Pictured from left to right are: Barrie Crossley, Tony Harrison, Barry Whitaker, Alan Astin and Martin Baxendale.

The lodge was honoured by the attendance of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison and Grand Officer Chris Butterfield, who is a member of the lodge. Tony was accompanied by the group vice-chairman Martin Baxendale, PrDGDC Barrie Crossley and other acting Provincial officers.

The Worshipful Master Alan Astin gave the chair of the lodge over to Chris Butterfield, who, together with Adrian Wells made a formidable team in performing an exemplary ceremony of installation which saw Barry Whitaker take the chair of the lodge for the ensuing year. Barry was previously Master of the Lodge of Fortitude in 2000 before its amalgamation to become City of Lancaster.

Chris and Adrian were assisted by other officers of the lodge who also played their part in excellent fashion. Jack Baxter, the secretary of the lodge, presented the master elect and also gave the address to the Worshipful Master whilst the address to the wardens was delivered by Arthur Hickson. The address to the brethren was given in his usual sincere style by Tony Harrison.

The working tools of the third degree were presented by Andy Harrison, those of the second degree by Geoff Careless and the first degree tools by Wiliam Bognar. All were presented in commendable fashion and drew universal praise from the assembled brethren.

As the ceremony drew to a close Tony Harrison was pleased to bring greetings from the Provincial Grand Master and added his own congratulations to Chris and Adrian for the excellent manner in which they had conducted the ceremony. He was delighted to receive from the lodge a cheque in the sum of £1,500 in favour of the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity.

The Festival of St John was held in the Rowley Court banqueting suite where some 64 members and guests enjoyed a superb meal and evening. In the response to the toast to his health Tony thanked the lodge for embracing the university scheme which is also helping to develop bonds with other lodges within the group who are offering to help by assisting with hosting ceremonies of progression.

David Sampson said: “Like many children I would look to the skies as aircraft passed overhead and wonder what it would be like to be the pilot of such an aircraft. It wasn’t until the winter of 1992 that I finally got my chance and started my pilot training in a de Havilland Chipmunk on a cold and frosty November morning. Each morning I would taxi past a de Havilland Tiger Moth parked outside the museum upon which my tutor would remind me that, that was the aircraft he trained on and how easy us ‘young uns’ had it today.

After qualifying in fixed wing I moved on to basic rotary and continued my training on the Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter. I could barely keep the aircraft in a hover over a field the size of Wembley and I began to understand the amazing achievements of the Vietnam War pilots described in Robert Masons book, ‘Chickenhawk’.

It was Sunday evening, 5 Feb 2012 I had just finished reading a book by Geoffrey Wellum entitled ‘First Light’, a truly inspirational read for anyone interested in the Battle of Britain. I flicked through the channels on the TV when I noticed a BBC documentary ‘Bomber Boys’ was about to start. The programme focused on the men of Bomber Command who fought and died in the skies above occupied Europe, while highlighting the heroes of the time. The programme finished with Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin taking to the skies in the last remaining Lancaster Bomber.

The documentary reminded me of a recently departed brother in the Garston Group who had a very distinguished flying career and yet this only came to light after his death. The following is a tribute to Robert Thornton Jones of St David’s Lodge No 2950 who was due to celebrate 65 years in Freemasonry in March 2010 but sadly had his calling before this date.”

Flt Lt Robert, (Bob), Thornton Jones AFC

Bob Thornton Jones was born in Gwalchmai, Anglesey, on 11 December 1922, the son of a sea captain from Amlwch and passed on to the Grand Lodge above on 01 July 2009.

He had an abiding passion to fly and joined the RAF in 1942 as a pilot. After initial training in England he was sent to America for the main part of his pilots courses. He first went to Florida where he flew from Lakeland Airfield and then onto bases in Georgia and Alabama. During this time he flew the Vultee, Stearman and Harvard training aircraft. On 5 August 1942 Bob was awarded his pilots wings and selected for fighter training.

