Past Masters are issued with a badge of office after they have served their year as Master.  The immediate Past Master is known as the Deputy Master, and can stand in for the Master at Court if the Master is unavailable.  Past Masters remain on Court for a period of six years so that they can continue both to assist and pass on their knowledge.  They are normally then elected to remain on the Court as Honorary Assistants without voting rights, to continue to retain the benefit of their expertise and experience.