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Peter Caird's 60th Celebration: On Tuesday, 8th April 2008, New Sanctuary Lodge held a double celebration - firstly celebrating the 60th Anniversary of their first Regular Meeting on 1st April 1948 but, more importantly, celebrating 60 years in Masonry for their first Initiate – W. Bro. Peter J Caird PAGDC ............. Mount Masons Help Good Causes at 500th meeting: Masons from Fleetwood’s Mount Lodge have raised £1,500 of help where it’s needed for three local organisations............ Presidential visit for Cleveleys Park’s John and Pat: John and Pat Russell made a memorable trip to London in March to crown a very eventful year for the WM of Cleveleys Park Lodge ........ North Fylde Group Ladies and Gentlemen to Dine a great success! The first North Fylde Group “Ladies and Gentlemen to Dine” evening was held on 11th April 2008 at Cleveleys Masonic Hall in the presence of our Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Terry Hudson .......... Wayfarers Lodge ‘Golden Jubilee’: Wayfarers Lodge celebrated its Golden Jubilee on Saturday, 15th March 2008 ........... Fleetwood Masonic Hall Ladies Committee Quiz Night: Fleetwood Masonic Hall Ladies Committee successfully held their annual Quiz Night on Saturday 16th February 2008, at Fleetwood Masonic Hall ............. Mason lays foundations at Trinity Hospice: Former Clerk of Works John Russell who was involved in overseeing the construction work building Trinity Hospice from the laying of the first brick until its opening in1985 made a trip back this week to the hospice to hand over cheques on behalf of Cleveleys Freemasons ............ UK Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge: For generations our Armed Forces have served their country across the world in many roles from war fighting, peacekeeping and reconstruction to home defence .......... Coast to Coast walk in aid of the RNLI: On the night of 27 December 2006 a CHC Scotia Helicopter crashed into the sea taking with it the lives of seven men. No-one knew if the men had survived or if they had lost their lives on impact. The RNLI didn’t waste time speculating ..... Air Ambulance Katie gets a lift from Masons: Katie the ’copter, in service as a North West Air Ambulance, got a welcome ‘lift’ from Fleetwood Freemasons this week when her pilot and crew of paramedics were presented with a £600 cheque ........... Lifeboat Stations helped by Cleveleys Park Lodge: It was a case of brotherly love at busy Cleveleys Park Lodge No 7540, which this year celebrates 50 years since its consecration, when one of the founders and Lodge Master, John Russell, handed over cheques totalling £420 to Lytham St Anne’s, Fleetwood and Blackpool lifeboat stations ............. Cleveleys Park Golden Year: Cleveleys Park Lodge No. 7540 celebrated its Golden Anniversary Year on January 8th 2008 in grand style to mark the milestone event ........ Masons tolled to dine by Taliban shell: Masons at Cleveleys Masonic Hall will soon be clapping distinguished guests to dine when certain changes are rung thanks to a gift from Cleveleys Park Lodge donated at their Golden Jubilee Celebrations ........... Workshop for New(ish) Chapter Companions: E Comp Peter Elmore, the Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals was at his enthusiastic best at a well attended meeting at Cleveleys Masonic Hall on December 18th taking centre stage at a Royal Arch Workshop especially aimed at ‘Companions having five years or less service.’ ........... Onward Lodge donates £2130 to the Fleetwood RNLI: At the final meeting of 2007, Onward Lodge presented a cheque for £2000 to the Fleetwood branch of the RNLI. This year was the turn of Mrs Pat Bottomley wife of the WM who chose the RNLI in memory of Brother Steve Potton who tragically lost his life in the helicopter disaster last year .........
