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Derbyshire Festival 2014

In aid Of The Masonic Samaritan Fund

Freemasonary in Derbyshire
Money raised by the end of last month:  £1,061,582  ....     53.1% of target ! (Actually received: £820,832 Pledged:   £240,752)

News Items










'New News'

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Archived Material

Once an item of news becomes about six months old it will be not be deleted, but transferred to our Document Archives.

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button above.

The first section of this page relates to provincial wide news
Clicking on one of the three buttons immediately below will quickly take you to news by:

                   

  DERBYSHIRE FESTIVAL 2014
FESTIVAL JEWEL

This will be available to all brethren who have donated a qualifying amount of £100 to the Derbyshire Festival 2014, or paid £25 of a pledge that will result in donations of at least £100. 

The cost of the jewel is £15, plus £1 postage and packing. Please use the
Festival Jewel Order Form, to order your Festival Jewel.

The Festival 'Fone' Fund

The Festival ‘Fone’ Fund is an ideal way to raise money for the 2014 Festival and it won’t cost you a penny! Instead of digging deep in your pockets for change we are asking you to dig deep in the back of your drawers to find that old Mobile Phone that has been languishing there for the past few years.

In conjunction with the CMR (Corporate Mobile Recycling) who handle the recycling and redistribution for such charities as Oxfam, The National Trust & The Salvation Army, every mobile is either recycled for its component parts or redistributed to a third world cause. One such cause was to give farmers in remote parts of Africa Mobile Phones to assist in running their business and aid in establishing co-operative farmers markets.

Collection points will be set up at the Masonic Halls throughout the Province, the phones being channelled through the Area Operations Team. 100% of the money raised will go to the Derbyshire Festival in aid of the Masonic Samaritan Fund, so it’s a ‘win win’ situation. Not only will you be helping raising cash for the 2014 Festival, you will also be helping the environment, and assisting needy causes and people less fortunate than ourselves.

Every Mobile regardless of condition is worth a minimum of £2.50, and can be worth on average between £7.00 and £35.00. Did you know that:

•    There are currently around 90 million mobile phones circulating in the UK
•    That's an average of 2 unwanted handsets per household!
•    As well as precious metals, mobile phones contain highly toxic substances such as cadmium and mercury
•    If mobiles are thrown in the bin, they end up in landfill, where they can leak, polluting the environment
•    One mobile phone battery could potentially be enough to pollute 600,000 litres of water

Look out for the collection points and help the Festival, the MSF and the environment. Further details are available from your Festival Area Director or from Bro. Hewitson on mathewitson@btinternet.com

For the latest info on the success we're having, click on the fone 

 

A True Festival of Masonry

A packed Derby Masonic main Temple was the setting for Cantelupe Lodge’s emergency meeting for all to enjoy the 2010 Peter Bennett Memorial Lecture Festival, held on Wednesday 30th June. The Festival was graced by the presence of WBro Brian Evangelista PAGDC, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Lecture Festival President.

The Province of Derbyshire annual Lecture Festivals, instigated by the late WBro Peter Bennett (and now bearing his name as a tribute to his founding work) were established to give junior Brethren of the Province an opportunity to learn and deliver the ritual and lectures of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement to a high standard and to an appreciative and attentive Masonic audience.

To read the full article, please click on the Festival logo 

 

Party In The Park

The "Party in the Park", was this year at the Bakewell Showground on Friday 2nd July 2010. The weather was spot-on, the company was fantastic, and everyone had a brilliant time, indeed some of us even danced to the music of a band in a lorry well into the evening, demanding an encore! What a shame it had to finish. At this point we are not fully aware of the final fund raising figures, but we can report the ten winners of the raffle:

 

Prize Ticket Winner Lodge  
London Theatre Trip 10129 Barry Bickley 2224  
Fly a Chipmunk 05603 A Hannaford 2129  
Exec box at Villa Park 16929 Paul Barrass 9130  
Dinner at Hassop Hall 14379 F Earnshaw 681  
Day in a Bentley 18339 R Hitchin 9436  
Bottle Malt Whisky 04951 Chris Smith 1739  
6 bottles wine 02112 John Marson 253  
6 bottles wine 03369 D S Morton 1085  
Whisky 07308 E M Walters 2583  
Bottle Wine 01255 A Mellors 681  
         

 

Festival Golf Day 2010

Morley Hayes Golf Club again hosted the annual Festival Golf Day on Friday 14th May, which was supported well by both playing teams and sponsors. A team led by Bro. David Matthieson of Lutudarum Lodge proved worthy winners, with last year's winners captained by Steve Jones' son Sam in second place. The HSKS team entered by W. Bro. Kultharan Singh of Liversage Lodge finished third.

