NEW AMBULANCE FOR WIGAN & LEIGH HOSPICE

But the Mark Masons were even more generous when they provided a further £2981 towards the cost of refurbishment of the Hospice reception area. Stuart Liptrot, Hospice Chief Executive, said ’Almost eighteen thousand pounds between these two organisations is a fantastic sum and we are tremendously grateful for this extremely kind support. One of our current ambulance vehicles is well past its use by date and our reception furniture is also in need of replacement. Stuart added, ‘Our other two ambulances carry several people every day for therapy, counselling and doctor’s appointments and as some of our patients are not very well, the new vehicle will make it much easier for them.’

Peter Connolly, Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Masons of West Lancashire added ‘We are all very aware of the sterling work done by the Hospice movement, both nationally and locally and Freemasonry donates to every Hospice in the UK adding up to several hundreds of thousands of pounds every year. We are thrilled to be able to help with this ambulance which will clearly be put to good use for local people.’

The new ambulance has a specially adapted ramp and side sliding doors for easier access and additional seating to enable carers and family to accompany patients.

Above: Ian Walsh, Newton Mark; Graham Corday, Charity Mark; Andrew Tonge, Westhoughton Mark; Derek Wood, Leigh Mark; Janine Turner of Stephensons; Prov Grand Master, Peter Connolly with Stuart Liptrot at the wheel. Behind Alan Marlow; David Barker, Red Rose Mark; and Ian Clark.

Above: Prov Grand Master with Masters and Representatives of the Wigan & Leigh Mark Lodges.

Above: The new Hospice ambulance.

BRIAN HOUSE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

LIFEBOAT MEMORIAL RESTORATION

Pictured above: St.Annes Lifeboat Memorial.

SPINAL UNIT PRESENTATION

Mark and RAM Lodges in Southport had donated £1,270.00 to the project over the last 15 months and were delighted when the West Lancs. Mark Charity Committee added another £1000 to the project. This enabled us to provide the following---
1. To widen the footpaths in the garden to enable access for all the residents who now are equiped with Battery Powered Wheelchairs.
2. to provide a new 4 Burner Barbeque.
3. to provide a 3.5 metre diameter cantilever Sunshade.
4. to provide 2 hardwood garden benches for the use of visiting families and friends.

The Home is a Charity and provides a permanent home for people who have suffered severe spinal injuries and are unable to live independently. The Charity is faced with raising some £30,000 each year and its committee was delighted to receive the support of local Mark Masons.

The Residents are now able to make much greater use of the Garden facility and it has been a great pleasure to join them on a couple of their barbeque events.

Southport Mark Masons join me in thanking the Provincial Grand Master and Mrs. Connolly for their support and the Mark Provincial Charity Committee for their generous donation.
W.Bro. Brian Molyneux, Deputy. Ionic Group.

Pictured above: From left to right (Front Row): Dave Partington (Resident), W.Bro.Bill Wallace Jones, Margaret Cheetham (Manageress), The Provincial Grand Master, Bro.Peter Connolly, Joan Bridge (Charity Chairman) and W.Bro.Brian Molyneaux. (Standing) Alan Bridge, V.W.Bro.Sidney Hale, Mrs.Lynn Connolly, Janet Evans (House Management Chairman)

CONGO RECONCILLIATION PROJECT

The Dean visited the Congo earlier this year and was very impressed with the way the Project had been established and he said that the money would be well received by people who might never have heard of England never mind a small town called Wigan and he thanked the Freemasons for their kind generosity.

Pictured above: From left to right: The Provincial Grand Master presenting the cheque to the Dean of Liverpool, Very Revd. Justin Welby, with the Rev John Sharples looking on.

MINI BUS FOR KIDSWHEELS

The Rt.W.Prov.G.M. Peter Connolly his wife Lynn V.W.Bro.Eric Hughes, Leader of the Tuscan Group and his wife Kath,W.Bro.Michael Clarke, West Lancashire Mark Charity Fund treasurer and W.Bro. Sid Blake and his wife Evelyn representing the Garston Mark Masons. W.Bro.Derek Horrocks, my deputy, was unable to attend due to other masonic business.

We met at the lovely home of Mr. Paul Dodd and his wife Gill. Paul is the Chairman of Kidswheels and Gill. his secretary. Also present was Mr. Brian McDermott, Treasurer and transport co-ordinator of Kidswheels, a retired headmaster.

Two charming 13 year old boys, Elliot and Ben, who are volunteers at Kidswheels, are being trained by Paul to eventually take over from him. Paul is a retired deputy head teacher and he derived so much joy and pleasure from teaching children, that he wanted to give something back in return.

In 1983 with the help of family and friends he founded Kidswheels in south Liverpool. After a lot of effort they purchased their first coach for the benefit of disabled and disadvantaged children. They now have several coaches and two mini-buses. The vehicles are used for outings and holidays, tents, sleeping bags and other equipment are loaned free of charge,

Paul and his volunteers must be very proud of the difference they have made to so many youngsters over the years.

The Rt.W.Prov.G.M. was delighted to hand over to Paul Dodd the keys to an additional Mini-Bus, on behalf of the West Lancashire Mark Masons Charity Fund and the Garston Mark Masons.

After taking photographs, Paul and Gill, invited us to afternoon tea in their beautiful home, Ben and Elliot helped to serve us with the delicious spread Gill had prepared, her home baked cakes and scones were the sought to die for!! We sat chating for a while, before leaving after a very pleasent afternoon. V.W.Bro.Eric Samuel Hughes P.G.J.O. Leader of the Tuscan Group.

Pictured above: From left to right: The Mini-bus with Kath Hughes, Brian, Elliot, Ben and the Prov.G.M.