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NEW SANCTUARY LODGE NO. 6604 CELEBRATE THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR FIRST INITIATE W. BRO. PETER JOHN CAIRD
On Tuesday, 8th April 2008, New Sanctuary Lodge held a double celebration - firstly celebrating the 60th Anniversary of their first Regular Meeting on 1st April 1948 but, more importantly, celebrating 60 years in Masonry for their first Initiate – W. Bro. Peter J Caird PAGDC, in the presence of W. Bro. T. Hudson PJGD, Assistant Provincial Grand Master. W Bro. Peter was proposed into Masonry at the Consecration Meeting in March 1948. His Father and proposer, Bro. W.S. Caird, was a Founder Member and Senior Warden at the time. The Anniversary was celebrated by the Lodge Members, who gave a demonstration of the Entered Apprentice Song, with five past and present Directors of Ceremonies taking part. The remaining members were then invited onto the floor and W. Bro. Peter delivered the Morality in his impeccable manner. W. Bro. T. Hudson then presented a ‘This is Your Life’ of W. Bro. Caird from his school days to the present day, emphasising the remarkable fact that during his first 50 years’ of membership Peter never missed a single meeting. W. Bro. Jack Coates then read the Certificate which was presented by W Bro Hudson. W. Bro. Peter suitably responded. At the start of the Festive Board, the members of New Sanctuary Lodge welcomed their guests by singing the Visitor’s Song as they entered and took their seats. The meal was chosen by Peter and he also provided a copious supply of wine for the enjoyment of the 70 members and guests attending. A very enjoyable atmosphere prevailed throughout the evening, and a very successful evening was concluded at 9.30 pm with the Tyler’s Toast.
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Mount Masons Help Good Causes at 500th meeting Masons from Fleetwood’s Mount Lodge have raised £1,500 of help where it’s needed for three local organisations. Fleetwood Museum, MacMillan Cancer Support and Tiggers Children’s Group each received a £500 cheque from Mount Lodge at a special presentation evening held at Fleetwood Masonic Hall on the town’s Esplanade. The lodge which met for the 500th time in its 60 years history this year marked the occasion thrice over by selecting the three organisations to support. Mount’s master, Mick Gaynor and Charity Steward Rod Sherwood were on hand with lodge members to hand over much needed funds to Christina Mercer and Jonathon Hinchcliffe of Tiggers, the children’s sports, leisure and social club which seeks to help autistic youngsters through activities such as trampolining. Tiggers has outlets in Fleetwood and Blackpool and as well as in Lancaster, Rossendale and Bolton. Marian Stockdale from the Thornton Cleveleys branch of MacMillan Cancer Support and Keith Porter from Fleetwood Museum also received cheques from the Masons For Mount Lodge Rod Sherwood said that the donations had been raised from all manner of fund raising events and social gatherings. Each of the recipients in turn thanked lodge members, their families and friends for their generous gifts.
Mick Gaynor (Mount Lodge) , Marion Stockdale( Macmillan Cancer Support), Rod Sherwood (Mount Lodge)
Mick Gaynor (Mount Lodge), Christine Mercer and Jonathon Hinchcliffe (Tiggers) , Rod Sherwood (Mount Lodge).
Mick Gaynor (Mount Lodge), Keith Porter (Fleetwood Museum), Rod Sherwood (Mount Lodge).
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Presidential visit for Cleveleys Park’s John and Pat John and Pat Russell made a memorable trip to London in March to crown a very eventful year for the WM of Cleveleys Park Lodge and his wife in the Lodge’s Golden Jubilee year. For John and Pat were invited to London to attend a reception for the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla, held at the French Ambassador’s residence. The reason for the trip to Kensington Palace Gardens was in response to an invitation to W Bro John as one of only twelve British sailors surviving in the UK who served in the Free French Forces under General de Gaulle during the Second World War. The reception was held in a large marquee on the lawns of the residence with John resplendent in both his English and French medals. On Pat and John’s arrival they were escorted along a long covered approach on each side of which there was a guard of honour of French sailors who saluted the Cleveleys couple as they walked past. On entering the marquee they were escorted by naval officers to seats reserved for the veterans. John remarks that though there was about three hundred people present at the reception, mostly from the French community in London, all had to stand - with the only seats provided for the honoured veterans. After Le President and Madame Sarkozy arrived and took the stage he addressed the gathering with a stirring speech some of which he had made to Parliament the previous day. Thereafter there was a champagne buffet and as John wryly puts it: “You could have anything to drink you wished as long as it was champagne which flowed like water!” The British veterans enjoyed their reunion though there were only ten of them present and due to the fact that John was a boy seaman of seventeen years of age when serving with the Free French, at 81 he is the youngest of the veterans, most of whom are well into their 80s. W Bro John says: “Although we keep in touch by newsletters and emails we stopped having annual reunions in 2000 and this is very likely the last time we will get together. Really could it be a better final meeting than in the presence of the President of France?”
