The brethren of Anfield Lodge No 2215 were honoured to receive the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning at their installation meeting.
Some time ago when Philip was an Assistant Provincial Grand Master he was invited by Douglas Holgate, who really enjoys the ritual, to witness his installation and Philip had been pleased to accept, after all this was his mother lodge where he had taken the chair in 1985. Doug thought that now Philip had been promoted to Deputy PrGM he would be unable to attend, but true to his word Philip attended.
Philip Gunning is welcomed by Keith Walton.
WM of the lodge Keith Walton had joined the lodge at the same time as Philip so this evening was very much a meeting of friends. After the lodge had been opened to the third degree Malcolm Bell PrDGDC was admitted and announced that Philip Gunning was outside and demanded admission to which the WM replied that the brethren would be honoured and pleased to receive him.
Philip entered the lodge accompanied by Woolton Group Chairman Andrew Whittle and other grand officers and acting Provincial grand officers, Gordon Sanford PrGSwdB and Tom Arnold PrAGStdB. Philip was greeted by the WM and after extending greetings Philip said that he was pleased to be back in his mother lodge and as was his right Keith offered him the gavel of the lodge. He was not persuaded by the brethren to take it and quickly returned it!
Malcolm Bell asked brethren to salute Philip who suitably replied. Frederick Hunter replied to the salute on behalf of grand officers, Barry Elman, Clive Jeffries, David Anderton and Andrew Whittle. Vic Albin accepted the salute on behalf of the Provincial grand officers.
Philip Gunning congratulates his long-time friend Doug Holgate on being installed.
Andrew Whittle rose to inform the WM that there was a custom in Anfield Lodge that if any brother received Provincial honours or promotions he should wait outside, but on this occasion, it was not possible for the brother was Philip Gunning. All the brethren warmly congratulated Philip.
Keith Walton requested past masters to assist him and then adjourned the lodge to the second degree where Stephen Lyon and Philip Lyon, who were the proposer and seconder of Douglas Holgate into the lodge, presented him for installation. At this point Gary Devlin assisted the worshipful master for the next part of the ceremony. Doug assented to the ancient charges and regulation and took his obligation.
The lodge was adjourned to the third degree where the WM thanked all the brethren of the lodge for their support during his year in office. The master elect was then installed into the WM’s chair of Anfield Lodge in due ceremony.
The working tools were presented in the third degree by George Christie (Lodge Thistle and Crown No 1167 Scotland); in the second by Stan Dawkins and the first degree by master Mason Alan Ledger. Malcolm Peace provided the address to the master; John Leisk, (at extremely short notice), the address to the wardens. Gary Smith PPrGStwd gave the address to the stewards.
Andrew Whittle (left) receives the football shirts from Sean Whelan.
The ceremony of installation being concluded Philip Gunning rose to convey the congratulations of the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison to the WM hoping that he would have good year in office and also to the brethren who had participated in the ceremony.
Doug then presented a cheque to Philip for £500 for the MCF 2021 Festival and Philip thanked the lodge for the magnificent sum on behalf of the recipients, who he hoped we would never know.
The brethren having completed their work in the temple retired to the dining room for suitable refreshment. During the festive board, Sean Whelan of Football Lodge No 9921 Hants and IOW, whom Andy Whittle had visited earlier in the year, presented the lodge with some appropriate football shirts.
Pictured from left to right, are: Malcolm Bell, Sean Whelan, David Anderton, Philip Gunning, Doug Holgate, Andrew Whittle, Mike Cunliffe (Woolton Group Vice Chairman), Gordon Sanford and Tom Arnold.