At the start of the new season may I as the new Group Chairman hope that you have all had a happy and enjoyable summer break, and are eager to enjoy your Freemasonry in the coming year.

Although we have just completed the ‘close season’, the Group Officers have had a number of meetings to prepare for the new season, and to go through the roles that each of us will fill in the coming year.

We welcome W.Bro. Giles Berkeley to the team as the new Group Secretary, and wish him every success in his new position. Already Giles has been busy receiving his handover from W.Bro. Duncan Smith, and together they have been preparing for the new season, and ensuring that Group functions will run smoothly.

W.Bro. David Cook became our Group Mentor early this year, and already his enthusiasm has been used to get the mentoring system within the Group up and running, and we wish him continued success for the future.

In previous years, it has become customary for a Group officer to attend all initiations in the Group, and it is hoped that this will continue in the coming years. As Group Officers, we have also decided that we will attend as many third Degree ceremonies as we are able.

W.Bro. Bob Boal is the new Group Publicity Officer. All the former communication officers are now Group Publicity Officers as this is how the role is now perceived. Bob is also an assistant editor (two are sharing the work on a pro tem basis when Derek Hunt is on holiday etc) of the West Lancashire Freemason magazine and the West Lancashire website though this does not affect his role in the North Fylde

W.Bro. Trevor Hunt and W.Bro. Edwin Fisher the “dynamic duo” and W.Bro Peter Greathead continue in their relative positions, and I am sure that I speak on behalf of all the Brethren of the North Fylde when I thank them for all the hard work that they put into their respective roles for the Group.

Last but not least I would like to thank W.Bro. Duncan Smith for all the hard work he has carried out as Group Secretary over the last five years, and congratulate him on his promotion to Group Vice Chairman, I look forward to working closely with Duncan now and in the future, nobody could ask for a better Vice Chairman.

I cannot complete my report without reminding all the members of the Group that on 11 July, it was the annual Provincial Bowling Competition, and unfortunately due to family commitments I was unable to attend (only the second time I have missed attending for over 20 years). I believe that 64 players took part, and I am pleased to say that W.Bro. Shaun Haynes of Biscopham Lodge won the competition on his first attempt, and Bro. Darren Gardner of Thornton and Cleveleys Lodge was a semi finalist. This is the first time that the North Fylde Group have had a winner of the competition in all the time I have been attending, and as both Brothers are young Brothers, hopefully we will win for many years to come.

May I finish by thanking you all for the support you have given me over the last ten years as a Group officer, and I look forward to your continued support for the future.