The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brother Brett Varker, joined the brethren of the Benevolence Mark Lodge 1264 in Bideford recently, as the Presiding Officer for their installation meeting. He was accompanied on this visit to North Devon by Right Worshipful Brother Peter Balsom, the Past Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother John P. Clendinning, the Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, and Very Worshipful Brother Martin Smith, Past Grand Junior Overseer and Provincial Grand Chaplain.
Also present, were a host of Grand Officers, some of whom had travelled considerable distances from across the Province, including Worshipful Brother Robert Palmer, Grand Steward and Provincial Grand Secretary. He was further joined by several active officers, including both Provincial Wardens, namely Worshipful Brothers Barry Purdy and Robert Hendy, Provincial Grand Senior and Junior Wardens respectively, and two of the Provincial Grand Overseers in the persons of Worshipful Brothers Robert Truesdale, Senior Overseer and Jon Webber, Junior Overseer and Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary.
After opening the lodge, the Worshipful Master, Worshipful Brother David Cloke proffered the gavel to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master which he declined, but then happy received a cheque for the sum of £1000 towards the Devon Mark Charity Association.
The main labour of the evening was to see Worshipful Brother Cloke undertake the installation of his successor. The ceremony was undertaken in an excellent fashion with Worshipful Brother Andrew Boyd being installed into the chair of Adoniram in an immaculate demonstration of ritual. The addresses undertaken by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and his team, to the Master, Wardens, Overseers and Brethren all followed in the similar vein of excellence. The Worshipful Master having appointed and invested his officers for the year, thanked all the brethren present for making it such a wonderful meeting, before he closed the lodge in due form. More than 40 brethren then retired to the refectory, enjoying a fabulous festive board with fun and happiness, before making their way home.