Pictured above: From left to right: The Prov.G.M. with Paul Dodd.

Pictured above: From left to right: Brian McDermott, Michael Clarke, Sid Blake, Paul Dodd, Elliot and Ben.

999 FLEETWOOD LIFEBOAT TELESCOPE

The Mark Master Masons of the two Mark Lodges meeting at Fleetwood, Wyre Mark No.754 and Cleveleys Mark No.1176, with the assistance of the Mark Province of West Lancashire, having previously donated a ‘public address system’ for the new Lifeboat Station opened in 2005, wished to make a significant contribution to the sesquicentenary celebrations and, after consultation with the Cox and crew, it was agreed that a specialist bi-ocular telescope be purchased at a cost of £1,500 to ‘keep watch’ over Morecombe Bay and the Wyre Estuary.

The Masons of Fleetwood are never forgetful that theirs is, traditionally, a fishing town nor that the Fylde Coast is surrounded by water on three sides and the local Lodges extend the 9 o’clock toast to absent and seafaring Brethren.

Remembering that you dial ‘999’ to summon any of the emergency services, including Lifeboat and Coastguard, the opportunity to thank the Lifeboat Station generally and some members of the crew in particular arose when Fleetwood Lodge No.3711 agreed that their regular meeting on the 9th of the 9th of the 9th could be used for that purpose.

Consequently, following a brief business meeting, the Lodge was closed and four members of the Lifeboat crew together with their wives and the wives and partners of the Lodge members and other visitors packed the Lodge room to hear an illustrated lecture by W.Bro John Ogden entitled ‘The Lifeboat Connection’.

W.Bro. Ogden, a member of Semper Fidelis Mark Lodge No.880 which meets at St. Annes, the other extreme of the Fylde Coast, originally devised this lecture for the 35th Blackpool & District annual Festival held on 26th April 2005. On that occasion John had focused his lecture on the St.Annes lifeboat, on this occasion more detail was placed on the Fleetwood Lifeboat but the emphasis remained on the important part the RNLI has played and continues to play, in the lives of the people of the whole of the Fylde Coast, on some occasions at the expense of their own.

After the presentation, all retired to the dining room for dinner during which Rt.W.Bro. Peter Connolly, Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Province of West Lancashire, formally presented the telescope to Paul Ashworth, Cox of the Fleetwood Lifeboat. During his short address Rt.W.Bro. Connolly made mention of the recent naming ceremony by the Grand Master of the Mark Degree, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, of the ‘Mark Mason’ a Tamar Class lifeboat purchased with the assistance of a £1.6 million donation from the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, which is stationed at Angle.

In accepting the telescope, Paul Ashworth thanked the Brethren for all the support given over the years, both to Fleetwood in general and the RNLI in particular. He went on to say that the telescope would make a significant contribution towards saving lives in the area for many years adding that not only will it play a role in the observation of potential life-threatening incidents, but will enable the station to watch over its crew when the lifeboats are launched.

During the remainder of the evening there were a number of fund raising events resulting in the presentation of a further sum in excess of £500 to the RNLI.

Pictured above: From left to right: The Provincial Grand Master Peter Connolly, Lynn Connolly, Paul Ashworth (Cox), Mrs Julie Ashworth.

IT EQUIPMENT TO SAMARITANS

Pictured above: From left to right: Bro.David Helm (Charity Steward Jubilee Mark Lodge No.375), Carole Smith (Local Director of Samaritans Barrow, Furness and South Lakes), Bro.John Creary (Charity Steward Furness Mark Lodge No.36), Peter Connolly (Provincial Grand Master), Ronnie Angell (Worshipful Master Jubilee Mark Lodge No.375), Harry Moore (Worshipful Master Furness Mark Lodge No.36).

GAS COOKER FOR ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY

The above equipment was paid for from the charitable donations from the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges situated in Barrow and Ulverston.

Pictured above: From left to right: Roger Low (Chairman of the Furness Branch of the Alzheimer's Society), Peter Connolly (Provincial Grand Master), Mrs.Lesley Thompson (Branch manager), Ronnie Angell (Worshipful Master Jubilee Mark Lodge No.375), Harry Moore (Worshipful Master Furness Mark Lodge No.36).

WIGAN INFIRMARY HEART MONITORS

The money was raised by Wigan Mark Lodges in the Composite Group and the West Lancs Mark Charity Fund, in memory of Brian Ruler, of Westhoughton Mark Lodge, who died in 2007.

Dave Woods said 'The cardiac monitors are a vital piece of equipment in monitoring patients and we are grateful for the donation by the Mark Masons to enable us to purchase the three additional machines. They will add considerably to our ability to provide an improved service to those in need with heart problems.

Pictured above: The presentation party, Ken Alker, Special Representative, Dave Wood Equipment Store Manager, Peter Connolly, PGM, Alan Marlow, Treasurer of Red Rose Mark Lodge, Ian Clarke, Leader Composite Group Mark Charity and Gwen Winstanley, Loan Store Co-ordinator.	Pictured above: The Micromon N-xt – Heart Monitors presented to the Wigan Royal Infirmary.
Pictured above:Commemorative plaque attached to the heart monitors.

RIDING FOR THE DISABLED

The visiting party were very impressed with the facilities, particularly the indoor arena for which Mark Masons also provided a special rake, saving the assistants a lot of time.

Pictured above: The Provincial Grand Master, Peter Connolly, opens the new stable and presents a plaque commemorating the donation by the Mark Masons of West Lancashire.	Pictured above: The Provincial Grand Master and Michael Clarke, the Provincial Charity Steward, with the plaque they have just secured to the new stable.

WEST LANCASHIRE MARK CHARITIES