The RW Provincial Grand Master joined the teams for dinner before presenting the trophy and prizes to the winning teams, then was delighted to announce that the event had raised over £1500 towards the Festival. Many thanks to everyone that supported the day.

The photo shows the RW PGM presenting the trophy to Bro David Matthieson, with playing partners Richard Briers and Steve Young looking on.

 

Valentine's Sunday lunch

Valentines day this year proved to be an especially memorable event for 34 couples in particular, and on this occasion, the sum of £900 (including a raffle) was raised in support of the 2014 Festival.

The luncheon was organised by Worshipful Brother Brian Terry and his wife Andrea (AKA 'Team Terry'), and as one would predict, the fayre was up to its usual  excellent standard and the atmosphere was very relaxed and wonderfully enjoyable,

In addition, thanks to Peter Whysall and Brian Collier, there was a second auction for heart-shaped chocolate cake, raising and additional £60! Bringing the total for the afternoon to £960!

With out the support of all who attended this could not have been achieved.

Andrea and Brian would like to thank you all, and, especially the A - Team. Gina, Chris, Carrol, Jeff and last but not least Tony the marigold man.

 

 

You can discover the latest news about the Festival, either by looking for Individual Lodges, Festival Area or by Date.

Links to news from individual lodges:

If your Lodge has recently supplied an item of news it will be represented by a blue highlighted (and underlined) link in the table below. As ever, just click on the link to see if we have actually reported your news accurately.

253 884 2129 3584 4777 6930 8835 9376
353 1028 2224 3793 4841 7064 9063 9436
506 1085 2355 3844 4873 8070 9065 9476
625 1179 2373 3889 4974 8247 9074 9493
645 1235 2425 3962 5027 8458 9123 9539
681 1324 2583 3993 5098 8509 9130 9565
731 1495 2630 4147 5603 8725 9171 9570
787 1688 3055 4288 6379 8744 9205 9629
802 1739 3397 4382 6736 8773 9347 9635
850 1952 3430 4532 6765 8792 9363 9639

 

Links to news from the eight Derbyshire Festival Areas:

Select one of the seven festival areas (a blue highlighted & underlined area if there is any recent news) you wish to quickly link (jump to) from the table on the right, or 'hover' around the various Masonic venues shown by maroon squares on the map; can you 'hit your venue in one'  ? Or will you have to do a little detective work!

 

As you may have observed, this is not a Provincial Map of Derbyshire, it is The County of Derbyshire. Apologies to all of the lodges meeting at Burton-On-Trent and Dore!

 

Links to news by Date:

Select the blue highlighted (and underlined) link from the list below to jump to a news item of a specific date. 

 

Area news from Alfreton & Ripley

 

Area news from Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock Bath & Wirksworth

Derbyshire Dales get a special visit by the PGM

The PGM visits, and, oh yes brings along another maul as Derbyshire Dales Lodge hits their target!

 

 

 

Area news from Belper & Duffield

Pioneering Stedfastly to their targets

As part of our social programmes, the WMs of Sure and Stedfast Lodge 9130 and  Pioneer Lodge 9065 held a joint Curry Sunday lunch at the Vicerory Indian Restaurant Duffield on Sunday 16th May. The  meal was an all you can eat luxury Indian Buffet. And several younger diners opted for chicken nuggets and chips!. The whole event was designed to promote co-operation between Derbyshire's two Kindred Lodge Association lodges and to raise a bob or two for Masonic Charity; which we did, in fact we raised an amazing £340! As you would expect everyone who attended had a great time, and many said they would soon return again.

Pioneer Celebrate Burns with a cheque

It was a cold January night, but there was a warm glow clearly visible from Chesterfield Masonic hall's dining room as the Pioneer's WM, Bro Trevor Brearley approached from the East, his course being Westerly along Salter Gate.

Pioneer (9065) used to be a peripatetic Lodge, travelling around the Province for its meetings, so it should be of little surprise that their Burns Night was not holden at Belper, but at another excellent venue.