His journey home was full of incident and a ship in his convoy was sunk by enemy action. As a result Bob’s ship was diverted to New York where by all accounts he had an entertaining and enjoyable week.

On his eventual return, his expectations of becoming a fighter pilot received a setback as the powers that be had decided that the pilot attrition rate was so great that more flying instructors were needed to replace those who had been lost. Accordingly Bob qualified as a Flying Instructor (QFI) on Magisters and Tiger Moths in 1943 and in the next 18 months flew over 700 hours instructing RAF and RN pilots on the Tiger Moth. He was assessed as above average and awarded the A2 QFI category.

1944 was a busy year for Bob, he married Maureen and joined Bomber Command converting to the Oxford, Wellington and Halifax aircraft. In 1945 he flew on operations over Germany with B40 Squadron.

Lancaster Bomber in flight.

At the end of World War II, he transferred his allegiance from Bomber Command to Transport Command and converted on to the DC3 Dakota. For the next four years he flew with 76 Squadron, including lengthy detachments to India.

In 1949, Bob converted on to the four engined Hastings, an aircraft which dominated his life for the next 10 years. As the top man in the Wing organisation on instructing and checking out new pilots, he got to know every pilot in the Hastings force and instilled in all of them the need to fly accurately and safely.

A very important task was entrusted to Bob in September 1953, he was ordered to deliver to South Australia a highly important and secret cargo. After departure from Lyneham in Wiltshire, Bob and his crew plus security guards, flew to Malta, Cyprus, Sharjah, Ceylon, Singapore, Darwin, Woomera before finally landing in the outback at Emu airfield, a total of 46 hours flying. The heavily guarded secret cargo was in fact a nuclear bomb!

Even though he was heavily committed with his flying duties, Bob found time to play sports and excelled on the rugby field. In May 1954 he was proud to receive his Transport Command rugby colours, the highest sporting award that can be conferred in the military.

Bob’s expertise and diligence in his flying and instructional duties were recognised in June 1955 by the award of the Queens Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air (QCVSA), a much respected and sought after award.

Over the next couple of years, Bob continued to fly intensively all over the world and in March 1957 another important assignment was allocated to him. Another secret cargo! Again take off was from Lyneham but this time heading west to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to top up on fuel for the long Atlantic crossing to Goose Bay, Labrador, then onwards to Edmonton in Alberta, San Francisco, Hawaii and the final destination Christmas Island in the mid Pacific. Box safely delivered! Going back the same way would have been boring so Bob elected to return via Fiji, Australia, Singapore, Ceylon, Pakistan, Iraq and Libya. In July 1957 Bob was awarded a second QCVSA – an unprecedented double!

Bob’s Air Force Cross medal.

On 13 June 1959 Bob was awarded the ultimate accolade for any peacetime aviator – The Air Force Cross. This is awarded very infrequently and only to persons who have performed with exceptional ability and dedication. The award to Bob was considered by everyone to be very well deserved for his immense contribution in many ways, not least to his personal influence on keeping aircraft accidents and incidents to an all-time low.

To top this prestigious award Bob received a highly desirable posting – exchange duties with the Royal Australian Air force to help them introduce into service the C130 Hercules. After two productive and happy years ’down under’ and nearly a thousand flying hours on type, Bob and family returned to the UK.

After 20 years in uniform Bob decided to retire from the RAF in 1962 but not to retire from his beloved flying. For four years he was based in his native Wales at Llanbedr, piloting remote controlled target drones which were used on the firing ranges in Cardigan Bay. He also found time to get some proper flying in by taking the station Anson on various jaunts around the country.

In 1967 the well-known aviation firm Marshalls of Cambridge were looking to recruit a Unit Test Pilot to test fly Hercules aircraft which Marshalls were servicing and modifying. Linked to this job was a QFI post instructing on the ‘teeny weeny’ single engined Cessna. With his Australian Hercules experience and thousands of hours as a QFI, Bob was snapped up and spent two and a half years hopping from the mighty Hercules into the tiny Cessna with a raw and inexperienced student. No problem to a man of Bob’s calibre.

