PRESTON MASTERS QUIZ 2010 – ANOTHER
SUCCESSFUL NIGHT!........<More>
A RARE SCOTTISH DIAMOND - On Thursday 15th
April, the Lodge of Concord no. 343 hosted a very special
meeting at which Alexander Green celebrated sixty years
of being a mason......<More>
An interesting Third Degree - Preston
Lodge of Sincerity in the Province of Durham.............<More>
Special Fifthieth - W. Bro. Peter Walker
W. M. of Winkley Lodge.........<More>
The Levellers make their annual charity
donations.................<More>
St. Saviour's receives help from the
West Lancashire Freemason's Charity..............<More>
Festival Lodge no. 8123 supports the
Samaritans.............<More>
Preston Masonic Study Circle visits Lathom
Lodge................<More>
Tudor Banquet goes well................<More>
A Unique Mason - Festival perform a
ceremony for Amounderness............<More>
Lodge of Good Fellowship - Christmas Social...........<More>
LANCASHIRE NIGHT - A GREAT SUCCESS..........<More>
WARNINGS RE BOGUS CALLS.................<More>
PRESTON MASTERS' WALK 2009....................<More>
Festival of Remembrance with Lodge of
Endeavour........<More>
A SPLENDID EVENING - Preston Lodge
of Sincerity no. 8085 acheives Patronage......<More>
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER - Double fiftieth
celebration.......<More>
A shilling can go a long way (Lodge
of Good Fellowship no. 5901)..... <More>
Last Night of the Proms – What
a Night..........<More>
Jubilee Lodge V Ingol Lodge of St. Margaret
annual bowling match.........<more>
Group Bowling Competition - On Sunday
7th June 2009.......<More>
News Archive - 2008 Season
News Archive - Recent items
News Archive - Page 2 (Older
Stories)
News Archive - Page 3 (Older
Stories part 2)
Older news items can be found on disk in the library at
Ashlar House.
PRESTON MASTERS QUIZ 2010 –
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL NIGHT!
On Friday 26th February 20 teams from the Preston Lodges
gathered at Preston Masonic Hall to contest the 2010 Quiz
competition, two lodges providing 3 teams each. In total
over 100 people attended, and the evening raised over £500
for Preston Masters’ charities.
On the night the previous Preston Masters’ Group Chairman,
John Sarti, presented cheques for £750 each to representatives
from Actioneers for Children (part of action for Blind People),
Galloway’s Society for the Blind, Pear Tree School
and St. Saviour’s PCC. They also presented £150
to Ian Greenwood for the Preston Group Chairman’s
Charity. Preston Ladies’ Barber Shop Singers’
Charity Fund has since received £175.
The evening was run by Quizmaster Stuart Elliott (from
Royal Preston, the previous year’s winners) and his
wife Val, who acted as scorer. The quiz was closely contested,
and was won by Fraternity lodge, second was Preston Guild,
third Halcyon, and forth Unanimity. In all, win or lose,
this proved to be a very enjoyable night.
"The Ballroom on Quiz Night"
"The representative from 'Action For
Blind People' receiving their cheque from John Sarti"
"Pear Tree School's cheque being presented"
"John with Rev. Graham Halsall and
the St. Saviour's PCC"
"Chairman Richard Johnson (second left)
presents the cup to the Winners"
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A RARE SCOTTISH DIAMOND
On Thursday 15th April, the Lodge of Concord no. 343 hosted
a very special meeting at which Alexander Green celebrated
sixty years of being a mason. The Lodge was opened in the
third degree, and then Assistant Provincial Grand Master
Leon Tax, entered and immediately took the chair to expertly
close down to the first and begin the celebration.
Alex Green was born on 24th November 1931 in Dalmuir, Scotland,
the first and only child to Alexander and Helen Green. The
family moved to Bowling when Alex was three and he attended
Gavinburn Primary School. Due to the school being severely
damaged by bombing during the blitz he was evacuated to
Pollock Academy which institution he left in 1944 with a
qualified exam. This enabled him to graduate to Dumbarton
Academy where he studied until 1947 - Moving on to Clydebank
High School to complete his education – leaving in
1950 with a Scottish Higher Certificate. It was in this
year that he began his National Service, joining the Army
Pay Corps, and serving in Singapore before his demob in
1953. Anxious to obtain work he was able to secure a four-year
student apprenticeship with Babcocks and Wilcox who were
boilermakers. He then moved on to Albion Motors. However
by this time Leyland Motors had taken over the company.