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North Fylde Group Ladies and Gentlemen to Dine a great success!
The first North Fylde Group “Ladies and Gentlemen to Dine” evening was held on 11th April 2008 at Cleveleys Masonic Hall in the presence of our Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Terry Hudson. The event was hosted by Cleveleys Park Lodge and was attended by ninety five Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren. Following a short Lodge meeting the guests were invited into the Lodge room where they received an interesting and informative talk from the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro Geoffrey Lee. Fifteen Gentlemen were present, as guests of nine different Lodges, all of whom appeared to enjoy the proceedings along with the friendship at the Festive Board. Any Gentlemen wishing to join will, of course, join the Lodge of their proposer, with Cleveleys Park Lodge purely acting as the host for this occasion. This method of introducing Gentlemen and their Ladies to what Freemasonry is all about has proved a successful tool for recruiting new members all over the Province and it is hoped that the Lodges within the North Fylde Group will hold their own Ladies and Gentlemen to Dine evenings in the future. The evening was finished off with a presentation to WBro Lee by the Group Chairman followed by a thank you to all for attending from the Worshipful Master WBro John Russell.
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Wayfarers Lodge ‘Golden Jubilee’
WBro Nick Mills WM and WBro Terry Hudson AsstPGM Wayfarers Lodge celebrated its Golden Jubilee on Saturday, 15th March 2008. The Lodge was consecrated on the 26th February 1958 but the first official Founders meeting by Brethren desirous of forming a Lodge was the 1st December 1955. The Lodge was originally going to be called ‘Prospect’ but at a Founders meeting on the 8th October 1956, W.Bro. Arthur Fray proposed that the name should be changed to ‘Wayfarers’, since all the Founders are members of the craft whose Mother Lodges are outside the Fylde area. The records show that W.Bro.Fred Stear, W.Bro.Arthur and Bro.Frank Sutcliffe to be the main driving force in founding the Lodge. The Consecration ceremony at the Victoria Hotel, an annex of the Norbreck Hydro, attracted 98 Brethren – 21 consecrating officers, 14 founders and 58 visitors. The ceremony was opened by the Provincial Grand Master, the Rt. W.Bro.L.E.Rutherford and the Installing Master was Sir Knowles Edge. The dictionary describes ‘Wayfarer’ as, ‘a person who goes on a journey’ and the Lodge has not let its name down. The Lodge’s first meeting place was the Victoria Hotel as previously mentioned, then in November 1961 moved to the Connaught Suite at the Norbreck Hydro. In January 1967, the Lodge then moved to the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool and finally, in April 1990 to the Masonic Hall, Cleveleys. With a lack of Candidates over the last few years the Lodge’s future looked precarious and at the September regular meeting 2005 a vote took place in open Lodge on whether to hand the warrant in or not. Fortunately the vote proved in favour of not handing the warrant in by 11 votes to 9. A number of Brethren resigned as a result of the vote but the Lodge has bounced back and has since attracted 4 Candidates and 5 Joining members. At the 50th Anniversary meeting, the Lodge was honoured with the presence of the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Terry Hudson PJGD. The meeting attracted 83 Brethren to the ceremony and 82 to the Festive Board. The Worshipful Master, W.Bro.Nick Mills P.Pr.S.G.D. gave a brief history of the Lodge’s 50 years, which was followed by the Lodge’s Chaplain W.Bro.R.W.Abbott-Hull PPrGSuptWks, who gave a prayer of re-dedication. The Worshipful Master presented the Assistant Provincial Grand Master with 3 cheques for charity, namely the 2010 Festival - £1,200, the Air Ambulance - £1,000 and the Mayor of Blackpool’s appeal fund - £500. At the festive board all the Brethren present received a booklet to commemorate the Lodge’s 50 years and the members of the Lodge received a ‘Forget me not’ lapel badge. The festive board was one of joyous harmony and many happy memories with the future of the Lodge looking very bright. W.Bro.N.Mills P.Pr.S.G.D. Worshipful Master
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Fleetwood Masonic Hall Ladies Committee Quiz Night