Fresh challenges beckoned and in 1969 he accepted a contract with British Aircraft Corporation to instruct on Cessna’s in Saudi Arabia. After impressing his employers with his expertise, Bob was invited to extend his contract to instruct on jets in Saudi. At the age of 47 and with no experience at all on jets Bob leapt at this challenge and departed to the Central Flying School in the UK to get checked out. In his normal manner he made a great success of this difficult transition and was awarded an above average assessment and an A2 QFI category. Not bad going for a piston engine man!

Having enjoyed his two years on Strikemaster jets Bob got itchy feet again and spent the next five years at various flying clubs including two years in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Being a seasoned world traveller he could not resist the offer of employment by Short Brothers of Belfast flying the Skyvan – an aircraft that resembles a four ton truck with wings and two noisy piston engines! He flew one of these all the way to Lesotho in South Africa where he did a splendid job. The next challenge posed by Short Bros was flying a Skyvan to Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula where Bob was based from 1983 to 1984. On 11 June 1984, Bob brought his active flying career to a close with his final flight in the Skyvan.

In 42 years of flying Bob had amassed 15,000 flying hours, 12,000 of which were as an instructor/QFI. This amazing achievement was recognised in 2003 by the City Livery Company, the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators who awarded him the highly esteemed Certificate of a Master Air Pilot. The award was made by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

Pictured are North Fylde Group’s top table guests.

As a result of what is going to be a busy year for the group North Fylde is hosting the annual WLFC Festival and Dinner being held at the Floral Hall in Southport on 12 May this year as well as Provincial Grand Chapter on 11 April 2012 at Norcalympia, Blackpool. Provincial Grand Secretary Geoffrey Lee and his deputy Arend van Duyvenbode took the opportunity of meeting up with Harry, vice chairman Duncan Smith, group secretary Alan Reilly, captain of stewards Ian Chetwynd and vice captains Phil Cole and Eric Peak to do some forward planning.

At the lively forum attended by 111 brethren, Peter, Geoffrey, Assistant Provincial Grand Master Terry Hudson and Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, Peter Elmore fielded questions ranging over a broad spectrum of topics.

Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary Arend van Duyvenbode who met with the stewards for Provincial Grand Chapter.

The mix of items discussed included such items as mentoring, the ruling that new Master Masons should see the ‘Traditional History’ presented before receiving a Grand Lodge certificate, the protocol regarding acting officers being allowed only to accompany chain bearing officers, the wearing of ‘jewels’ other than that of the Royal Arch and new moves in the Royal Arch itself.

Brethren heard that proposals were afoot for WM’s of Craft lodges for a new toast to fellow chapter members at festive board and that Craft Masons were to be introduced to the concept of the Royal Arch earlier than at present and before they reached their third degree.

As Giles Berkley from the North Fylde Group had taken on the post of Provincial Mentoring Co-ordinator a great deal of discussion centered round mentoring. Peter spoke of the emphasis he placed on the benefits which mentoring brought. After March, the important role lodge mentors played is to be reflected by adding the post to the list of officers on lodge summonses. This would appear on the summons above that of the lodge junior and senior deacons. Geoffrey Lee said too that a new collar bearing two chisels in saltire for the lodge mentor to wear was being designed. These innovations are to be introduced, for the present, as an optional addition.

Harry Cox thanks Peter Hosker for his presence at the Cleveleys.

At the filled-to-capacity festive board which followed, Steve Mathews WM of West Lancashire Century Lodge proposed a well researched and humorous toast to Peter’s health, which included many of his achievements outside freemasonry. In his response Peter said that as so many people knew him as a Mason it was refreshing that they knew he was also involved in civic life.