Alex then moved on again to work at Barr and Stroud. They
were making Range Finders, Periscopes and Guidance Systems
and Alex went to work in the gear-cutting department.
During his career he moved on many times working for very
many light engineering companies before finishing his working
life with British Leyland, retiring in 1992. Whilst at Leyland
he demonstrated his deep love of sport, and ran the Leyland
Motors Athletic Football Club for many years.
In 1953 he began courting Jean Stewart, who worked in the
local sweet shop come café, and four years later
on 3rd April 1957 they were married. They have three children,
Susan born in 1958, Julie born in 1961 and Alexander James
nicknamed Sandy by his parents who was born in 1970. Alex
and Jean are proud and doting grandparents they have three
grandchildren Louise age 24, Fiona age 19 and Baby Oliver
who was born just before Christmas on 20th December. It
was in 1982 that the Greens bought and moved into their
present home at Garsdale Close, Walton Le Dale.
Alex’s Masonic career began when at the age of eighteen
years and five months, he was initiated into Lodge St Patrick
No 1309 on 17th April 1950. His proposer was his father
Bro Alexander Green and his seconder was his uncle, Bro
James Watson. He was one of five initiates on that night,
demonstrating the strength of Scottish freemasonry - which
is further illustrated by the fact that the lodge met twice
per month and only missed July and the first half of August.
He was passed on 21st August 1950 and raised to the sublime
degree of a MM just two weeks later on 4th September 1950.
The date of his raising was bought forward as Alex was called
up and joined the Army in September 1950. He was advanced
into Mark Masonry on 15th February 1954. He was exalted
into the Royal Arch in Dalmuir Chapter No 317 in 1955.
He was installed as Right Worshipful Master of his lodge
in 1964, and served as Master for two years. It was on 17th
November 1988 that Alex joined the Lodge of Concord, and
he was installed as Worshipful Master on 18th January 2007.
He then joined Concord Chapter No 343 and Progress Mark
Lodge No 898.
In Scotland he was the Acting Provincial Grand Almoner
for three years from 1967 to 1969 but it was when he celebrated
his 50th anniversary as a freemason in April 2000 that it
pleased the RW PGM to appoint him a Provincial Officer in
West Lancashire as PPrAGSupWks.
At the end of the meeting after presenting him with his
commemorative certificate, Leon surprised Alex by announcing
that the Provincial Grand Master had agreed to bring forward
his forthcoming promotion in Provincial Grand Lodge, and
after Ian Greenwood, the Preston Group Chairman, had read
out the Patent of Appointment, he invested him with his
new rank of PPrJGD.
“ W. Bro. Ian Greenwood,(Group Chairman)
W. Bro. Alex Green, W.Bro. Ted Fry (Worshipful Master),W.
Bro. Leon Tax, A.Pr.G.M. and W. Bro. Paul Hesketh (Provincial
Deputy Director of Ceremonies)”
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Provincial Grand Master of Durham
Congratulates Newly Raised Preston Mason
On the 6th March Bro. Mark David Reilly was raised to the
Sublime Degree of a Master Mason at Benfeldsyde Lodge No
7807 in the Province of Durham.
"Rt. W.Bro Eric Heaviside congratulates
Bro. Reilly"
As part of the Diamond Celebrations for W.Bro.Dr Geoff
Birch P.J.G.D. Held at Benfeldsyde Lodge. The past Masters
of the Lodge conducted a 3rd Degree Ceremony. With the close
ties between the Preston Lodge of Sincerity and Benfeldsyde
Lodge and Dr. Birch’s Preston connections it was agreed
that instead of a demonstration the Lodge would conduct
a live Raising with Bro. Mark as the Candidate.
