Barrie Palmer takes Centre Stage at Fidelity & Unanimity RAM 348 in Taunton
Friday 11th October saw the start of the new Masonic season for The Fidelity and Unanimity Royal Ark Mariner Lodge in Taunton. We were pleased to welcome and Elevate Bro Barrie Palmer BEM as our candidate.
Barrie would probably be better known to most Brethren as the newly appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master in the Craft.
Barrie was Initiated into Masonry in 1983 and steadily worked his way through all the progressive offices of both Craft and Chapter gaining Provincial honours as he progressed.
Barrie it could be said was a late starter in the Mark Degree only being Advanced into The Quantock Lodge 749 of MMM in November of last year. This being some 40 years after joining Masonry ( maybe he should be awarded a 40 year certificate for avoiding the Mark Degree!). Now though he has achieved membership of both MARK/RAM in the past 11 months. His Father-in – Law is now very happy for him as he himself was at one time the Mark Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Monmouthshire and also held RAMGR.
The Worshipful Commander Harry Price carried out an excellent Elevation ceremony assisted by the Lodge Officers. We were pleased to have in attendance WBro Tony Guthrie DPrGM attending in a private capacity as he is a very good friend of Bro Barrie.
The one sad point of the evening was the Lodge saying farewell to two very long standing Brothers, WBro Terry Wood RAMGR and WBro Peter Knapman RAMGR, who between them served the Lodge for over 80 years.
On conclusion of the ceremony all retired to an excellent festive board and Bro James Brown S.W. who proposed Bro Barrie gave an amusing resumé of Barrie’s very busy life. Maybe that was the reason it took Barrie 40 years to become a Mark Mason.
A very enjoyable evening was had by all and Bro Barrie looks forward to enjoying his time as a Royal Ark Mariner.
WBro Rod Green, Scribe.