Fleetwood Masonic Hall Ladies Committee successfully held their annual Quiz Night on Saturday 16th February 2008, at Fleetwood Masonic Hall. Their resident Quiz Master, W.Bro. David Martland, again supplied a challenging set of questions consisting of general knowledge, picture and music rounds. Seven teams took part and the winning team was made up of Broadwater Lodge members Steven Mitchell (WM) and Ian Hawtin along with their wives Maureen and Carol, respectively. Following the Quiz Jacqueline Martland presented the Chairman of Fleetwood Masonic Hall, W.Bro. Paul Dunne, with a cheque for £2,000.00 on behalf of the Ladies Committee. The Chairman thanked the Ladies for their excellent donation and for all the hard work they put into organising these events. W.Bro. Dunne asked all the members present to go back to their Lodges and inform them of the sterling work the Ladies Committee do for Fleetwood Masonic Hall and requested as much support as possible for their future events. Forthcoming Events Saturday 9th August 2008 Summer BBQ
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Mason lays foundations at Trinity Hospice
Former Clerk of Works John Russell who was involved in overseeing the construction work building Trinity Hospice from the laying of the first brick until its opening in1985 made a trip back this week to the hospice to hand over cheques on behalf of Cleveleys Freemasons. John who is a founder member and current master of Cleveleys Park Lodge which meets at West Drive Masonic Hall, Cleveleys, took the trip to the hospice together with his wife Pat as part of the lodge’s celebrations to mark 50 years since its founding in January 1958. Cheques amounting to a grand total of £1591 were handed over to hospice administrator Roger Wolstenholme to be divided between Trinity Hospice, its children’s wing Brian House and the palliative care nursing team. The funds were raised from organised events over the year - Pat Russell’s ‘Ladies Evening’ alone responsible for an exemplary £591 - with Pat choosing the palliative care nurses based at the hospice as her favourite charity to support. John revealed that he knew practically every nook and cranny of the original building from the time he spent during the construction of Trinity Hospice including the fact that a ‘time capsule’ had been incorporated into the building. The money will help boost the hospice’s share in the costs of a £2.5 refurbishment programme currently underway which is being largely paid for by donations. It will expand the hospice’s care facilities to accommodate more than 100 families from the Fylde coast area. For Trinity Roger Wolstenholme said: “Without the generosity of local people and the community at large with gifts such as this the care and services we provide just wouldn’t be possible. We appreciate this generous donation from Cleveleys Park Lodge for which we thank the members and their families and friends very much.”
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UK Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge
For generations our Armed Forces have served their country across the world in many roles from war fighting, peacekeeping and reconstruction to home defence. In so doing, they have defended our country, our way of life and our cherished values. A large number of our veterans are young and active and now use the skills, the discipline and the leadership qualities they learned in the Armed Forces to benefit their civilian employers and the wider community. The Ministry of Defence Strategy for Veterans highlights that because of all this it is important to focus on supporting veterans of all ages, by celebrating, and raising public awareness of, their achievements and their contribution to society. To promote recognition of veterans by the wider British public the unique and unifying symbol of the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge was introduced. The UK
Armed Forces Veterans’ Lapel Badge was launched in May 2004
by the Minister of Veterans, to raise the profile of
veterans by assisting the wider public to recognise them.
The first veterans badge was issued to Lord Healy, a veteran
of the Battle for Monte Cassino, on 10 May 2004, which
initiated the roll out of the badge to the Second World War
veteran generation. Since then eligibility to apply for the
badge has been extended in sequential phases to all
veterans. This has now closed the gap between those who
apply for their badge and those who receive it automatically
on leaving the Services. The badge is an enamelled,
engraved, and pinned, lapel badge featuring the words “HM
Armed Forces – Veteran”, which encompass the Tri-Service,
Anchor, Crossed Swords and Eagle motif. Its symbolism is
intended to unite all veterans in recognising the
commonality of their service, to encourage a sense of unity
and community between surviving veterans and to ignite
public recognition of current veterans and their continuing
contribution to society.