"W.Bro.George Clark PSGD W.Bro. Dr.Geoff Birch PJGD
Bro. Mark Reilly. Rt. W.Bro.Eric Heaviside VW.Bro Prof Denovan
Keith Wilson, PGSwdB"
"The Worshipful Masters Bro. Eddie Adams and Bro. Trevor
Simmons With the Celebrants Dr. Geoff Birch PJGD Bro. Mark
Reilly.
And the Provincial Grand Master Rt. W.Bro.Eric Heaviside"
Dr. Birch is a Past Master of Benfeldsyde Lodge He first
received Grand Rank in 1985 and was promoted to his current
rank, Past Junior Grand Deacon in 1993. Geoff holds senior
rank in several other Masonic orders and is Past Deputy
Provincial Grand Master in the Mark Degree. As well as Dr
Birch’s medical connections with Preston, Benfeldsyde
Past Master David Barlow is The Immediate Past Master of
The Preston Lodge of Sincerity
"The “Visiting Brethren” From Preston Lodge
of Sincerity"
During the meal which followed Dr Birch was presented with
an inscribed gold fountain pen by the brethren of Benfeldsyde
Lodge and a china mug depicting Preston by the West Lancashire
brethren.
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Special Fiftieth
On Tuesday 16th February 2010, W. Bro. Peter J. Walker
celebrated fifty years in craft masonry to the day.
Peter was initiated into Winkley Lodge no. 5438 on 16th
February 1960, and has served the Lodge in many offices
in the years since. What made this such a special occasion
however, was the fact that after serving as Worshipful Master
in 1971, Peter is again currently in “the chair”.
On welcoming the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Leon
Tax, the special guest,
into the Lodge, and offering him the gavel, most of the
assembled brethren were surprised as Leon accepted and then
retained it. While Peter watched from a seat by the Senior
Deacon, Leon expertly closed the Lodge down from the third
to the first degree, and then invited the celebrant to occupy
a comfortable seat before him, whilst he then described
his working life as well as his Masonic career over the
past five decades.
Peter was born in St. Michael’s On Wyre in 1930,
and after the family moved first to Cheshire and then to
Southport, he was educated at Churchtown Primary School,
and then King George V Grammar School for Boys.
On leaving school in 1947 that he sat and passed an open
competitive examination into the Civil Service and subsequently
started work for the Home Office in August of that year,
based at the Heyhouses site in St Annes. He continued to
work as a civil servant for the rest of his working life,
the only interruption being for National Service when he
joined the RAF for two years. His service took him to many
parts of the country, but his base was always in Penwortham,
where he still lives.
He met his wife Rita in 1956 at the Floral Hall in Southport
- the “in spot” in those days, and they were
married in 1959. They have two children, Graham, born in
1962, and Louise, born in 1965. Peter and Rita are extremely
proud of their children. Graham is a consultant anaesthetist.
He is married to Christine and they have three children.
Despite living in Northampton, Peter & Rita are able
to see them and the children three or four times a year.
Louise lives more locally, in Penwortham. She is married
to Karl and they have two children. Louise is the Recruitment
and Development Manager for Lancashire County Police. Peter
and Rita are doting grandparents and derive much pleasure
from their five grandchildren, four boys and one girl who
range in age from 16 to 13.
Aside from his active and extensive involvement with freemasonry;
Peter is a member and past Chairman of South Ribble Probus
Club. He also makes time for gardening and property management
and even a little maintenance at the properties, which he
owns.
Besides his membership of his mother lodge, Peter is also
a member of the Setantia Lodge of Installed Masters no.
7755. He is a member of Winkley Chapter no. 5438, and served
as First Principal in 1979, and is also a member of the
Setantia Chapter of First Principals, having served as Third
Principal in 2001. He is also a member of many side degrees
including Rose Croix, Knights Templar and the Order of Secret
Monitor, in fact a very busy Mason.
"W. Bro. Leon Tax, A.Pr.G.M. W. Bro.
Peter Walker and W. Bro. Stan Rigby, Vice Chairman of the
Preston Group."
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The Levellers
Every season, the masters of the Lodges in the Preston
Group form themselves into a team to raise money for charity.
