It’s all go at St Helena - 13th January 2023
 
On a cool and windy January Evening the Red Cross Knights of the West Lancashire Division turnout in good numbers to attend St Helens Masonic Hall for a feast of Red Cross Masonry.
Arriving at the hall well in advance of the 6pm start, we were able to mingle and exchange seasonal pleasantries with Knights we were seeing for the first time in the year, and what a happy bunch of Knights they are.
 
We assembled in the lower Lodge room where the Conclave opened in the Red Cross and discharged its administrative duties, before the Acting Most Puissant Sovereign, Ill. Kt. Terry Bailey announced the next business was to enthrone P. Kt. David Pestell as Sovereign. I have to say that Terry conducted the business in a very efficient and friendly manner. It is no secret that David and Terry have been friends for many years, and it showed!
MPS David Pestell with Enthroning Soverign Ill.Kt.Terry Bailey
Following the ceremony both were congratulated by the R.Ill. Intendent General, Graham Edwin Williams.
 
The officers of the Conclave, who had been appointed at the previous meeting were confirmed and the Conclave closed in due form.
R.Ill. Kt Graham E Williams IG, MPS David Pestell
Enthroning Soverign Ill.Kt.Terry Bailey & V.Ill.Kt Stephen M Gregory DIG
We all then made our way up to the magnificent Lodge room on the top floor in preparation for a KHS ceremony. The Conclave Scribe, Stephen Gregory, had assembled a team of officers from across the many Conclaves of the Division to work the ceremony for Worthy Knight Jonathan Measures of Hesketh Conclave which meets at Chorley under the Direction of the Divisional Marshal, Ill. Kt Ray Pye.
 
This practice is quiet normal in West Lancashire Division and allows, what is a beautiful piece of masonic ritual, which is fairly extensive in its scope, to be delivered in a well presented and sincere manner, much to the benefit of the candidate and those lucky enough to observe the occasion.
V.Ill.Kt Stephen M Gregory DIG, Jonathan Measures & R.Ill. Kt Graham E Williams IG
Following the ceremonial, we all retired to an extremely good festive board prepared and served by the catering staff at St Helens.

Speeches were short and to the point and we were soon on our way home. I must comment that whilst it was still a cool night, the winds had dropped and clearly the winds that blew us into St Helens had done us all a lot of good.
 
Well done St Helena and the Knights of the Division who contributed to put together a superb evening.
 
Mike Beesley Webmaster