On Friday June 5th, along with the Leaders of all of the English and Welsh Mark Provinces, our Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro Michael Gutteridge and his wife Maureen were privileged to witness the naming ceremony of the new Tamar Class Lifeboat “Mark Mason”, stationed at Angle in Pembrokeshire.

The ceremony was conducted with full ceremonial by the Most Worshipful Brother, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, who prior to the ceremony had formally handed over the Lifeboat to Admiral the Lord Boyce GCB OBE DL, Chairman of the RNLI.

The occasion included a Service of Dedication led by the Team Vicar of Angle Parish Church, the Reverend Matthew Dobbs, accompanied by hearty singing by the congregation and the Pembrokeshire Male Voice Choir with music provided by the Pembroke Silver Band. The Royal Ark Mariner Hymn “Eternal Father strong to save” was sung with great gusto.

Photograph courtesy of Martin Cavaney, www.anglelifeboat.org

The provision of one of the most advanced search and rescue vessels in the world, at a cost of £2.7 million was made possible by a contribution of £1.6 million from the Mark Benevolent Fund to which all of our Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges contribute by virtue of the Mark Festival System.

RAF Culdrose, who work closely with Angle Lifeboat Station, also took part in the ceremony by conducting a low level fly past with their Sea King Helicopter.

The day was brought to a happy close with a banquet hosted by the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master John Hale when members of the RNLI were entertained.

Interestingly, the Lifeboat was called out to an emergency early on Sunday June 7th to assist a sailing yacht, who had lost her rudder during a race from Dublin to Dingle. This entailed a journey of 11 hours and a return journey of over 130 miles of the Irish Sea, taking the vessel in tow and assisting the distressed yacht into Dunmore East in the Irish Republic.

The Mark Province of Nottinghamshire is very proud to be associated with this, which follows recent substantial donations to The St Johns Ambulance Brigade, Prostate Cancer Research, the Hospice Movement and the Osteoporosis Society.

Photograph courtesy of Martin Cavaney, www.anglelifeboat.org/