Some of these groups continue to meet after their respective
years in office have finished, and some even go on holidays
together, but few actually continue to raise money for charity.
However the group formed in the 1995 to 1997 seasons, who
call themselves “The Levellers” have continued
to raise funds every year since.
This year they have just presented cheques as follows:
St. Catherine’s Hospice £350
North West Air Ambulance £350
Tender Nursing Care £350
This money has been raised over the last twelve months
from regular social events, bonus lottery ball draws etc.
- and even fines for not wearing the group’s “forget-me-not”
badges!
In all this makes a grand total in excess of £13,000
donated to local charities, since the group, which currently
comprises of some fourteen masons and fourteen wives and
widows was formed.
"Some of the group on a weekend away"
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St. Saviour's, Bamber Bridge
The Provincial Grand Chaplain, Rev. Graham Halsall, in his
everyday job, as vicar of St. Saviour’s Church, in
Bamber Bridge, has just obtained a grant from the West Lancashire
Freemason’s Charity to assist in a major project at
the church.
A Grade II listed church, first built in 1837 and extended
in 1886, St. Saviour’s does not have a water supply
or toilet facilities in the church, and parishioners have
to cross to the church hall on Sundays to use the loo or
kitchen. These are not available on weekdays as the church
hall complex is leased to a Special School, and so weekday
events, even weddings and funerals, do not offer these basic
essentials.
Graham has intiated a Project, with the help of a team of
stalwart parishioners, to create toilets and a kitchen within
the church, and also form a much needed extra room at the
rear of the main worship area. Such work however is never
cheap, and the costed scheme to complete this task is a
few pennies short of eighty thousand pounds. Fund raising,
using the logo above is well underway, and the grant of
five thousand pounds from our own West Lancashire Freemason’s
Charity is a welcome addition to the growing fund, enabling
the fund to have passed its halfway mark.
Some of the Project Team are pictured with Graham: David
Lord (Reader) David Stewart (Church Treasurer) Marlene Yates
(Church Secretary) and Arthur Jackson. Other members of
the Project Team are Lyn Stewart, Sid Kenyon, Ted Battersby,
Ray Plummer and Pauline Stringer.
"St. Saviour's Church, Bamber Bridge"
"Inside the church, looking towards
the area to become the kitchen and toilets"
“David Lord, David Stewart, Rev. Graham
Halsall, Marlene Yates and Arthur Jackson”.
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Festival Lodge
provides Funding for the Samaritans
On 12th December 2009 Festival Lodge Charity Steward George
Thornhill presented a cheque from the Lodge General Charity
Fund for £750 to the Samaritans in Preston. Samaritans
is a confidential emotional support service offered by 17,000
trained volunteers for anyone in the UK and Ireland. The
service is available 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing
feelings of distress or despair, including those which may
lead to suicide. Volunteers offer support by responding
to phone calls, emails and letters. Alternatively people
can drop in to a branch to have a face to face meeting.
The 201 branches of the service are entirely dependent on
voluntary support.
The picture shows George Thornhill (left) and Master Bill
Struthers (right) presenting the cheque to Samaritans’
representative Stephen Hall.
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Preston Masonic Study Circle
visits Lathom Lodge No.2229 on 25th January 2010.
On 25th January, a team from the Preston Masonic
Study Circle made the trip to Litherland Masonic Hall, home
of the BootIe Group, at the invitation ofthe Worshipful
Master, WBro Terry Hudson PSGD, Assistant Provincial Grand
Master, and the brethren of Lathom Lodge No.2229. The purpose
of the visit was to work a demonstration of the First Degree
ceremony, but with a little extra information included -
a commentary explaining the background to the critical elements
of the ceremony, researched and compiled by nationally renowned
Masonic historian, WBro Rev Neville Barker Cryer PGChap.
After the lodge was opened and the domestic business was
completed, the members of the PMSC demonstration team exchanged
places with the officers of Lathom Lodge to work the ceremony.
During the course of the ceremony the five narrators made
timely and appropriate interjections at seventeen points,
providing information, which explained and illuminated the
text of the ritual and artefacts used during the process.
