amusement, we publish a picture of the latest member to Exmoor RAM, Bro. Ken Gillard seen here prepared for his voyage on the Ark! Normally a wet suit is the norm, but as one that fitted Bro. Ken was not available, a better fitting Sou’wester & Marker buoy had to suffice!Report from Norman Ackland PIO...Thank you Norman…Ed.

News from Exmoor Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges

Mrs. Shelagh Evans Mrs Christine Payne Brother Ken GillardShard London

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Annual Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Assembly

Yet again, the Nailsea Masonic Hall was the venue for the 10th Annual Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Assembly. This was to be the last RAM Assembly that our ever popular Provincial Grand Master, David Brian Nelson attended before his retirement after ten years making his ‘mark’ in Somerset as our PGM!The Lodge room was full to capacity, with dining chairs forming a new row all around the perimeter of the Temple. At the command of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Ray Johnstone-Smith, and to the strains of the organ, the assembled brethren including many visiting dignitaries rose. The Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge entered forming two rows for the advancing Standard and Sword Bearers escorting RWBro. David into the room. The opening Hymn was sung & the Provincial Grand Master, assisted by his deputy, W. Bro. John Morgan opened the Assembly in due form. The afternoon’s business included calling the roll of Royal Ark Mariner Lodges present, the members of all lodges answering in fine voice. Members of the Somerset Lodge of Improvement, under the direction of W. Bro. Derek Wilton next gave a presentation of the Royal Ark Mariner Tracing Board, which was noticeably received with appreciation. The PGM next rose to welcome individually the newly Elevated Royal Ark Mariners present who had all received a personal invitation from the PGM to attend. One of the main events of the day was to invest the recipients of

Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank with their Collarets. They were W. Brothers, J. Nicholson, V. Cook, C. R. White, J. A. Chinn, R. Troup, C. E. Summers, D. J. Hutchings, & I. G. P. Strickland. W. Bro. Philip Voisey, (Deputy Provincial Grand Master Designate) sitting quietly across the room was requested to stand & to his surprise, was also presented with a Collaret, his look of surprise was a pleasure to see! Acclamation was then given to them all. The Provincial Grand Master next addressed the assembled brethren, sadly for the last time, after which all gave their appreciation with much spontaneous applause.The Worshipful Commander of the Irwin Lodge accompanied by many of his brethren next rose to present to the Provincial Grand Master the Travelling Ark, with instructions to deliver it to the Bath Lodge Time Immemorial. After further business, the closing Hymn was sung, alms were collected & the Assembly was closed in due form. All then retired to the dining room for an excellent lunch. The toast to the Visiting Brethren was given by the Provincial Grand Junior Warden, W. Brother Garry Hughes. RWBrother Basil Bark, (who of course said his bark was worse than his bite) gave a very witty response to the amusement of all present; a very happy day altogether! ...Copy/Pics, Ed.

“Well Done Philip” said Ray!

David enthusiastically welcomes the new Royal Ark Mariners!

Basil ‘Barking’ his reply to the Visitors Toast!

One PGM, two DC’s & two new Provincial Officers

We All Love Iris-May

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Travellng Key-Stone Programme

201417th September - Installed Mark Masters Lodge to Monument Lodge No. 1295

8th October - Monument Lodge to Royal Cumberland Lodge No. TI5th November - Royal Cumberland Lodge to Quantock Lodge No. 749

201527th January - Quantock Lodge - to Fidelity & Unanimity Lodge No. 348

17th March - Fidelity & Unanimity Lodge to Else Lodge No. 102

The Travelling Keystone has been roving around the

Province for the last 23 years, its mission to bring Mark Masons together at their

various Lodges, forging new friendships and strengthening

old ones.

The first meeting of the new year of Nailsea Mark Lodge 1548 witnessed the giving of a cheque for £500 to Iris-May, the 8 yearold granddaughter of Worshipful Master Ben Ambler. Iris-May has Ollier’s disease a rare form of bone cancer, 1 in 100,000 live births have this disease which affects the long bone and growth plates of the body. The condition will affect all her bones, but at present it is more prominent on her left side especially her left hand. This has meant her fingers haven’t grown at the rate they should have, caused by the growth affecting her knuckles. She deals with a lot of pain and struggles with mundane day-to-day tasks. She is an amazing little girl who never complains; she just carries on and adjusts life where she needs to. SCAT (Skeletal Cancer Action Trust) is her charity, it is the only charity undertaking research into this condition. She has managed to raise £5000 in the past five years since she was diagnosed. The Worshipful Master Jon Mansell and Very Worshipful Brother Cliff Hannabuss-Lodge Charity Steward presented the cheque to Iris-May’s mother Sarah.

Picture top right shows Iris sitting next to and in the Master’s chair, Below right Jon Mansell, Cliff Hannabuss, Iris-May with mum Sarah.Picture left, Iris-May gives a big thank you to the lodge, what a smile!Many thanks to Ben Ambler for this very touching article. Pictures courtesy Bro. David Rafferty, thank you David.

20143rd Sept. - Yatton Lodge No. 967 to Somerset Commanders Lodge No. 1656 (Wedmore)1st December - Somerset Commanders Lodge to Thackeray Lodge No. 730 (Clevedon)

201518th February - Thackeray Lodge to Portal Lodge No.155 (Frome)

27th May - Portal Lodge to Cerdic Lodge No. 571 (Chard)1st June - Cerdic Lodge to Herbert Fuller Lodge No. 128 (Wincanton)

21st September - Herbert Fuller Lodge to Irwin Lodge No. 1129 (Bath)

Travelling Ark Programme

The Somerset Triangle Newsletter is produced for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Somerset.

The editor Patrick Morrisey would be pleased to receive articles, news and photographs for possible publication.Please send to:- “Ashcombe Lodge”, 3 Milton Road, Weston-super-Mare, N. Somerset BS23 2SA. Tel. 01934 631449. email:- patmorrisey@btinternet.com or gosnid@hotmail.co.uk

G o o d b y e D a v i d , T h e e n d o f a n E r a

A celebration dinner to Mark the retirement of R.W.Bro David Nelson took place at the Cadbury House

Hotel on the evening of Friday 4th April 2014. 200 Brethren and Ladies

gathered at the hotel to thank R.W.Bro David for his twenty years of dedicated

service to the Mark Degree in Somerset, first as Provincial Secretary and for the last ten years as Provincial Grand Master. The Deputy PGM, W.Bro John G Morgan proposed a toast to the health of our PGM and his wife Cath, in doing so thanking him for his service and Cath for her forbearance and support! The Provincial Grand Master responded in kind, mentioning some of what he felt had been the highlights of the last ten years, culminating in the presentation 5 weeks ago of a new Motorbike to the Freewheelers Charity. He thanked the brethren for their kindness

and support over the past ten years and for their very generous and splendid gift of a new Past Provincial Grand Masters apron. Mrs Catherine Nelson was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and she likewise thanked all present for their kindness.

The pictures show top row left: RWBrother David Brian Nelson, With his Deputy W.Brother John Graham Morgan, and that apron. Top right: R.Worshipful Brother Stuart Hadler, Craft PGMaster for Somerset with his Lady Sue. Middle row: W. Brother John proposing the toast to RWBrother David. Followed by: Chris Green, ‘Close Up Magician’ who enthralled every table during the dinner with his magic!Bottom row: Cath Nelson winning everybody’s attention with her recollections over countless years, of her support for David & the posibility of seeing more of him in the years to come. This might be doubtful for as we all know, ‘you can’t keep a good man down’!...Copy Ray Guthrie/Ed.... Pics, Ed.

Cath’s flowers