Exceptions
CONTACT :-
Fax:
Freephone
Helpline
Posthumous requests
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Coast to Coast walk in aid of the RNLI
On the night of 27 December 2006 a CHC Scotia Helicopter crashed into the sea taking with it the lives of seven men. No-one knew if the men had survived or if they had lost their lives on impact. The RNLI didn’t waste time speculating. When the crash was reported three Lifeboat stations rallied to the call and immediately set out to bring those men home. They battled harsh weather conditions in the dead of night to liberate seven souls from the clutches of the sea. They fought not for half an hour, or four or eight; the normal working hours of a day – when you’re paid. Fleetwood station stayed out for 24 hours. For me it was the longest night of my life. For the lifeboat men and women it was a test of physical as well as mental endurance. Husband, son, uncle, brother, friend. Father. Even when it became apparent that the victims had indeed lost their lives the RNLI continued to search and rescue. Continued to fight for the right to bring home the bodies. Fought for me to be given the opportunity to say farewell to my father in a dignified manner. A chance for his wife to see his face one last time; an opportunity for everyone who knew and loved him to gather and give thanks for being a part of his life. This is why I chose to raise money for the RNLI and this is why I attempted to hike the Coast to Coast walk in September 2007. Arthur Wainwright originally mapped the Coast to Coast walk and it has since been walked by thousands of people. The walk evidently begins at one coast of England and ends at the other. It is a 180-190 mile walk across the breadth of England and it crosses a varied landscape. Starting in St Bees, the Lake District, and ending in Robin Hoods Bay, Yorkshire, one can expect to cross moorland, coastal cliffs and mountains. Although it is not a nationally recognised walk it is one of the top five walks in the world and people come from many different countries to spend a few weeks hiking through our countryside and, most usually, the pouring rain. On the first attempt, I left the booking of various Youth Hostels to the last minute and could only find one or two that had availability for me along the route. This meant that I had to camp most nights and, therefore, I had to carry spare clothes, tent, sleeping bag, food and cooking equipment. It’s not surprising that I failed the attempt. The heavy rucksack coupled with an ascent of 900 meters (due to some awful map reading) found me near Scafell Pike with bi-lateral ligament damage. It took me a long time to get down off the mountain tops and I could not have done it without the aid of a random walker whose name I never thought to ask. After seeing the doctor in Keswick I was told to return home as I was in no fit state to continue walking. I felt that I was returning home in disgrace, that I had failed all of those people who had so generously sponsored me. However, this September I will be hiking the Coast to Coast again and I won’t be alone. Five friends and one family member have agreed to accompany me on the walk. This time we have booked well in advance and we will be staying in Youth Hostels 10 nights out of the 12 during the walk. We also have a driver who will be ferrying us from waypoint to Youth Hostel to waypoint and so on, thus we will all be walking with a minimal amount of kit. Should anyone wish to join us for a part of the walk or to meet us for a few beers in the evening then our accommodation itinerary is as follows: Sun 31 August: Arrive in Lake District. Night at Ennerdale YHA. Mon 1 Sept: Begin walk at St Bees and end at Ennerdale Bridge. Night at Ennerdale YHA. Tues 2 Sept: Walk from Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite. Night at Borrowdale YHA. Wed 3 Sept: Walk from Rosthwaite to Patterdale. Night at Grasmere YHA. Thurs 4 Sept: Walk from Patterdale to Shap. Night at Kendal YHA. Fri 5 Sept: Walk from Shap to Kirkby Stephen. Night at Kirkby Stephen Campsite. Sat 6 Sept: Walk from Kirkby Stephen to Keld. Night at Kirkby Stephen Campsite. Sun 7 Sept: Keld to Reeth. Night at Richmond YHA Camping Barn. Mon 8 Sept: A well deserved day off. Night at Richmond YHA Camping Barn. Tues 9 Sept: Reeth to Richmond. Night at Richmond YHA Camping Barn. Wed 10 Sept: Richmond to Ingleby Cross. Night at Osmotherly YHA. Thurs 11 Sept: Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank. Night at Osmotherly YHA. Fri 12 Sept: Clay Bank to Glaisdale. Night at Boggle Hole YHA. Sat 13 Sept: Glaisdale to Robin Hoods Bay. Night at Boggle Hole YHA. Sun 14 Sept: Return home. The team is still in need of some further assistance and perhaps someone who reads this article may offer help. Our support vehicle only has five seats and as there are six walkers and one extra driver this means that our driver will have to do two trips to collect the walkers at the end of their day. If someone would