Amongst the seventy or so brethren present, including four
Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, the Provincial Grand
Secretary and Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, there
were several Entered Apprentice freemasons who were guests
of the lodge. They were to remark later how very helpful,
informative and thoroughly enjoyable they had found the
demonstration. Having only recently experienced the First
Degree for themselves, they had the opportunity to see what
they had gone through but with the bonus of having the origins
and significance of the ceremony clearly displayed and relayed
to them. At the end of the demonstration, the brethren assembled
showed their spontaneous appreciation and WBro Hudson expressed
thanks and congratulations on behalf of himself and all
present.
The members of the demonstration team, with their lodge
numbers, were:- Officers, WBros Geoff W Saul PPrJGW(WM)
8544, Alec Green PPrAGSuptWks(SW) 343, Ian W Cuerden PPrJGW(JW)
7105, Robert J Poole PPrJGW 4072, Rob Norris PPrGStwd 8085,
Chris C G Blackwell PPrJGW(IG and team co-ordinator) 6018,
Peter J Walker PPrSGW(Tyler) 5438, and E John Sarti PM(candidate)
343. The narrators were:- WBros Ian W Greenwood PJGD 4408,
Stan W Rigby PAGDC 4072, John Singleton PPrJGW 6500, Mike
A Greenwood PPrJGW 7614 and Howard Linaker PPrDGSuptWks
6386.
The team was complemented by, and grateful to, WBro Rev
Harry E Ross PSGD P APrGM (2229) who acted as chaplain,
and sorry not to have the company ofBro Alan Whittle (343)
who had worked on the demonstration but had to withdraw
at short notice due to a family bereavement. (Article provided
by: WBro Chris CG Blackwell PPrJGW Secretary, PMSC)
"Members of the team with Terry Hudson"
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Tudor Banquet goes well at Preston
Masonic hall
Despite not having the best of support, the first of a
series of theme nights at Preston Masonic Hall – the
Tudor Banquet - proved to be a great evening. Organised
by Ashlar Promotions the Banquet “At the Court and
in the Presence of His Majesty Henry VIII and the Queen”
featured an appearance by His Majesty Henry VIII and his
Queen Catherine Howard. An authentic meal was prepared by
Chef Alistair Godfrey and served by ever-attentive staff
who entered fully into the spirit of the event. After the
meal the company was addressed by the King who gave a very
informative and somewhat different view from the usual one
of his life in Tudor times, and of the characters of his
wives and advisors. He and the Queen then proceeded with
a lesson in dancing from the period, eventually including
many of the diners.
"Diners enjoying the Tudor fair"
"Ian and Gwynneth with Henry VIII and
Queen Catherine"
"Learning to dance Tudor style"
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A UNIQUE MASON
On Monday 18th January a ceremony took place that may never
be repeated. Festival Lodge no. 8123, raised Bro. Hal Hamer,
a member of Lodge Amounderness no. 7105. Now this in itself
might not be an unusual occurrence as there must be many
masons who experience one or more of their ceremonies within
a different lodge than their own mother lodge however, Bro.
Hal has not had any of his degrees at a regular Lodge meeting
of Amounderness. Both his previous ceremonies were performed
at emergency meetings of the lodge, and now his raising
has taken place at the recent Festival Lodge meeting - a
truly unique Mason!
Whilst the main part of the ceremony was performed by the
officers of Festival Lodge, a very strong contingent of
Past Masters from Lodge Amounderness then presented the
Traditional History, splitting up the work in a praiseworthy
manner - all in all a very inetresting and enjoyable occasion
for all present including the candidate.
"The Worshipful Assistant Provincial
Grand Master with both Worshipful Masters and the candidate"
"W. Bro. Don Richardson who invested
Bro. Hamer with his apron on the night"
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Lodge of Good Fellowship Christmas
Social
Lodge of Good Fellowship’s Social on 5th December was a typically splendid
affair, the kind we’ve come to expect from the Lodge,
being well attended in terms of the Lodge and visitors alike.
