The Irwin Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No 119, the oldest Royal Ark Mariner Lodge in the Province, meets at the Masonic Hall, Bath Road Keynsham, Bristiol BS31 1SR at 18.45 on the third Monday in March (Installation), September and November. The Lodge has 31 subscribing members.
Officers of the Lodge - appointed Monday 20th March 2017
Vacant Peter Parks Alistair Slade Malcolm Behling Gerry McCann Alan Thompson Graham Howell
Past Commanders of and in the Lodge
1988 Ron Babbage RAMGR 1996 Ray Guthrie RAMGR 1997 Tony Fisher RAMGR 2000 Bob Newman PrGR 2002 Fred Parsons RAMGR
2003 Dave Foreman PrGR 2004 Neil Hawes PrGR 2006 Keith Surry PrGR 2007 Val Cooke PrGR 2010 John Bathe-Taylor PrGR
2012 John Muskett 2014 Ken Ellis 2015 David Bishop 2016 David Nelson RAMGR PPrGM Roger Blake RAMGR
Irwin Lodge News and Events
March 2016 - Past PGM David Nelson Installed as Commander
Monday 21st March 2016 - Past Provincial Grand Master David Nelson is installed as Commander of Irwin Lodge. It was a special evening in the company of 30 Royal Ark Mariners including the Provincial Grand Master R.W.Bro John Morgan. The installation was conducted by outgoing Commander David Bishop who was ably prompted by his successor! In the photo left to right. Bro Graham Howell Provincial ADC, PGM John Morgan, Junior Warden - Peter Martin, Commander David Nelson and Senior Warden David Dixon.
A donation of £250 to the Provincial Grand Master’s appeal for the Hope for Tomorrow Charity was approved by the Lodge and cheque presented by the new Commander to the PGM.
17th November 2014 - A Somerset Royal Ark Mariner first
Irwin Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No.119 paid host to the Provincial Grand Master and the Somerset Mark Provincial Team to conduct their first ever Elevation Ceremony. The Regular meeting of Irwin lodge held on Monday 17th November 2014 saw the Worshipful Commander, W.Bro. Ken Ellis hand over the reins to the Provincial Grand Master for Somerset. R.W.Bro. John Graham Morgan PGM, placed those members of his Mark Provincial Team who were also members of the Royal Ark Mariner degree in the respective offices in a Royal Ark Mariner lodge and carried out the full ceremony of Elevation. Acting as the lodge officers were:- W.Cmdr. – Provincial Grand Master S.W. – W.Bro. Roger Hutchings J.W. – W.Bro. Brian Foster D.C. – W.Bro. Ray Johnstone-Smith S.D. – Bro. Sandy Sandford J.D. – Bro. Rod Green Guardian – Bro. Jim Gilbody Warder – W.Bro. Ron Babbage The Signs and Secrets were conferred by W.Bro. Phil Voisey, DPGM The Working Tools were presented by W.Bro Tony Guthrie An explanation of the Nine Steps was given by W.Bro. Ian Strickland W.Bro. Phil Voisey also presented Grand Lodge Certificates to Bros. Shaun Hobbs and Malcolm Toogood Those present witnessed an impeccable demonstration of the ceremony; showing just how it should be done. The candidate for the evening was W.Bro. Peter Parks, a member of Carnarvon Mark lodge No.119 who was delighted to be joining Irwin lodge of RAM and most impressed by the whole occasion; so much so that he proposed his own brother Bill Parks as a candidate for elevation. This will take place on Monday 16th March 2015, when the W.Cmdr. will also be Installing his successor. Certainly a night to remember! Neil Hawes Scribe
Installation night 18th March 2013. John Muskett installed Paul Giblin as Commander of Irwin Lodge in his own inimitable style! Deputy PGM John Morgan was present and gave the address to the Commander. The Worshipful Commander is in the Chair, on his left Ken Ellis the Senior Warden. On the Commanders right are David Bishop the Junior Warden and Deputy PGM John Morgan.
Installation night 19th March 2012. Toby Hammond made a superb job of installing his successor John Muskett in the Chair of Irwin Royal Ark Mariner Lodge. John as many of us know spends some time on cruise ships but now he is in charge of the Ark! The Worshipful Commander is in the Chair, on his left Toby Hammond and Junior Warden Ken Ellis. On the Commanders right is Paul Giblin the Senior Warden and Deputy PGM Ray Guthrie.
15th November 2010 - Brethren of the Fidelity and Unanimity Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners, Taunton sail the Travelling Ark to the Irwin Lodge at Keynsham. In the photo left to right Sidney French, David Bates, Terry Haggett, John Bathe Taylor and Richard Francis.