like to volunteer as a second driver then please let us know, or if anyone has a big 4x4 or minibus to lend us for the two weeks then we would be most appreciative. Furthermore, because we are only camping for two nights we need someone to meet our driver with our large tent on Friday 5 Sept and then return it on Sunday 7 Sept. Any help would be greatly appreciated. When organising my original walk I also left the fundraising to the last minute and missed advertising the walk to the Blackpool Masons before the summer break. Needless to say I haven’t made this mistake again. So many Masons have already given so much to our family and it seems rude to ask for their help once again. Likewise the RNLI received many donations in 2007 from various Lodges not just Onward. However, I hope that I can ask and count on the support of you all one last time. Many of you knew my father and some of you know me. Hopefully this will be enough to sponsor us. If not then please think of the lives you can help to save for the sake of a simple donation. Donations can be accepted online at www.justgiving.com/potton or cheques in the name of Andy Potton can be passed on to me; any cheques will be cashed and then added to the fundraising site in order to maximise donations through gift aid. Let us not forget the men of the RAF and Centrica who also played a part in the rescue operation on that night. Yet these men are all paid to do their jobs. By reaching our target of £10,000 (we already have £4,000) we will all be able to contribute to the RNLI helping to save lives and bring home loved ones. Mothers, brothers, aunts, grandparents and daughters. Father... Andrew Potton |
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Air Ambulance Katie gets a lift from Masons
Katie the ’copter, in service as a North West Air Ambulance, got a welcome ‘lift’ from Fleetwood Freemasons this week when her pilot and crew of paramedics were presented with a £600 cheque. Though ‘Katie’ is only two years old she is in the WAG league when it comes to the high maintenance costs of providing the vital support she does airlifting casualties to hospitals throughout the North West area ranging from Carlisle to Crewe when speed is of the essence. The air ambulance, on occasion, can also be called over the border from its base at Blackpool airport into southern Scotland to assist. As the air ambulance is mainly supported by donations George Brooks, current Master of Fleetwood Lodge, which meets at the Masonic Hall on Fleetwood’s Esplanade, chose the life saving service to commemorate his year in office. He said: “Every year lodge members and their wives and families run fundraising events to raise cash for favourite charities. “I decided that in my year in the chair there was none better than the air ambulance as there is little in the way of ‘official’ funding.” He handed over the cheque to Jackie Northover, assistant chief charity executive and Chris Veevers air crew paramedic. Chris said that the air ambulance, which is kitted out with a diverse range of life saving equipment for almost every eventuality saw most action attending to road traffic accident victims. But running just behind as a close second was horse riding accidents where riders came to grief in locations inaccessible to conventional ambulances! Jackie Northover said: “I’m delighted that Fleetwood Masons selected us as their favourite charity as the air ambulance relies on generous donations such as this.”
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Lifeboat Stations helped by Cleveleys Park Lodge
It was a case of brotherly love at busy Cleveleys Park Lodge No 7540, which this year celebrates 50 years since its consecration, when one of the founders and Lodge Master, John Russell, handed over cheques totalling £420 to Lytham St Anne’s, Fleetwood and Blackpool lifeboat stations. For the recipient of one cheque for £170 was none other than Andrew Fallow, Operations Manager for Lytham RNLI station - the brother of Jim Fallow, Secretary of Cleveleys Park Lodge and Vice Chairman of Cleveleys Masonic Hall. Andrew was made to sing for his supper however, as supported by his opposite numbers from Blackpool and Fleetwood, he gave a talk on the vital work the lifeboat men of the Fylde Coast do for stricken mariners and the public in general who get into difficulties off our shores. The Lodge made it a very interesting evening with a difference as once they had disposed of regular business 70 members, ladies and ‘non-masons’ were invited into the Lodge Room to hear Andrew give his fascinating description of some of the work the mainly volunteer crews of the RNLI lifeboats undertake. W Bro Russell, presenting the cheques, spoke of his admiration for the work of the RNLI in keeping our coastline safe. Picture shows: Cleveleys Park Lodge WM John Russell presenting Andrew Fallow, Lytham Lifeboat Operations Manager, with both his thanks for a talk on the work of the RNLI and a cheque for the Lifeboat station.