After a traditional Christmas meal WM Steve Nicholson and
his Lady Mandy took to the floor for the first dance, with
Christian Atack involving everyone else in the dancing –
including a number of his hallmark “everyone on the
floor to learn” dances. Again the evening ended in
the traditional manner with Auld Lang Syne, with Alan Howarth,
WM of Lodge of Endeavour thanking the Lodge for an excellent
night. Thanks go to Alistair for catering, and to Hugh for
keeping us all watered, and to Ted Richards for the organisation
of the event.
"The Worshipful Master & his Lady,
Steve and Mandy Nicholson"
"Christian Atak entertained the revellers"
"Auld Lang Syne at the end of the night"
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Ashlar Promotions’ first Lancashire
Night a Great Success!
Lancashire Night at Preston Masonic Hall
on 27th November was another great night. Opened by the
Town Crier and featuring excellent traditional fare, a Lancashire
Quiz, and live entertainment from popular Lancashire Folk
Group Trouble at’ Mill. The Loyal Toast was proposed
by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Dr Kadaba Srinath
Vasudev (a figure well know to Preston Freemasons), and
the toast to the County Palatine was proposed by journalist
Diana Bradley, a noted Lancastrian American. You can read
about Ms Bradley’s account of her experience and watch
a video “Grateful to enjoy a very different way to
give thanks” on the Lancashire Evening Post website
at http://www.lep.co.uk/yankeedoodles. Thanks to Alistair
and his staff for great food and service, to Hugh and his
staff for great bar service, and to everyone who supported
us for making the night such a great success.
"Trouble at Mill with Guest"
"Diners at the Lancashire Night"
"Our Advertisine Man in the Mall"
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WARNINGS RE BOGUS CALLS
W. Bro. Richard Maddocks has just received this from the
National Association of Retired Police Officers, and thought
it may be worth circulating
Lancashire residents are warned that they may receive a
telephone call from someone claiming to be from The Valuation
Office Agency (VOA) or The Local Council. Consumers are
informed that they have been identified as being eligible
for a rebate on their council tax and are asked for credit
card or bank details so that an "admin fee" can
be taken to process the refund or so the refund can be put
into their account.These calls are bogus and residents should
not provide any details to the caller.
Trading Standards have had reports of these calls being
received in West Lancashire but believe residents throughout
the county may be at risk. A representative for VOA has
confirmed that they would never ask for financial details.
If people have any questions about their council tax band
they can go to the VOA website at www.voa.gov.ukfor further
details.
Please refer any complaints and further information to Lancashire
Trading Standards Service, 55 Guildhall Street, Preston,
Lancs via Consumer Direct tel 08454 040506. If there is
any threat or fear of burglary contact the police at once.
Warning no.2
Please be aware that there have been complaints from older
residents about a caller who telephones to inform them that
they are entitled to an extra amount on their Winter Fuel
Payment or an extra Christmas Bonus.
The caller then asks for personal details such as date of
birth claiming that they need to confirm they are talking
to the right person. They then ask for bank account details.
These calls are not genuine and no official service would
contact a customer and ask for bank details in this way.
Please refer any complaints and further information to Lancashire
Trading Standards Service, 56-58 Guildhall Street, Preston,
Lancs via Consumer Direct tel 08454 040506. If there is
any threat or fear of burglary contact the police at once
on 999.
Return to TOP
PRESTON MASTERS' WALK
2009
Sunday 29 November saw nine Preston Masters accompanied
by three wives, one toddler (in a pushchair) and two dogs
set off from the café on Beacon Fell for the annual
Masters’ Walk.
Most opted for the short route, which consisted of one
or two laps of the fell, but five stalwarts, led by W. Bro.
Richard Johnson, braved the elements, and considerable amounts
of mud, to complete the long route via Brock Mill, finally
returning two and a half hours later, when everyone else
had gone home! The summit picture was kindly taken by a
passer by who took pity on the dishevelled group.
The event will hopefully have raised in excess
of a thousand pounds to be shared, along with the other
monies raised over the year, among the Charities chosen
by the masters.
"Walkers at the start"
"The hardy walkers on the long route,
still looking cheerfull!"
"The summit of Beacon Fell with the
end in sight"
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Festival of Remembrance
On Friday 6th November, the Lodge of Endeavour no. 7036
held their annual Festival of Remembrance Meeting in which
masonic brethren of all sections of the armed services paraded
their various colours in the Lodge room.
