A GRAND DAY OUT

Tuesday the 10th June, 2008 saw almost 50 MMMs travel to London in support of the RW PGM Bro. Peter Connolly. The RW PGM was accompanied by the full executive of W.Bro. Tony Harrison, Deputy PGM, the two Assistant PGMs, VWBro. Danny Jones and W.Bro. Keith Beardmore with our Prov.G.Secretary, W.Bro.Fred Hargreaves.

The journey, mainly by Virgin Train, was a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Arriving in London to a temperature approaching 80F. Most brethren, having reported in at Grand Lodge, immediately sought relief at the Hercules Pillar Hostelry in company with many brethren from across the entire country and overseas. We were soon however, heading across the road back to Grand Lodge to take up either our reserved places or to seek a place amongst the 1,700 MMM in attendance.

The afternoon began with the procession of Acting Officers and a plethora of Provincial Grand Masters followed by Assistant GM RW.Bro Benjamin Addy, the Deputy GM RW.Bro. George Robert Gavin Purser, the Pro.GM MW.Bro. John Hale and finally the GM MW.Bro. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO.

The Lodge was opened and the usual formalities completed. The assembly approved recommendations from the Mark Lodge of Benevolence which included a sum of £1,600,000 to the RNLI to purchase a replacement lifeboat at Tamar (South Wales) and £30,000 to the Society for the Relief of Disabled Children. The assembly also approved retrospectively the donation of £3 million to be used to finance the provision of either fixed or mobile scanners in the areas having large populations at risk from osteoporosis.

Of course the main business of the afternoon was to appoint and invest officers, both acting and past ranks. Acting officers from West Lancs for 2008/09 are -

The RW Provincial Grand Master extends his sincere congratulations to all the brethren honoured by Grand Lodge.

On the closing of Grand Lodge, brethren made their way to the Connaught Rooms for the evening Banquet, which proved a most enjoyable affair, as is evidenced by the photographs below.

All too soon we had to make our way to Euston Station to make our return back to the North West. The good companionship continued during the journey with much hilarity and laughter.

As our brethren bid their goodbye at Preston Station, a well known West Lancashire Innkeeper summed up the day perfectly with the words 'Brethren, that were a Great Day out."

The Provincial Grand Master thanks all the brethren attending Grand Lodge for their support of him and the Province.

Pictured above:W.Bros. G. Watkinson, B.Moyneux, J.Mawdesley and R.J.Watkinson in Grand Lodge	Pictured above:The Rt.W.Provincial Grand Master takes wine with newly appointed W.Bro. Geoffrey T. Watkinson, P.A.G.Std.B.
Pictured above:RW.Bro. Peter Connolly congratulates W.Bro. Kevan Beardmore on his promotion to P.G.J.O.	Pictured above:The Assistant Provincial Grand Master, V.W.Bro.Danny Jones and W.Bro. Ian Nairn eagerly await the serving of the meal.
Pictured above:V.W.Bro. Tony Harrison with newly appointed W.Bro. Ernest Waites, P.A.G.D.C.	Pictured above:Provincial Grand Secretaries past and present. W.Bro.Fred Hargreaves, P.G.J.O. and W.Bro. Frank Starkey, P.G.M.O.
Pictured above:W.Bro. Brian Molyneux the newly appointed G.S.D. and W.Bro. John Mawdesley, P.Prov.G.S.D., are delighted to hear that wine is included in the meal price.	Pictured above:W.Bro. Ian Nairn, our Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, in relaxed mood on the way home.

MUSIC HALL NIGHT

A music hall night took place on Friday 25th April 2008 at Wellington Park, Leyland. The event was to hopefully raise money for Derian House Children's Hospice at Chorley and was attended by the Rt.W.Provincial Grand Master, Bro.Peter Connolly and his wife Lynn.

Pictured above:Rt.W.Provincial Grand Master with W.Bro.John Henry Mayor and W.Bro.John Waring and their wives and partners.

Pictured above: The Rt.W.Provvincial Grand Master with W.Bro.John Henry Mayor (Master of Aeon Mark) and W.Bro.Neil Ward (Master of Leyland Mark) and their wives.