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Cleveleys Park Lodge No. 7540 celebrated its Golden Anniversary Year on January 8th 2008 in grand style to mark the milestone event. For the Master for the year, W Bro John Russell PPrJGW, it was with particular pleasure that he welcomed almost 100 Brethren to the 50 years festivities held at Cleveleys Masonic Hall as the only founder member still actively involved since Lodge 7540 was consecrated on January 15th 1958. W Bro John says whilst it may not be unique it is probably quite rare that a lodge is able to have a founder In the Chair in its 50th year. Initiated into Peninsular Lodge 5914 in Wallasey in Cheshire Province in 1953 he was appointed Tyler all those years ago at the Consecration of Cleveleys Park and confides that he was the youngest founder of the lodge then by many years! Determination and commitment have been the secret of Cleveleys Park Lodge’s very survival; a sentiment that was taken up by W Bro Terry Hudson AsstPrGM later in the proceedings in his address to the Lodge and their guests. For, far from the heady days when Lodge 7540 celebrated the Silver Jubilee in January 1982 with 50 members on the books, in common with many other lodges, the then strong, healthy membership experienced a dramatic reduction in numbers in later years. So much so that in 1997 the Lodge considered going down the dreaded route of amalgamation but a strong resolve determined the members to carry on. Seven past masters followed W Bro Bill Thorp’s example by taking the Chair for a second time in the intervening years and in latter times numbers have steadily increased through seven joining members (W Bro Eric Bridge joining on the very night of the Golden Jubilee) and three brand new brethren now taking their first steps ‘on the floor.’ W Bro Terry Hudson echoed many of the thoughts expressed about falling numbers in Freemasonry generally. Quoting from an article of the Rev Johnson written in 1946 he said - ‘silently and drastically people are paying less regard to tradition.’ Institutions have had to face the acid test of adjustment after the boom of the post war years as people found other outlets for their free time and enjoyment. Freemasonry was not to escape facing that change. After the war, such was the clamour to join the Craft, new lodges such as Cleveleys Park (founded 12 years after the cessation of hostilities) evolved specifically to ease pressures on existing lodges which could have had up to a 20 year wait to progress into the Chair! But inevitably with so many different new distractions on hand, working practices etc, etc. times changed. As an illustration to show Masonry is by no means the exception W Bro Terry cited the example of the number of cinemas which existed on the Fylde Coast 50 years ago as 21 (a figure jokingly challenged as 23 by the Group Chairman, Jack Coates at Festive Board - but that’s another tale). Today there are two expensive multiplex cinemas (one of which incidentally is in Cleveleys). W Bro Terry praised Cleveleys Park Lodge for taking their destiny into their own hands. His philosophy was a progressive policy as theirs he said, “Doing nothing is not an option.” On a lighter note the AsstPrGM listed items of note 50 years hence such as Anthony Eden was Prime Minister famous for his “You’ve never had it so good” quote; Stanley Mathews was enthralling crowds at Bloomfield Road, Derek Ibbotson ran a mile in 3 minutes 57 seconds; West Side Story was featured in most of the 21 (23?) cinemas. Sid Vicious and Osama Bin Laden were born; and Bro John Russell became Tyler at Cleveleys Park Lodge. W Bro Terry thanked the members of Cleveleys Park Lodge for allowing him the privilege of sharing in their Golden Anniversary Celebrations on behalf of the PGM and the North Fylde Group. In turn John Russell presented the AsstPrGM with cheques for £5,000; £2,500 of which the Lodge wished to go to West Lancashire Charities and five £500 cheques to be given to Trinity Hospice, Brian House, the Air Ambulance, the Community Fund and to Newfield School, Blackburn. Bro Danny Carter one of the Lodge’s newest members and a serving soldier lately returned from Afghanistan then presented the WM with a unique bell made from an artillery shell fired by British troops at the Taliban in the summer of 2007 and recovered from the battlefield. This bell, suitably engraved with its history and the occasion on which it was presented was presented to W Bro Tony Hough, Chairman of Cleveleys Masonic Hall to be given pride of place at the West Drive Masonic Hall members’ bar. The members of Cleveleys Park and their guests concluded a memorable evening by continuing their celebrations at the Festive Board long into what remained of the evening (and even beyond that it’s rumoured!)