A short “Service of Remembrance” followed,
which was conducted by W.Bro. Rev. G. Halsall, Pr. G. Chap.
The Lodge was then closed, and the brethren retired to
the Ashlar House Ballroom for a festive board where they
where entertained by a piper during the meal.
It was great to see the Ballroom full for dining, and a
wonderful result from the raffles as the Lodge was able
to send a donation of £769 to “Help for Heroes”.
The Worshipful Assistant Provincial Grand
Master and the Group Chairman were among other masons who
laid wreaths at the Cenotaph on the Sunday following the
meeting, which was Remembrance Day.
"Piper in the Ballroom"
"A toast with the Worshipful Master"
"The laying of wreaths"
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Sincerity acheives
patron
At the installation meeting of the Preston Lodge of Sincerity
no. 8085, held at the Harris Park Conference Centre on Friday
30 October, a cheque for the sum of £400 in favour
of the 2010 Festival was handed to W. Bro. Leon Tax, PSGD,
AprGM, the special guest of the evening. W. Bro. Tax, being
well prepared, presented a Patron Certificate to the Lodge,
as the necessary £1,200 had been achieved with this
splendid donation. A truly great acheivement considering
the Lodge only has seventeen members.
Worshipful Master, Bro. Eddie Adams receiving
the certificate from W.Bro. Leon Tax, PSGD, APrGM.
Return to TOP
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
- Double fiftieth celebration
On Monday 22 September at a special meeting
of White Hills Lodge no. 5209, in the Leyland Group, two
close friends, both Grand Officers, celebrated their fiftieth
jubilee.
W. Bro. Alan Lindsay Davies, P.A.G.D.C., and
W.Bro. Donald Kennedy Richardson, P.A.G.D.C., realised that
many of their friends would be placed under enormous pressure
if they had separate celebrations so concluded that the
best solution was to have a shared celebration with their
two respective lodges holding a joint special meeting.
W. Bro. Frank Wilkinson, P.S.G.D., A.Pr.G.M.
for the Leyland and Chorley Groups first gave an excellent
account of W. Bro. Alan’s civil and masonic development,
from his birth and education in South Wales, including his
initiation in a Lodge in Aberdare, to his eventual arrival
in Preston to take up the post of Principal of the W. R.
Tuson College of Further Education, and become a joining
member of Penwortham Lodge no. 5874, which recently amalgamated
with the White Hills Lodge.
This was followed by an equally eloquent description
by W. Bro. Leon Tax, P.S.G.D., A.Pr.G.M. for the Preston
and South Fylde Groups, of the civil and masonic development
of W. Bro. Don. Who like W. Bro. Alan had travelled far
and wide, being initiated in a Lodge in North Allerton,
before coming back to Preston to settle at the Lancashire
College of Agriculture for his vocation, and joining Festival
Lodge no. 8123, for his masonry.
The Lodge meeting was presided over by the
Worshipful Master of White Hills, Bro. Jon Whitton, with
the Master of Festival Lodge, W. Bro. Richard Maddocks,
P.Pr.J.G.W., acting as the Imnmediate Past Master. The rest
of the offices, were occupied by a mixture of the two lodges’
members.
The banquet was an equally grand and friendly
affair with more than one hundred and twenty brethren enjoying
a sumptuous meal, followed by presentations to the two celebrants
by their respective lodges, and an extra presentation from
the brethren of Lodge Amounderness no. 7105, of which both
of them are members.
"W.Bro. F. Wilkinson,PSGD,APrGM, W.Bro.