Peter continued that the Group system had just celebrated its centenary in 2011 and how heavily he relied on group chairmen like Harry Cox and his team to administer the 550 lodges and chapters of the Province.

He said that North Fylde Group was special in its work for charitable causes, mentioning that the group had come top of the list for its support of the 2010 Festival through the hard work of its group charity steward, Trevor Hunt. He also mentioned that Trevor and his colleague, regional charity steward Ted Rhodes had met with further success when they organised the group’s third annual pantomime held at the Grand Theatre which had raised £1,000 for good causes.

On the Hall’s Appeal front both Cleveleys and Fleetwood had led the way for others to follow Peter said and he paid tribute to hall chairmen Tony Hough and Paul Dunne for their efforts. He said he had been delighted to have read on the Provincial website that Cleveleys Masonic hall had become the first hall to install solar panels and how aware the Masons in the North Fylde seemed to be in their support of the Hall’s Appeal.

Under the heading of caring and sharing Peter remarked on the visit members of Hesketh Lodge had made, which he had also seen reported on the website, of their visit to 105 years old John Funk who is to celebrate an astonishing 80 years in Freemasonry in November. Peter commented what a treat the celebration of that special event held for every Mason in the group.

Peter added that he himself had learned a lot from the ‘Q and A’ session and was grateful to Geoffrey Lee for the depth of his knowledge in giving the definitive answers to many of the questions. He also thanked the other members of his team PrGDC Keith Kemp, PrSGW Paul Renton and PrJGW Ian Sanderson for accompanying him and taking part in the day.

The filled-to-capacity festive board as North Fylde Masons enjoy their sixth annual group dinner.

Paul Renton gave thanks for the hospitality shown to the Provincial team and made mention of the many successful social events held in the group which he had read about on the Provincial and North Fylde Group websites. He made a special mention of the Fleetwood Masonic hall Ladies’ committee and their fund raising abilities in support of the hall. He also spoke about the ‘first’ achieved at Cleveleys with their solar panels. Paul wished the group a continuous and prosperous time ahead.

Harry Cox thanked Peter for attending the North Fylde Group Dinner. He said how he looked forward to a very busy year ahead with the group hosting both Provincial Grand Chapter and the Southport Festival. Harry said that the group was in good health with many initiates moving through the different degrees and how pleased he was that inter lodge visiting was at a high level. He felt that the two halls in the group were second to none with members of the group having grasped what was required by the Masonic Hall’s Appeal initiative.

He went on to congratulate Duncan Smith on his forthcoming promotion to PrSGW and remarked that everyone in North Fylde shared in the joy of the promotion of the popular vice chairman. He said that new group secretary Alan Reilly was proving to be an excellent successor to Giles Berkley and that though the group was losing its group mentor David Cook, the Blackpool Group would be the better off when he took over as their new group secretary and he wished him every success.

Harry concluded by saying that he felt the group dinner had been a success and that everyone as a result was leaving wiser than when they had first come. He then presented Peter with a gift and a floral bouquet for his wife Julie.

The black tie boxing event, held at the Cumbria Grand Hotel in Grange, appealed to boxing enthusiasts and the local business fraternity alike.

Two of the boxers in action.

Over 220 guests watched 10 rounds of fights. Female boxers were on the bill for the first time with the event catching the interest of the Evening Mail who covered all of the action in a two day spread on their sports pages.

Over £6,000 was raised on the night through sponsorship, ticket sales, raffles and an auction which included a Toyota jacket signed by ex F1 driver Ralph Schumacher.

The traditional horse and cart ornament which was up for auction.

The traditional auction of an ornament horse and cart was won by Bob McMillan who will donate it back for next year’s event.

The money raised will be divided between local non-Masonic and Masonic charities which will be handed out at a presentation evening later in the year.

The organisers of the boxing fundraiser.

Brian Anderson, (left,) is congratulated by Tony Bent.

