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.