Alan Davies,PAGDC, W.M.Bro. J.Whitton, W.Bro. D. Richardson,PAGDC,
W. Bro. R. Maddocks, PPrJGW and W.Bro. L.D.Tax,PSGD,APrGM"
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A shilling can go a
long way (Lodge of Good Fellowship no. 5901)
A shilling can go a long way, certainly for
members of The Lodge of Good Fellowship No 5901 who have
raised money by donating their loose change at the festive
board to a fund called “Jack’s Shilling”
in memory of W Bro Jack Fenton. W Bro Fenton was renowned
within the lodge for declaring that “our Hazel’s
given me a shilling to spend” when attending lodge
meetings, but then proving to be a most generous companion
with the shilling lasting all night and contributing to
a very sociable encounter. At the Lodges recent bowling
evening the WM Bro S Nicholson was pleased to present equipment
to Sarah Donnelly to be used by her on a scouting expedition
to Malaysia and Borneo. This was particularly appropriate
as W Bro Fenton had a long interest in the scouting movement.
"The WM Bro S Nicholson and Mrs Nicholson
making the presentation to Sarah Donnelly watched by Mrs
Hazel Fenton."
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Last Night of the Proms
– What a Night!
Over eighty people attended the Last Night
of the Proms at Preston Masonic Hall on Saturday 12th September
and were treated to a wonderful performance by the award-winning
Lostock Hall Memorial Brass Band under their Musical Director
John Wood. They played a programme featuring a first half
including music from Broadway Shows, as well as other items
by many great composers. At the interval a ‘picnic
at the Prom’ buffet was enjoyed by all.
The second half of the show featured individual pieces from
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales before rising to a
rousing finish with the traditional sea shanties and standard
‘last night’ items, everyone finally rising
to their feet, flags and all, bringing the house down with
a rousing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’.
Thanks go to David Gregson for his organisation of the event,
the proceeds of which will go to support Preston Masonic
Hall.
"The rousing finale"
"The band take a well earned bow"
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Jubilee Lodge V Ingol
Lodge of St. Margaret annual bowling match
On Friday 26th June 2009 Jubilee Lodge,
and Ingol Lodge of St Margaret held their Inter-Lodge Bowling
evening at Broughton & District Club.
The event took place in glorious sunshine, and was very
well attended with over forty members and guests enjoying
the friendly competition for the Don Thurston Trophy.
This year’s event was won, by Ingol Lodge of St Margaret,
the Master of Jubilee Lodge, W. Bro. Keith Walton being
very gracious in defeat. The raffle held on the evening
raised the sum of £100 to be shared between the two
Lodge’s.
Our thanks must go to W.Bro. Alan Eastham, and his lady
Lillian, for organising such an enjoyable evening, which
was concluded with an excellent buffet supper. Also thanks
to W.Bro. Mel Johnson (The Rabbit) for organising the bowling,
and to Broughton & District Club for their excellent
facilities.
The picture shows the winning Master W.Bro. Geoff Saul,
being presented with the ‘Don Thurstan Memorial Trophy’
by Connie Thurstan (widow of Don Thurstan) with W.Bro. Keith
Walton, Master of Jubilee looking on.
"Worshipful Master of Ingol, Mrs.Connie
Thurston and Worshipful Master of Jubilee"
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PRESTON GROUP MASONIC
BOWLING TOURNAMENT Sunday June 7th 2009
“NEW NAME ON THE CUP”
The event was once again held at the popular Broughton
& District Club, Whittingham Lane, Broughton. The weather
was fine but quite breezy. The green was in excellent condition
and quite fast running.
Although only 12 bowlers competed this year, we were delighted
to have the support of numerous guests and spectators, including
our Group Chairman Ian Greenwood and Vice Chairman Stan
Rigby.
The usual excellent catering arrangements were provided
by the club including bar facilities. A very successful
raffle was also held on the day with numerous prizes kindly
donated by participants and guests.
The tournament itself was divided into two competitive mini
leagues, which provided enjoyable and amiable exercise for
all involved.
The deserving winner of the Group Trophy along with the
President’s prize was Mike Billinge of The Lodge of
Concord. Mike had played to a good standard all afternoon,
and rather surprisingly this was the very first time he
had entered the competition.
"The eventual winner W. Bro. Mike Billinge
playing his semi-final against W. Bro. Stan Rigby"
"The Group Masonic Bowling President,
W.Bro. Gordon Payne and the Chairman, W.Bro. John Watson"
"Presentation to the runner-up W. Bro.
John Medcalf"
"Presentation to the worthy winner,
W. Bro. Mike Billinge"
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