At seven o'clock sharp, the piper entered the packed dinning hall and processed amongst the assembled guests, followed by an escort of scotch and the haggis, a truly wonderful sight and sound to kick the evening off! A few moments later, in a flamboyant and magnificent style, WBro Ian Clark addressed the Haggis, slicing it open, for, all of the now, mouth-watering assembly to feast their eyes on. Moments later the Gentlemen toasted the poor creature and the banquet commenced!

When everyone was satisfied and full, the merriment continued with a series of excellent readings of pure Burns magic, one even had a response by a somewhat less then timid mouse! There was further pipe music and plenty of 'robust' singing.

The only drawback was that the evening eventually drew to a close, but not before the raffle was drawn, which managed to raise £265 from the hall's capacity of 78 guests! The WM was delighted by this achievement, and thanked every one both for their donations and for their participation  - thus ensuring the evening was a staggeringly enjoyable success!

 

Lodge of Fellowship No 9123

Question 1)    Where?

Answer         In Duffield

Question 2)   When?

Answer         On Thursday 9th March 2010

Question 3)   What?

Answer         The meeting of Lodge of Fellowship: It was something quite special!

The Lodge was honoured by the presence of the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro Peter J. Hodcroft who together, with the many members and visitors (46 in total), witnessed an excellent and most enjoyable raising ceremony.

Many congratulations must be extended to the candidate Bro.Richard Eaton for taking his 3rd step in Freemasonry and to the Worshipful Master W.Bro Graham Hitchcock and his team of Offices for the magnificent way in which they conducted the proceedings.

Before closing the Lodge W.Bro Hitchcock on behalf of the Lodge members had pleasure to present W.Bro Hodcroft with a cheque in the sum of £12,500 towards the Derbyshire 2014 Festival (in aid of the Masonic Samaritan Fund).

W.Bro Hodcroft expressed his great delight at receiving such an astonishing amount of money and thanked the Lodge most sincerely for such a generous donation. He went on to mention that the Festival was progressing well and that the objective of raising awareness of the fund and what it had to offer those in need was achieving good results and that this was evident by the increased number of applications from the Province of Derbyshire.

Photograph - from left to right – W.Bro Peter J Hodcroft Asst Prov G Master – W.Bro David Yates Treasurer – W.Bro Roger Pratt Secretary – W.Bro Graham Hitchcock WM – W.Bro Edward J Hodgkinson Asst D of C – W.Bro Michael J Knifton Festival treasurer – W.Bro Martin J G Bates Festival Chairman.

 

Area news from Burton-On-Trent

TRIS help out

The Ceremonial visit of the Worshipful Master and brethren of Carnarvon Lodge 1739 to Trisantona Lodge 3962 (their daughter Lodge) on Wednesday 21st April offered WBro Richard Toon (Festival Steward of Trisantona) an excellent opportunity to raise money for the 2014 Festival.

He seized the chance and arranged to raffle off the huge Thorntons Chocolate Rabbit (kindly donated by WBro Brian Terry) that had been on display in the bar at Burton for some time.

His efforts proved fruitful and the kind generosity of the 60 brethren present raised £252 for the 2014 Festival.

The lucky winner was Bro Adam Hough of Bretby Lodge – much to the chagrin of his father Terry!

His muttered comment of “what am I going to do with this?” was met with a loud chorus of “we’ll help you!”

 Well done all.

AS Varley.PPrSGW

 

Tutbury topple the 60% barrier!

Wednesday 27th January 2010, saw the meeting of Tutbury Castle Lodge No. 2630 at Ashfield House, Burton-on-Trent.

The lodge was well graced with the presence of V.W.Bro. John Raymond Collison PG Swd B, Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Secretary, W.Bro. Brian Evangelista.

The evenings lodge labours, saw the completion of a ‘raising ceremony’ and the election of a Worshipful Master’ for the ensuing year.

The WM W.Bro Theodore Wellings, then went on to present a cheque to the DPGM. to the value of £6,000.00 towards the Derbyshire Festival 2014.

WBro Collison graciously thanked the WM and all the brethren of Tutbury Castle for there generosity and expressed geniality at receiving a second donation within WBro Welling’s year in high office, towards the festival.

Tutbury Castle Lodge have to date donated 60% towards their lodge target.