Brian joined Apollo lodge in 1999 and was master in 2006 and again in 2011.  A resident of Warton in Lancashire, Brian spent all of his professional life in the aerospace industry. In his spare time he is a crack shot at full-bore rifle shooting and has competed at county level in many competitions throughout the country including Bisley. He has lately taken up clay shooting, which he remarks is an entirely different discipline. Married to Vivien, also a shooting participant, he has two sons and a daughter, all of whom are now grown up and have left home.

The proceedings commenced with the entrance of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Tony Bent accompanied by the Vice Chairman of Liverpool Group Roy Ashley and Group Secretary Roy Cowley. They were preceded by lodge deacons and by Provincial Grand Stewards Geoff Cuthill, Robb Fitzsimmons and Derek Rooney, in a most colourful and dignified procession. Their entrance was heralded by acting lodge DC Fred Hulse.

Fred did an excellent job throughout and marshalled the proceedings superbly. He was assisted by other senior brethren of the lodge. A highlight was the address to the wardens given by lodge secretary Fred Rimmer in a masterly fashion.  Although small in numbers, Apollo Lodge is rich in experience and quality.

Brian Anderson is congratulated by Roy Ashley.

At the conclusion, Tony rose and congratulated Brian and passed to him the congratulations and thanks of the Provincial Grand Master. Tony also wished that Brian has a healthy and happy year in office. He also congratulated all of the officers who had taken part in a most enjoyable ceremony.

In response Brian presented Tony with cheques totalling £200 to be donated to the Liverpool Masonic Hall Building Fund. Tony said this was a magnificent contribution from a lodge with such a small membership and he thanked the members for their generosity to this most worthwhile cause.

The ceremony completed, Tony and his entourage processed from the lodge after what had been a most enjoyable evening to a sumptuous festive board.

Brian Anderson with his personal guests, left to right are: Jim Bennett, Brian Anderson, Dave Barr and Roy Fenton.

Lodge badge.

As early as 1914, the lodge recorded that Dr John Knowles Lund, a Stretford Physician and a Steward in the lodge, was serving as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. The lodge must have been proud of the members on active service, as the Secretary noted these brethren on the following list, on his return sheets all through the conflict. One of the Brethren, Percy Mugwerth Shaw, a Marine Engineer, of 69 Wellington Road West, Higher Broughton, Manchester, was captured at the start of the war and was held in the Prisoner of War Camp, mainly used for civilians and seafarers, at Ruhleben, Spandau, Berlin.

The lodge Hallstone Jewel.

Everest Windsor was killed in action; he lost his life serving as Private 204509, 1^st Battalion, The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Everest had previously served as Private 5222, The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry and as a Private 203804 in the South Lancashire Regiment. Everest was born in Bolton, to Thomas and Mary Windsor and enlisted to the colours at West Didsbury. He was 31 years of age when he died, on 28 August 1917. He was laid to rest in Philosophe British Cemetery, at Mazingarbe, Pas-de-Calais, France, in Grave 1V16. The cemetery is situated along the Bethune to Lens road. After the war finished the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, collated in the early 1920’s, show his widow, Emilia, residing at Thursfield Villa, Newchapel, Stoke on Trent.

Pictured left to right, are: Ray Parkins, Syd Needham and Peter Guy.

Although the chapter’s designated number would lead one’s thinking that this Chapter had only recently been formed, it will actually be one hundred years old in 2019.

The charter was originally issued in the year 1919 to Felicity Temperance Chapter No 3632, which was attached to the Temperance Lodge of Felicity No 3632. However due to the closure of the lodge in 2000 the rules at that time dictated that the chapter would have to attach to another lodge and the members chose Sure and Steadfast Lodge 9326, which meant a change of number and name, a situation that would not arise today as a chapter can now be an independent body from a lodge.

The chapter this year welcomed Howard Griffiths as the representative of the Grand Superintendent, accompanied by Sam Robinson, Brian Jackson, John Lynn and Haldane Eccles, all Officers of Supreme Grand Chapter.