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Masons tolled to dine by Taliban shell
Masons at Cleveleys Masonic Hall will soon be clapping distinguished guests to dine when certain changes are rung thanks to a gift from Cleveleys Park Lodge donated at their Golden Jubilee Celebrations. For serving soldier Bro Danny Carter, a Lodge Steward at Cleveleys Park Lodge No 7540, presented the lodge with a unique trophy in the form of a bell wrought from an artillery shell - fired during hostilities in Afghanistan - to mark the lodge’s 50th year celebrations. Bro Danny who served in Afghanistan with No 11 Explosives Ordinance Disposal Regiment retrieved a 105mm shell fired by British forces at the Taliban during a summer offensive in 2007 and had it carefully crafted into a bell. The highly polished, gleaming bell is engraved with a description of its component parts and details of its origin in Afghanistan as well as an inscription marking the date of its presentation to Lodge 7540. Danny, whose grandfather was also a Mason in Staleybridge in Cheshire, recently chose Lodge 7540 to join and is currently a fellow craft Mason impressing members with his work to achieve his third degree. He has appeared on BBC television where he related his experiences battling the Taliban. W Bro John Russell, Master of Lodge 7540, who received the bell from Bro Carter during the Golden Jubilee celebrations, in turn presented it to W Bro Tony Hough, the Chairman of Cleveleys Masonic Hall with the proviso that it be situated in a place of honour near the members’ bar. W Bro Tony promised that it would indeed be prominently displayed and joked that the bell would be used by every Cleveleys DC to “a-peal” to Masons that it was time to go into Festive Board and hoped that “they would go like the clappers to get there!”
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Workshop for New(ish) Chapter Companions
E Comp Peter Elmore, the Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals was at his enthusiastic best at a well attended meeting at Cleveleys Masonic Hall on December 18th taking centre stage at a Royal Arch Workshop especially aimed at ‘Companions having five years or less service.’ Chapter ‘new boys’ of Royal Arch from all parts of the Fylde Coast heard Peter give a fascinating insight into their chosen branch of Freemasonry with most coming away from the meeting with a refreshed new look into the history and origins of it and its relationship to Craft Freemasonry. If anything as a campaign for what is generally termed as a ‘side degree’ Peter showed himself to be an exemplary recruiting sergeant ‘par excellence’. In a supporting role E Comp Dave Harrison proved equally persuasive as a former acting Scribe N. As DC in his own Chapter David gave his ‘take’ on Chapters he had visited as an acting officer with some shrewd and amusing observations of what he had seen in his year in high office. He emphasised involvement, job sharing and “evolution not revolution” as the way forward for the 20 Chapters in the Fylde (and elsewhere). The Vice Chairmen of the participating Fylde Groups, Harry Cox, Peter Bentham and David Randerson, all of whom have special responsibilities for promoting Royal Arch Masonry in their particular Groups completed a successful evening with a Q & A session answering questions posed by their members. Press Contact: Bob Boal 01253 875754 – Mobile 07835 717025
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Onward Lodge donates £2130 to the Fleetwood RNLI Stop Press! At the final meeting of 2007, Onward Lodge presented a cheque for £2000 to the Fleetwood branch of the RNLI. This year was the turn of Mrs Pat Bottomley wife of the WM who chose the RNLI in memory of Brother Steve Potton who tragically lost his life in the helicopter disaster last year. The festive occasion was attended by the lifeboat coxswain & director of fundraising who dined with the members and received the cheque plus the proceeds of the collection at dinner which amounted to a further £130.00. Accepting the donation they indicated that they intended to erect a plaque in memory of those who lost their lives in the disaster.
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