During Festive Board ‘after speeches’, WBro Wellings outlined “Freemasonry is a draw for many people in different ways, be it lodge labours or merely for pleasure, and there is always an understanding, an admiration – a shared unspoken respect for its highly respected, ‘charitable works’ and precepts.

The evening closed with WBro. Wellings wishing all Brethren present a prosperous and peaceful New Year !.

Photograph: VWBro. John Raymond Collison, WBro’s  Theodore Wellings, Bryan Hughes and Mike Knifton.

 

Royal Sussex No. 353. -  ‘Pull out all the stops’ for Charity

The 192nd Installation Festival of Royal Sussex Lodge No. 353, took place at Ashfield House, Masonic Hall, Burton-on-Trent, on Monday 18th January 2010.

The evening’s labours saw the ‘sterling completion’ of an Installation Ceremony with ritual ‘superbly delivered’, by The Installing Master, W.Bro Richard Heywood and his officers.

Within moments of taking control of his lodge, the Incumbent Worshipful Master, W.Bro Peter Miles delivered into the hands of W.Bro. Peter Hodcroft, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, a cheque to the value of £7,000.00 towards the Derbyshire Festival 2014.

W.Bro Hodcroft thanked all the brethren of Royal Sussex Lodge for their support and generosity, most particularly, W.Bro. Adrian Fletcher, Lodge Charity Steward, for his labours,  

Lodge Secretary, W.Bro Trevor Johnson outlined, this is our second donation towards the Derbyshire Festival and we are almost 50% towards our £29.000.00 lodge target,  Royal Sussex are quiet rightly pulling out all the stops, in support of the Derbyshire Festival 2014.

During Festive Board after speeches, W.Bro Hodcroft reiterated his temple findings, again thanking all concerned.

W.Bro Peter Miles concluded, by wishing all present a prosperous and peaceful New Year and decreed ‘Charity plays such an important part, within our freemasonry!

 

Acclamation for Round Table Lodge of South Derbyshire No. 9074

Our Assistant Provincial Grand Master. W.Bro William Barnard, PSGD, was most warmly received, when he attended the Christmas Meeting of the Round Table Lodge of South Derbyshire No 9074, during the evening of Monday 14th December 2009,  held at the Masonic Hall, Burton-upon-Trent.

This meeting was very well attended by acting Provincial Grand Lodge Officers and past Officers of Grand Lodge, Masters in the Chair and visiting brethren.

Towards the conclusion of the labour, W.Bro Barnard graciously accepted a cheque to the value of £5,000.00 upon behalf of the ‘Derbyshire Festival 2014’.

In thanking the Lodge for this most generous contribution, W.Bro Barnard was mindful the ‘Round Table Lodge of South Derbyshire No.9074’, met but four times per year and was most grateful for their exuberant donation, accumulated through the  ‘most wise deliverance’ upon the part of the Charity Steward, this being a second donation since the inception of the Derbyshire Festival 2014 and promised same to be most gratefully received and faithfully applied.

We all wish Master, W.Bro Robert Eddie and his officers, congratulations and a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

Photograph: - A.P.G.M. W,Bro William Barnard. & W.M. W.Bro Robert Eddie.

Area news from Buxton, Glossop & New Mills

 

Area news from Derby

Chatsworth Lodge – 100 years of experience and a robust commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

Upon conclusion of the evening of Tuesday, 16th March 2010, one would be completely convinced, the majority of the one Hundred and Sixty Brethren, who had departed in ‘Perfect Peace and Harmony’ from The Grange Masonic Hall, Derby, would have taken a period of ‘quiet reflection’ upon their wonderful evening together, also to have been ‘well endorsed’ by the RW Provincial Grand Master, Bro John Graham Russell Rudd, DL that, Derbyshire Freemasonry, had more than, well survived the ‘wrath of mighty empires’.

This was apparent and in evidence from the commencement of ‘The Centenary Meeting & Celebration Banquet, to celebrate ‘One Hundred Years’ of Chatsworth Lodge No. 3430.

The Lodge was opened by WM WBro Michael Roe and his officers, within the presence of DPGM VWBro John Raymond Collison, APGMs’ WBro William Barnard and WBro Peter John Hodcroft, WBro John Raymond Lye SGW along with a deluge of Grand Lodge Officers, Past Provincial Officers, Masters in the Chair and numerous visiting brethren.

