GREENOCK'S first Masonic Parade in more than 50 years was held in glorious weather on Sunday.

It took place before a special Divine Service in the Lyle Kirk ‘Old West’ church on the Esplanade to mark the 275th anniversary of the creation of the movement’s first Province.

In 1739, the ‘West County’ Lodges, including Greenock, were given a celebrated Freemason to supervise their work.

He was Alexander Drummond, Collector of Customs and Excise in Greenock, and Master of Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No 15 (now No X11).

Drummond was made Provincial Grand Master and it was the first appointment of its type in Scottish Freemasonry.

The Old West Kirk was Drummond’s parish church, which had another Masonic connection.

It was built in 1591 — at its original location at the foot of Nicolson Street — by Johanne Schaw.

His brother William wrote the ‘Schaw Statutes’ which were the first rules of governance of the Freemasons in Scotland and still hold good today. Sunday’s service was attended by around 250 mainly Freemasons and some members of the public and Lyle Kirk members.

The brethren assembled in Forysth Street and paraded along the Esplanade to the church, preceded by three pipers.

The large attendance was led by RW Bro Archibald M McGown, Past Depute Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, together with another 12 members of Grand Lodge.

Eight Provincial Grand Masters attended accompanied by a number of their brethren plus many from local lodges. Brethren came from as far afield as Fife and Edinburgh.

Inverclyde Council was represented by Depute Provost Bro David Wilson.

The service was conducted by Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro Rev David Mitchell. Readings were given by Bro James P Livingstone, Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West, and Bro Alan D Beck, Master of Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No 12 — Inverclyde’s oldest institution, being founded in 1728.

The organist was John Bell and the church resounded to the singing of the many male voices.

At the end of the service, Bro Livingstone presented a cheque for £2,000 to Bro McGown for the Grand Lodge of Scotland appeal on behalf of Prostate Scotland.

A donation was also given to Jimmy Fisher, assistant session clerk of the Lyle Kirk, for the use of the church for the service.

Tea and refreshments were later served in the Pirrie Hall.

The accompanying pictures show the parade from Forysth Street and the Grand Lodge deputation with, front row from left, Bro Livingstone, Bro Rev Mitchell, Bro McGown and Bro Beck.