Provincial Virtual Business meeting Saturday 5th September.

For the first time the Provincial Meeting was held on the Zoom platform. More than eighty Mark and Royal Ark Mariner brethren logged in to watch the R.W.Bro Phil Voisey conduct this unique event. He thanked all those attending and congratulated those Mark Masons who assumed their new Ranks and Offices in May, as well as the recipients of Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand Rank who will assume their promotions at this meeting. Watch the short video of the PGM's address to all the Brethren of Somerset.

Keystone on Line Magazine - Summer 2020 editon

  • Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Assembly Saturday 2nd September 2018

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    The business of setting up the Lodge room in the main room at the Webbington Hotel started early on Saturday morning, with the Provincial DC Mark Golding and his Team, the Provincial Secretary, Ian Strickland and his team together with help from a good number of brethren from the Exmoor Lodge, under who’s banner the meeting was being held. By 9.45 am all was ready and a rehearsal was in full swing. By 10.30 the Lodge room was filling up with well over 100 present. The meeting commenced on time at 10.45 when the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro John Morgan entered the Assembly in procession. He was preceded by his Sword Bearer, followed by his standard bearer and escorted by his Provincial officers.
    The Provincial Grand Master opened the assembly in due form and following salutations welcomed the visitors from the other provinces.
    After receiving a very interesting report on the state of the Lodges in the Province given by the Provincial Registrar, Richard Dredge, the members of the Provincial Team of Development and Improvement delivered an excellent explanation of the Royal Ark Mariner Degree Tracing Board.
    After thanking W.Bro Derek Wilton and his team the Provincial Grand Master went on to welcome newly Elevated Royal Ark Mariners.
    The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then presented an interesting paper entitled “The Choppy Waters of the Mark Degree”. The paper is a short history of the origins of this degree and was received with acclamation.
    The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master then invested five recipients of Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank with their distinctive collarettes,
    W.Bro. John Muskett, Irwin Lodge RAM No.119
    W.Bro. Roly Bisgrove, Herbert Fuller RAM No.128
    W.Bro. David Lyons, Portal Lodge RAM No.155
    W.Bro. Jullian Bloys, Exmoor Lodge RAM No.697
    W.Bro. David Bush, Nailsea Lodge RAM No.1548
    Unfortunately two recipients, W.Bro. Richard Thurston, Bath Lodge RAM TI and W.Bro. Julian Frost, William Long Lodge RAM No. 191were unable to attend.

    The Commander of the Exmoor Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners, W.Bro Paul Cullum and what looked like all the members of Exmoor Lodge, returned the Travelling Ark to the Provincial Grand Master following it’s latest sojourn round the Province. The Provincial Grand Master thanked W.Bro Cullum and said that the Deputy PGM W.Bro Phil Voisey would take the Ark to Herbert Fuller Lodge on 24th September to commence a new journey round the Province. (Full details of the journey are available here).
    Before closing the assembly the Provincial Grand Master gave his address and thanked everyone for making the event a success.
    • PGM Enters the Assembly

      PGM Enters the Assembly

    • Derek Wilton in full floe! together with members of the development and improvement team

      Derek Wilton in full floe! together with members of the development and improvement team

    • Provincial Grand Master welcoming new members

      Provincial Grand Master welcoming new members

    • W.Bro John Muskett of Irwin Lodge is invested.

      W.Bro John Muskett of Irwin Lodge is invested.

    • A broad smile from W.Bro Roly Bisgrove of Herbert Fuller Lodge after receiving his collar from the PGM.

      A broad smile from W.Bro Roly Bisgrove of Herbert Fuller Lodge after receiving his collar from the PGM.

    • W.Bro David Lyons of the Portal Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners

      W.Bro David Lyons of the Portal Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners

    • W.Bro Jullian Blots of Exmoor Ldge thanks the PGM for the honour confered.

      W.Bro Jullian Blots of Exmoor Ldge thanks the PGM for the honour confered.

    • Finally W.Bro David Bush is invested with his collarete by the PGM.

      Finally W.Bro David Bush is invested with his collarete by the PGM.

    • W.Bro Paul Cullen prepares to present the Travelling Ark to the PGM.

      W.Bro Paul Cullen prepares to present the Travelling Ark to the PGM.

    • Members of Exmoor line up behind their Commander to present the Ark

      Members of Exmoor line up behind their Commander to present the Ark

    • The Provincial Grand Master accepts the Ark

      The Provincial Grand Master accepts the Ark

  • Provincial Officers Dinner 6th April 2018

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    The Isle of Wedmore Golf Club was the venue for this years Provincial Dinner. Over sixty brethren and their wives/partners enjoyed a very good meal and great company. The Provincial Grand Master, John Morgan gave the only speech of the evening, brief and to the point. "Thank you all for coming, I hope you have enjoyed your evening. A special thanks of course to the Provincial Senior Grand Warden, Barrie Baker for organising the event and the staff of Wedmore Golf club."
    A good time was had by all!

    There are 14 images, just click on this one to see them all.

  • Provincial Team BBQ - 2015

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    The rain stopped just in time!

    The now happily established Annual Provincial Team BBQ took place again this August in the peaceful countryside at Portbury hosted by our Deputy PGM Phil & his lady Gill in their tranquil back garden. Well it was happily tranquil on the day, but the previous evening’s preparations were somewhat halted as Phil witnessed his over-large marquee, carefully protecting chairs & tables for 40 guests from the thunder & lightening of the day before, take off & sail merrily up the garden!
    Come the day of the event, the marquee re-pegged more firmly & with the rain still coming down like stair-rods, Phil thought he’d better rename the forthcoming occasion the Royal Ark Mariners outing in case Noah dropped in with his ark!
    Happily at the witching hour, the rain stopped, the sun came out from behind the clouds & welcomed the new Provincial Team members & their ladies.
    The afternoon was a great success, lots of chat, old friends met & new ones made, with drinks to suit everyone & Phil resplendent in shorts & spatula at the hot end of the BBQ. Salads, couscous & many other tempting dishes accompanied Phil’s expertise. Later followed a mouth-watering selection of sweets from Gill.
    All remarked it was a wonderful occasion, cheerfully bringing the new team members together that ensured a happy familiarity at the next more formal team visit. The sight of our PGM John clearing the tables & collecting the rubbish, put a smile on many a happy face;
    well done sir!
    …Copy/Pics, Pat Morissey

    Click on the image to enlarge it and see the gallery.

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