The three principals for the coming year were proclaimed, being Syd Needham as first principal, Ray Parkins second principal and Peter Guy third principal. A double for Ray as he had just been informed he is to be appointed to the acting office of Provincial Grand Steward for the Provincial Grand Chapter of West Lancashire.

Pictured from left to right, are: Ray Parkins, Joe Edwards and Syd Needham.

This generous chapter then presented two cheques to Howard for him to forward on, the first to the Liverpool Masonic Hall Building Fund, the other for The Friends of Tithebarn, a local care home.

On completion of the ceremony the companions and guests retired from the Egyptian Suite to the adjoining banqueting suite for a sumptuous festive board, during which the Director of Ceremonies Joe Edwards presented Syd with a signed congratulatory card from the Liverpool Group Officers.

Pictured from left to right, are: Brian Jackson, John Lynn, Howard Griffiths, Sam Robinson and Haldane Eccles.

Fund raiser John McCormack (left) receives the cheque from Sam Robinson watched by George Crawley.

Zoë’s Place Liverpool has now been in operation for 16 years, caring for babies with life-limiting or life threatening conditions. The hospice does not have a set catchment area and welcomes babies from all over the UK. Zoë’s Place currently cares for 50 babies and their families on a one to one basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Zoë’s Place relies upon the generosity of the public, grant making trusts and their corporate partners to raise their current running costs of £1,200,000 per annum. Although Zoë’s Place currently benefits from a Department of Health Grant to enhance their services, this supplies only a fraction of the finances required. They are heavily dependent upon the support of the community and gratefully accept all donations however small.

Deputy Chairman of Liverpool Group Sam Robinson accompanied by newly appointed Group Charity Steward George Crawley visited the hospice and were pleased to present the cheque to fund-raising managers Carol Kirkham and John McCormack.

Carol and John took time out from their busy schedule to explain to Sam and George the work of the hospice and their plans for the future development of the hospice and their constant efforts to continue the inflow of funds. The refurbishment programme has already increased available space by 300 per cent, which they are looking to develop. A new sensory garden has almost been completed.

The hospice employs 49 professional staff both full and part-time, the majority being qualified nursing staff augmented by administration and support staff. Full details of the wonderful work of the hospice can be found on their website www.zoes-place.org.uk/liverpool/

Pictured from left to right, are: John McCormack, Carol Kirkham, Sam Robinson and George Crawley.

in his distinguished Masonic career in achieving 50 years in the Craft.

David Redhead, (left), presents Bill Jackson with his certificate.

After the initial business of the lodge had been transacted David Redhead, (Chairman of Widnes Group), rose to give a resume of Bill’s life and times, but first he asked Derek Williams, (Vice Chairman of Widnes Group), to read the certificate from the Province.

Many members of the lodge and friends then listened intently as David gave an account of some of the highlights of Bill’s life.

Bill, Widnes born and educated locally, left Simms Cross Central School at the age of 14 to start work as an office boy at Albright and Wilson where he subsequently became a buyer going on to complete 44 years loyal service. This was interrupted by four years National Service which he spent as a telegrapher in the Royal Navy serving in various parts of the world.

An interesting aspect of Bill’s naval career is that he joined HMS Black Swan in 1942 and served on this ship for a number of years. It was in March of the same year, after a successful Warship Week National Savings campaign that the ship was adopted by the civil community of Widnes, Lancashire. As well as achieving battle honours in Norway, Atlantic, North Sea and Korea the ship sailed in numerous convoy escort movements. The heraldic data of the ship’s badge is as follows: On a Field White, upon water in base barry wavy Blue and White, a black swan proper.

The first interest Bill took in Masonry was through conversations with his colleague and a Kingsway Lodge founder member, Stan Barrow. This eventually led to Bill’s introduction to and initiation into the Lodge of Fellowship No 3799 in March 1960, being passed in May 1960 and raised in January 1961.

