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Firstly, let me say a huge thank you to the brethren of Lodge Craigends for giving me the honour of being Master of my Mother Lodge. This is something I have looked forward to for many years and I hope I can repay the faith the brethren have put in me with my labours over the year and beyond. This is a huge year for me personally, but more importantly for the Lodge as a whole, with it being our centenary year. This will involve a re-dedication ceremony and dinner on Saturday 10th May. I look forward to this occasion and I hope that the brethren will come out over the year to support the Lodge and enjoy this important landmark of ourgreat history. My Installing Masters this year were Bro. William Shankley PM and Bro. Mark Nisbet PM, who are well kent throughout the Lodge and Province and known for their excellent and polished degree work. I have known them both for a long time and I had no concerns over putting my trust in them to do a great job. This was repaid on the night which went very well and their help and encouragement help a very nervous Master Elect to enjoy the evening. The Provincial Grand Lodge deputation was headed by our very own Past Master, Bro. Kevin Pollock, Substitute Provincial Grand Master, who I have known throughout my masonic career and it was fitting to have him with us at our Installation ceremony and harmony thereafter. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the man who will be on my left hand side this year - my Depute Master, Bro. Gordon Bruce. Bro. Gordon has been a great friend of mine from our early school years and his help and support in the past and in the forthcoming period will be most welcome. The man who will sit on my right hand side and hopefully will be a guiding light throughout the year is our Immediate Past Master, Bro. Alan Baxter Graham. I hope to continue the excellent work he started in moving our Lodge and Social Club together into the future as one. The guest speakers on the night were Bro. Gordon Dinnie, a Past Master of Lodge Govandale No. 437 and Bro. Neil Anderson, Past Master and Master Elect of Lodge Prince of Wales No. 426. Gordon has been a good friend for many years and his toast to the Lodge was done with all the respect and humour which I expected when I asked him. I knew Neil originally through work, when he was my Superintendant in Babcocks (where I served my apprenticeship) and, more recently in masonic circles. Neil's speech was likewise humourous, while at the same time he refrained from mentioning too much from my days as a young apprentice. Both speeches went down very well with the brethren and I thank them both for their input. To end the evening, we had our harmony and a couple of small libations in typical Craigends fashion to conclude a great night and my thanks to all for coming along to make it a great night. Below are some photographs of the evening. 
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