Altcar Camp visit
 
6th December 2016
 
On 6th December the PGM Keith Beardmore accompanied by APGM Michael Clarke and other Mark Mason’s visited Altcar Army Camp near Southport to visit the PODS site which is called ‘Code’s Retreat’.  One of the four PODs has been donated by the Provence of West Lancashire Mark Masons and has been named ‘Keystone’.  The purpose of the Mark visit was to place a plaque on this POD to commemorate this fact. 
The Mark Team outside the POD that will be called 'Keystone'
PGM Jim Ramsey and APGM enjoying the day
The site for the washrooms
With the bulk of the money for the POD being raised at the Mark Masons Weekend and form money raised on Remembrance Sunday.  It was a pleasure to taken around the site by the camp Quarter Master Jim Ramsey and the site engineer Stephen Hunter.  Between them they filled in the back ground to the project and made the visit very enjoyable for all concerned.
PGM Keith Breadmoore trying one of the beds.
PGM admires one of the Bird Boxes that will be placed around the site.
The primary purpose of the project is to provide a pleasant, secluded and secure location for military personnel in recovery to take relaxing breaks as part of their recuperation process.  Priority will be given to the Wounded, Injured and Sick Serviceman/Women (WISS), and a staffed military unit will be on hand to look after the recovering personnel.  Each POD accommodates 1or2 people.  They (the PODS) will be provided with electricity only and other services will be provided communally.  These units will give veterans an opportunity to mix with those service personnel who are using the camp and also to relax and enjoy wildlife and scenery.
Looking over the River Alt
Jim Ramsey explaining the project to the visitors
PGM; Jim Ramsey and APGM
The area that is being used for the PODS had to be cleared and soil brought in to level off the ground.  The four PODS were then placed on concrete bases and once installed the PODS had to be painted and this was done by volunteers.  Other contributions to the project include containers for storage.  The next major item to be installed on the site is the washrooms and recreation area and the services for these are already in place.    With the site being next to the River Alt a safe fishing area will be installed on the river bank.   It is hoped that these units will be in use to visitors by July 2017.
Stephen Hunter & PGM
Big thanks go to Jim Ramsey and Stephen Hunter for making the visit so enjoyable.  It is good to know that the money raised by West Lancashire Mark Masons will be helping others for a long time to come.
"The Plaque"
Words by Derek Gaskell and photos by Major (Retd) Roy Bevan and Derek Gaskell