The three 50 year men, left to right, are: Nat Killen, Bill Jackson and Alan Daniels.

In May 1963 Bill became a joining member of the newly-formed Kingsway Lodge No 7870 and went on to be Worshipful Master of Kingsway Lodge in 1974. During his time with the lodge, Bill has served as Director of Ceremonies for a number of years and had a spell as Chaplain.

The first of Bill’s honours came in 1983 when he was made PPrJGD followed in 1991 by promotion to his present rank PPrJGW He has also achieved the rank of PPrGSN in Kingsway Chapter.

Now living in Crosby, Bill still attends lodge meetings whenever he can saying he loves the company and camaraderie among the many friends he has made. The lodge has recently paid further tribute to Bill by making him an honorary member. He is now looking forward to next year when he hopes he can help Kingsway celebrate its golden jubilee.

Concluding, David said: “I know Bill quite well and I know first hand what effort Bill has put into his Freemasonry and this lodge in particular. I also know the very high esteem and affection the brethren of this lodge hold for Bill.” David them presented the certificate to Bill saying: “Bill I have great pleasure in presenting you with your certificate as a mark of the esteem in which you are held not only by your lodge but by the Widnes Group and also within the Province.”

Meanwhile, all members of Kingsway Lodge are in harmony in congratulating Bill on his 50 years service and in wishing him well for many more years to come. Bill then gave sincere and heartfelt thanks to David and the brethren for giving him this special meeting to celebrate his 50 years in Masonry.

Helping Bill to celebrate were two members of Kingsway Lodge who have already achieved 50 years in Masonry, Alan Daniels and Nat Killen. With the meeting concluded, all retired to the festive board for an excellent meal.

Replying to a toast to his health, Bill said: “I have enjoyed every minute of my 50 years in Masonry, I have made many friends, the brotherhood of Masonry is second to none.” Bill was them presented with a boxed whisky decanter and glasses set, with a bottle of whisky and a 50 year square and compass lapel badge by Jack Thompson, (WM), on behalf of the lodge. This was followed by a presentation from David, on behalf of the group, of a whisky tumbler and a 50 year Masonic badge.

Bill Jackson, front centre, with his friends from Kingsway Lodge and other lodges.

Geoff Waters (left of picture) presenting the cheque on behalf of Brigantes Lodge to Peter Pemberton.

It is almost as common as breast cancer yet receives a mere fraction of the funding. In the absence of an effective treatment, early diagnosis is crucial in offering the best opportunity of stemming the tide of men dying from the disease or from suffering significant quality of life impairment. This is the message that the Prostate Cancer Research Campaign is working hard to convey to all Freemasons.

Geoff Waters, the secretary of Lonsdale Lodge of Installed Masters No 9422 in the Furness and South Lakes Group, heard about the campaign and invited Peter Pemberton of Pilling Lodge No 7879, the campaign organiser, to give a presentation to Lonsdale members.

Peter’s presentation is designed to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into treatments and new methods of diagnosis. The presentation is therefore accompanied by the sale of a special lapel badge (which incorporates the square and compasses) and a very informative booklet which at Lonsdale Lodge raised more than £200 for the campaign.

Geoff is also Master of Brigantes Lodge No 9734 in the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland and at their Christmas meeting, which was attended by over 140 members, guests and ladies, the lodge held a raffle with the proceeds being disbursed to charities chosen by the Master’s wife, Laura.

This year the main charity chosen was the Prostate Cancer Research Campaign and Geoff was delighted to present Peter with a magnificent cheque in the sum of £530.

Geoff says: “Peter’s message is an important one for us all and the members of Brigantes Lodge are very pleased to be able to support the campaign. I would encourage any lodge to lend their support to this initiative and ask Peter to come along to give his presentation.”

Peter Pemberton can be contacted by e-mail: email hidden; JavaScript is required