Lodge Secretary WBro Richard Horner addressed the lodge upon it’s One Hundred Year History, this address was both humorous and outlined a complete test of endurance and confirms that triumph overcame despair during this period; that both the lodge and its many lodge members had encountered.

Bro Horner remembered those who had displayed courage in the face of adversity during the two great wars, and many other prices paid by those remaining surviving brethren. The hearts of the listeners could but only be filled with great compassion and pride.

The Lodge Centenary Warrant was then delivered to the RW Provincial Grand Master by WBro. William Noel Kellett Rowley, Senior Past Master of Chatsworth Lodge, the contents of which were read, to all brethren present.

The RWBro Rudd then delivered the Centenary Warrant and Centenary Jewell to the Worshipful Master, followed by a hymn of thanksgiving, and a Patriarchal Blessing by the Provincial Grand Chaplain.

The Provincial Grand Master presented a Centenary Jewell to all subscribing Brethren present, after which, the WM reoccupied his Masters Chair.

WBro Roe then delivered into the hands of the RW Provincial Grand Master a cheque value £5,500.00 towards The Derbyshire Festival 2014, who replied in gratitude.

At the Festive Board a great warmth of friendship, joviality and camaraderie were well in evidence, which should remain with all brethren present for a very long time. WBro Brian Alan Terry (Master Baker) prepared and baked a cake. In addition, the raffle also raised an additional £330.00 towards the Derbyshire Festival.

Foreword by the RW Provincial Grand Master

Chatsworth Lodge No. 3430 has this year reached its first one hundred years of existence and on behalf of the Masonic Province of Derbyshire; I congratulate the members of the Lodge on this achievement.

The Centenary of Chatsworth Lodge is a notable landmark and it is fitting that it should be recognised with the publication of its recorded activities over those one hundred years. This has been ably compiled by Worshipful Brother Richard Horner and traces its work from its formation though two world wars covering all the special events of the lodge and some of the remarkable personality’s involved.

We are all privileged to be park of this centenary celebration and wish the Brethren of the Lodge continued success and enjoyment from their masonry in the years to come.

 WBro John Graham Russell Rudd DL

 RW Provincial Grand Master

 

Altruism at Grange No. 9639.

‘One hit the ground, well running’, at the excitement of attending the ‘Daylight Installation Ceremony’ of The Grange Lodge No. 9639, during the forenoon of Tuesday 9th March 2010, held at The Grange Masonic Hall, Derby.

The lodge was duly opened at 11.00. am. precisely by the Worshipful Master, WBro Kevin McGonigle, who most warmly greeted, ‘Wise Council’, in the form of the, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro William Barnard (Provincial Senior Grand Deacon) and WBro Sydney Martin Crawshay Jones, (Past RW Provincial Grand Master) and a deluge of Grand, Acting and Past Provincial Officers, Master within the Chair and Brother Visitors.

The labours of the morning, saw an exceptional, installation ceremony, most superbly delivered by Brother Installing Master, W.Bro. McGonigle, who has indeed, resoundingly displayed, ‘great enthusiasm and courage, in holding high office, as Master, of this fine lodge, for some ‘two consecutive years’, well supported by many other lodge officers.

Towards conclusion, of the installation ceremony, W.Bro Paul Brain delivered an address to the incumbent WM, WBro Brian Long addressed Brother Wardens, whilst W.Bro James Barry Boulton delivered the address to the Brethren, all to a memorably high standard.

Brother Installing Master, transferred his ‘Masters Gavel’ into the custody of W.Bro James Bailey, who was then granted, control of his lodge.

Recently appointed Charity Steward, W.Bro Jack Anthony proposed and Lodge Treasurer, W.Bro James Boulton seconded, that a sum of £1,000.00 be donated to The Derbyshire Festival 2014.

The APGM. WBro Barnard, upon receipt of the cheque, for the outlined amount, both thanked and addressed,  all the Brethren of Grange Lodge No 9639, for their labours, in the proliferation of the amount of money.

WBro Barnard, expressed, that he was most mindful, that this wonderful lodge met, but only four times, per calendar year, and the brethren dwelt together, during daylights hours, for many of which, Grange Lodge was their, second lodge.

WBro Barnard confirmed  this was a second donation, towards, The Derbyshire Festival 2014, and that ‘Mighty Oaks’  from small acorns grew, and pledged that this ‘precious donation’ was most gratefully received and would be, most faithfully applied.

