MARK CHARITIES HEADLINES Select from the list below
| MARATHON RUN | 2nd May, 2008 | ROSE & THISTLE DONATION TO WIGAN HOSPICE | 30th April, 2008 | BRIAN HOUSE HOSPICE DONATION | 17th April, 2008 | MARK MASONS HELP HOSPITAL | 12th February, 2008 | WEST LANCASHIRE MARK CHARITIES FUNDS | Details |
MARATHON RUN
Peter Taaffe, Past Master of Lebanon Mark Lodge and an honorary Auditor of the Province, is running in the New York Marathon on Sunday 2nd November in aid of the British Heart Foundation. The West Lancs Mark Charities have agreed to support him in his efforts. He choose that charity in memory of a friend of his, Simon Callaghan, who died last year of heart problems having just had his 50th birthday. He'd known Simon since they were both 4 as they both went to the same school and from thereon until his sudden loss which came as a shock in many ways.
ROSE & THISTLE DONATION TO WIGAN HOSPICE
On Wednesday 30th April, 2008 W.Bro. Roger Crook, Charity Steward, presented a cheque for £400 to Dr. Jen Wardell of Wigan Hospice in the
presence of W.Bro. Dennis Houghton, Almoner and W.Bro. Chris Furmston, Secretary.
 |
Pictured above, from left: Dr.Jen Wardell, W.Bro.Chris Furmston, W.Bro. Roger Crook,
W.Bro. Dennis Houghton and Nurse Irene Giles. |
BRIAN HOUSE HOSPICE DONATION
Brian House at Bispham, Blackpool, forms an integral part of Trinity Palliative Care Services, caring for children with life limiting or life threatening conditions and their families and is one of the services developed out of the original hospice adult inpatient unit, opened in 1985.
Bispham with Norbreck Mark Lodge’s Charity Representative and Almoner, Past Master Ron Weatherill, together with Henry Stirzaker, the Lodge’s Junior Overseer, visited the Hospice to see if there was any way they could help by funding a particular piece of much needed equipment. They met Jane Molyneux who outlined the want of a Tom Cot Bed, designed for Children with Special needs. They discovered that the hospice had the bed on trial, but it was to be returned until sufficient funds were available. Rather than wait until our Festival, the West Lancs Mark Province funded the bed immediately and a cheque was sent within 48 hours; to the surprise and delight of both the hospice and Bro. Ron! The PGM said he would take Bispham with Norbreck Lodge on trust to produce their contribution subsequently. Which of course they did.
The Lodge raised £1753 and the fund made up the donation to the full cost of the bed at £4290.
On the afternoon of Thursday 17th April, the Provincial Grand Master, Peter Connolly accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master,
Tony Harrison, and the Assistants Danny Jones and Keith Beardmore, together with the Provincial Grand Charity Steward, Michael Clarke, met the
Worshipful Master of Bispham with Norbreck Lodge, Neil MacSymons, Ron Weatherill and Henry Stirzaker to make a formal presentation of the Bed to
the Hospice. Also present was Colin Moxey, the Provincial Grand Masters Special Representative for the Area and John Shrewsbury the Deputy Leader
for the Area Charity Group.
 |
Pictured above: The Worshipful Master of Bispham and Norbreck Mark Lodge, Bro. Neil MacSymons
with R.W.Bro. Peter Connolly, Provincial Grand Master in front of the donated bed with the certificate recording the donation. |
 |
Pictured above, from left, Front: W.Bro.Keith Beardmore, W.Bro.Danny Jones, APGM. Rear: Bro.Neil MacSymons, W.Bro.Michael Clarke, W.Bro.Tony Harrison, DPGM, W.Bro.Colin Moxey, W.Bro.Henry Stirzicker and R.W.Bro.Peter Connolly, PGM. |
 |
Pictured above, from left: Bro. Neil MacSymons, R.W.Bro.Peter Connolly, PGM., and Health Care Assistant, Teresa Jeng-Rouse (who demonstarted the bed) and Ron Weatherill, in fron of the bed. |
MARK MASONS HELP HOSPITAL
Rt.W.Bro.Peter Connolly, Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Province of West Lancashire, visited the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at Southport & Ormskirk District General Hospital on Thursday 12th February 2008 to present two new exercise cycles and a new PowerPoint projector on behalf of Mark Masons of Southport.
The Lodges raised the magnificent sum of £1,500 and the Province added a further £1,200 to hit the required total of £2,700.
A number of Southport Masons in Craft and the Mark Degree have undergone open heart surgery in the past few years, the most recent being
W.Bro.Tom Holt who first approached me with a request for Mark Masonry to acknowledge the wonderful work done by the Cardiac Unit. Having spoken
with the nursing staff in the Rehab-Unit it became obvious the exercise cycles were desperately needed, at the same time the PowerPoint projector
failed and an urgent replacement was required.
 |
Pictured above: R.W.Bro. Peter Connolly, Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of West Lancashire and his wife Lynn, putting the newly donated exercise bikes at Southport D.G.H. to the test. To the P.G.M's right are W.Bro. Michael Clarke (Mark Charity Treasurer), Mrs. Ruth Molyneux and W.Bro. Brian Molyneux, supported by brethren of the Southport Group of Mark Master Masons. |
 |
Pictured above, from left: Bro. Eric Bullock, W.M. of Southport Mark Lodge and
Bro. Kevin Collins, W.M. of Lathom Mark Lodge with the newly donated powerpoint projector presented to Southport District General Hospital
Card8ac Rehabilitation Unit. |
I send my sincere thanks to all Mark Masons who have supported this project, and my thanks to our Provincial Grand Master and his wife Lynn for
joining us for the presentation.
W.Bro.Brian Molyneux, PAGDC
Group Mark Charity Representative
WEST LANCASHIRE MARK CHARITIES
The Province administers three principal funds: -
THE WEST LANCASHIRE MARK CHARITY FUND
The fund was founded in 1985 and is flexible in providing appropriate need to Masonic Charities and/or Non-Masonic Charitable Organisations.
THE WEST LANCASHIRE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND
The fund receives and administers all donations for the Mark Benevolent Fund which was established in 1868, for either by direct transmission or via other Provinces' Mark Festivals. All enquiries and donations for the above to: - Prov.G.Ch.Stwd.
Contact via Provincial Grand Secretary e-mail
THE WEST LANCASHIRE MARK CHARITY COMMITTEE FUND
The fund deals with monies received primarily from the Mark Benevolent Fund in support of distressed Mark Masons, their widows, sisters or dependants. Enquiries and petitions to: - Prov.G.Almoner
Contact via Provincial Grand Secretary e-mail