The PGM with the artistes.

The Music Hall organisers, W.Bro's. Doug Little, Jim Airey and Mike Taylor with their wives and the Chairman for the evening W.Bro.Alan Birtwistle.

Thanks to Bro. Doug Little (Leyland Mark Lodge No. 1002) for the photographs.

BRIAN HOUSE HOSPITAL DONATION

The Provincial Charity Fund with the help of Bispham and Norbreck Mark Lodge, make a donation to the full cost of a Tom Cat Bed, designed for Children with Special Needs. Click here for more information.

BLACKPOOL FESTIVAL

The Blackpool and District Association of Mark Lodges was founded in 1971. The Association is chaired by W.Bro R.Y.McGown PAGDC and the Secretary is W. Bro K.K.W.Beardmore PGSD. Each year, in the Spring, one of the seven Mark Lodges on the Fylde hosts the Festival and gives a presentation. to which all Mark Masons are invited. If the subject of the lecture or demonstration is appropriate Craft Masons may also be invited to attend.

The original aims of the Association were to: "Foster fellowship and interest amongst Mark Lodges in the Fylde, to further the cause of Charity and to promote an Annual Festival to take the form of a discussion lecture or demonstration in Mark Masonry thus increasing our knowledge and understanding of the Mark Degree."

Over the years, the Annual Festivals have been very well supported, all the members of the Provincial Executive together with other Senior members of the Province usually attend and, as a result of the numbers attending a considerable amount of money has been generated for Charity.

There have been many memorable Festivals but the greatest success story must be that of Cleveleys Mark Lodge No 1176 who, in 1983, gave the presentation "King Solomon's Temple." This demonstration of the building of the Temple has subsequently travelled throughout the length and breadth of this country and also parts of Europe given by members of Cleveleys and Wyre Mark Lodges The Brethren involved on the demonstration team have raised many thousands of pounds for our Mark and wider Charities. The work of presenting the "Temple" continues to this day under the guidance of W.Bro Jimmy Rogers.

This year's Festival Meeting, on 17th April at Adelaide Street Masonic Hall at Blackpool, was attended by The PGM, the Deputy PGM, the two Assistant PGMs , the Provincial Wardens, the Provincial Grand Secretary., other Senior Grand and Provincial Grand Officers and well over 100 Mark Masons. Members of Bispham-with-Norbreck Lodge No 866, all suitably dressed in appropriate middle eastern robes, gave a superb dramatic demonstration of "The Albany Lodge TI Tracing Board." followed by an equally well supported and enjoyable festive board.

In the afternoon, prior to the meeting, representatives of the Lodge together with members of the Provincial Executive made a substantial Charity donation to Brian House Hospice.Click here to see details on the donation.

Grateful thanks must go to W.Bro.Mel Cross who was the main organiser of this Year's Festival demonstation. He gave an introduction during which the brethren, attired as Hebrew Masons, entered the room to a background of Arabic music playing quietly in the background.

Pictured above: The Albany Lodge TI Tracing Board showing cedars of Labanon depicted in the west corner and timber moored on rafts at Joppa shown towards the centre of the cloth. Near to the porch of the temple we could see Hiram Abif studying the plan and some of the stone approved by the Overseers shown in the South East corner.

Pictured above: Members of the Provincial Team take a closer look.

The PGM was keen to congratulate W.Bro Melvyn Cross and Bro. Neil MacSymons, WM of Mark Lodge No. 866 on the quality of the presentation and the hard work put into the evening by the brethren of 866. The Provincial Team were presented with commemorative aprons.

Next years Festival will be hosted by Fylde Mark Lodge No. 296 to be held at the Masonic Hall, Adelaide Street, Blackpool on Thursday 23rd April, 2009. The Rt.W.Provincial Grand Master, Bro.Peter Connolly will be present, so make a note in your diaries.

MARK MASONS HELP HOSPITAL

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at Southport & Ormskirk District General Hospital was presented with two new exercise cycles and a new PowerPoint projector on behalf of the Mark Masons of Southport. Click here to see more details.