The festive board saw the consumption of a platter, most acceptable to the pallets, of all brethren present.

The incumbent WM, WBro James Bailey, during after speeches reaffirmed his support for Derbyshire Festival 2014 and concluded by wishing all brethren present, peace in their hearts and a safe journey home.

Brethren wishing to be in receipt of Grange Lodge’s great warmth of friendship, please make contact with Brother Secretary, WBro Trevor Johnson (01283 542227).

 

Arboretum Lodge No. 731 Follow the quest!

Wednesday Evening, 10th February 2010, saw the meeting of Arboretum Lodge No. 731 at ‘The Grange’, Masonic Hall, Derby.

On this occasion the lodge was well favoured, with the pleasure of a formal visit, by The Provincial Grand Master.  R.W.Bro. John Graham Russell Rudd. D.L., accompanied by a delegation of Grand and Acting Provincial Officers.

The Lodge was opened at 6.15 p.m. precisely by the W.M.

W. Bro. James David Hill, who went on to warmly greet, the P.G.M. and his delegation, along with an abundance of Past Provincial Officers and many visiting Masters and Brethren.

The evening’s labours saw a presentation of the ‘Traditional History’, heartily delivered by W.Bro Arthur Hill (P Prov. S.G.W.) and assisted by W.Bro Michael Boyes (P.Prov. G.Swd.B.) and Bro. Maurice Kilminster.

These labours completed, W.Bro Arthur Hill (Charity Steward) formally addressed the lodge and declared, that  from the inception of The Derbyshire Festival 2014, all Brethren of Arboretum Lodge, had by way of Gift Aid, Raffles and Sunday Lunches, had ‘well rallied’, in support of the P.G.M. and The Derbyshire Festival 2014.

W.Bro. Hill continued and decreed, that his lodge target, towards the Festival was £22.000.00.

At this point the W.M. W.Bro. James Hill presented, to the P.G.M. a cheque to the value of £23,000.00.

The sudden disclosure of this closely guarded secret, saw the amass of complete surprise from all brethren present,

Upon receipt of same, the P.G.M. expressed a personal feeling, of both admiration and total elation, at the proliferation, of such an exuberant amount of money and declared, not only had Arboretum Lodge arrived at, but had gone on too, well exceed its, outlined target.

The Brethren then witnessed, the presentation of a specially commissioned ‘Festival Charity Maul’, to the W.M. W.Bro. James Hill, by the P.G.M. against acclamation from all Brethren present.

R.W.Bro. Rudd, went onto thank all the Brethren of Arboretum Lodge, most particularly, W.Bro Arthur Hill, for their labours.

The W.M. during Festive Board after speeches, declared continued support for the Derbyshire Festival.

We all wish Arboretum Lodge every success in support of their quest!

 

Area news from Dore & Chesterfield

Burns night celebration pipe in £5000

Festive Executive Vice Chairman, W. Bro. Richard MacDonald gratefully accepted a contribution to the 2014 Festival Fund at the Cestrefeld Lodge’s annual Burns Night meeting on Monday 11th January, as Worshipful Master, W. Bro. Churchill offered “nothing but blood, toil, tears and sweat”....... and a cheque for £5000!

W. Bro. McDonald advised the Brethren that this latest contribution took Cestrefeld Lodge’s target to over the 50% mark of its target. He also took the opportunity to remind the meeting of the twin objectives of the Festival in that £812,000 had currently been raised towards the £2m overall target, and that the MSF had now received over 20 applications for assistance from Derbyshire Brethren, which was a dramatic increase on the previous use of the fund, suggesting that the second objective of the Festive, of raising the profile of the benefits of the Fund, was also being achieved.

At the Festive Board, the festivities continued with the traditional Burns Night celebrations of haggis (mmm .... lovely gravy!!) and bagpipes, with W. Bro Graham Johnson addressing the haggis in passionate and beautiful manner. Although us Sassenachs could only understand about one word in ten, it was still impressive.  W. Bro. Brian Terry once again kindly donated two generous raffle prizes, which enabled the raffle to raise over £350.

The photograph shows W. Bro. Churchill  presenting the cheque to W. Bro. McDonald, with the Lodge Charity Steward, Bro. Richard Wilkins, and Festival Directors W. Bro Mike Knifton and W. Bro. Steve Jones in attendance.

 

Area news from Long Eaton & Ilkeston

It may be a level playing field but on this night Fairfield Lodge was at the top of their game

Wednesday 3rd February saw a very special night at Fairfield Lodge No. 2224.  Traditionally the meeting is the Lodge’s Annual Burn’s Night.  That alone would have made it special but that wasn’t enough for the committed and ambitious members of the Lodge.

The temple was packed.  Was it to see the Master, W.Bro. Iain MacLeod, initiate Mr Thanh Yung, or to see Mr Yung be initiated? Was it to witness the Master address the haggis in authentic Scottish brogue?  Or could it be that the many grand officers, acting officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and many other visitors were there to congratulate the Lodge on achieving its Festival target and to see the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Graham Rudd, DL, present them with the PGM’s Festival Maul?

The ceremony, conducted by the IPM, W.Bro. Adrian Hackett, went very smoothly with excellent work undertaken by junior as well as senior members of the Lodge.  When the Provincial Grand Master presented the maul to the Master he praised the Lodge for its commitment to the Festival and encouraged the members to continue to raise more to aid the Masonic Samaritan Fund.  He further developed this theme at the Festive Board when he referred to the competition to achieve the target between his own Lodge, Tyrian Lodge No. 253, Flyfishers’ Lodge No. 9347 and Fairfield Lodge No. 2224, and to the need for those who had taken out pledges to continue to pay into them for the duration of the Festival.

The Master, W.Bro. MacLeod, who despite a disabling illness led the proceedings in the temple and at the festive board, thanked the Provincial Grand Master for presenting the Lodge with the Maul and expressed his pride at having achieved it at this point in the Festival.

The Lodge achieved the target early because between the 2003 Festival and the current one it had continued to raise money in its Relief Chest and was able to donate £16,000 at the start of the festival.  Twenty five members of the Lodge had then taken out gift-aid pledges, thanks to the persuading efforts of their ubiquitous Charity Steward, W.Bro. Philip Bowler (also the Director of Ceremonies and Preceptor!).  That, together with some very successful raffles when £800 is the norm for a Burns Night, the Lodge has managed to achieve its goal in less than two years.

I suspect that Fairfield Lodge has not finished its contribution to the Festival and will be a contender for the recognition that will ultimately go to the highest contributor.

 

A policeman’s lot is a happy one!

At Cantelupe Lodge 8247 on Friday 15th January, Assistant Provincial Grand Master (and ex-policeman) Bill Barnard happily accepted a cheque for £4000 towards the 2014 Festival target from Worshipful Master (and policeman) W. Bro. Turner.

The policeman theme ran through an excellent ceremony when initiate (and policeman) Brother Gutheridge was superbly passed to the 2nd degree by the WM, ably assisted by his officers, particularly the Senior Deacon (and another policeman!), Brother Davies. The ceremony was completed in marvellous manner by a fine presentation of the second degree tracing board by W. Bro. Brian Collyer, which somehow included a reference to Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire!!

The Assistant PGM advised the Brethren at the Festive Board that this additional contribution brought Cantelupe’s current achievement up to £28, 000 (approximately 71% of the Lodges target).

He also remarked on the uniqueness of the occasion in that he didn’t recall ever previously being on the receiving end of money where Festive Director Peter Whysall has been involved!!

This lot was an ‘appy one!

This photograph shows the W. M., W. Bro. Turner presenting a cheque to the Assistant PGL, with the Lodge Charity Steward, Brother Singleton, and Festive Executive members W. Brethren Mike Knifton, Peter Whysall, Phil Bowler and Phil Ablott in attendance.

 

Peter accepts another £5k from Elm Avenue!

Chris Taylor is the current Master of Erewash lodge, and a Past Master of Dale Abbey in 1987, and can be seen handing a £5000 cheque to APGM Peter Hodcroft. They have a young enthusiastic Charity Steward called W Bro A R Blackburn, who made the proposition to transfer £5000 to the Festival.

This is Peter's second visit to receive a cheque from Long Eaton, and as ever, addressing the brethren with style and dignity. On this occasion WBro Mike Knifton ran off with the money! Don't worry Mike we'll be keeping an eye on the coffers!

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This page was updated on:  Thursday, 02 September 2010 11:57