Leigh

Leigh

The aim of the appeal is to refurbish and upgrade the ground floor facilities to promote more business for the Ellesmere Suite which is the trading arm of Leigh Masonic Hall.

For many years the hall has been dependent on outside lettings and the income they generate to provide a financial umbrella for the maintenance and weekly running cost of the hall.

External competition and the economical downturn have put extra emphasis on the previously planned upgrade of all aspects of the hall.

The ground floor facility is the main three year project, starting with the complete refurbishment to the gent’s toilet and the windows to the lounge and toilet areas.

Year two will hopefully see the rewiring of the ceiling area of the main hall and a new suspended ceiling with modern lighting.

Year three will be allocated to redecorating the hall and lounge and new cloth pelmets, tie backs and adjustments to curtains.

Monetary Target: £28,000. (Numerous incidentals may occur on the way so we may require a contingency sum of £3,000 to £4,000).

The benefits are:

To achieve a first class ground floor facility in order to increase attendance and fellowship along with, and beyond our present circle of friends.

With the help of Brethren and extra advertising it is hoped to encourage a quality clientele to create a solid financial income in order to safeguard the Masonic hall for now and into the future.

Second update by Frank Rothwell, Hall Chairman.

Our visit to Leyland to the Masonic Hall seminar gave all who attended from Leigh a better understanding of being part of a larger Masonic family of people who care about their halls and their link with the Province.

At the December board meeting discussions took place about the numerous items of ‘take-away’ literature available. The main concern of the meeting was the consideration of the catering franchise, new pricing and all their implications which has proved to be acceptable to the whole board.

Discussions have also taken place with the fire officer concerning the hall rooms and emphasis made that the fire door should be kept clear especially in the practice room. Health and Safety and risk assessments have also been given careful consideration to all rooms both upstairs and down.

It is hoped that the refurbishment of the hall area joining the ladies and gents toilets will be completed by the end of January 2012. Most of the work will be done free of charge by board members and others with materials supplied at cost.

The preferred time schedule is being achieved, however, a general upgrade of some parts of the exterior of the building (due to its age), may cause a slow down of other interior projects. However, the three year target will still be met.

It is felt that the presentation of a good image to the outside public, who are an important part of the hall’s clientele, is essential. Efforts are being made to encourage the general public to be aware of what the Ellesmere Suite has to offer. An advertisement has been placed in Brides magazine which offers a wide spread of useful information regarding the Ellesmere Suite.

Update by Frank Rothwell, Hall Chairman.

Beyond the day today working and running of the hall the board of Directors have planned yearly maintenance and development schemes, set within their financial resources and with a long term view of future needs of Masonic usage and the extra financial income potential of the ground floor facilities by outside letting.

Most of the first floor facilities have been brought up to a good standard and energies are now being directed towards the Ground Floor area called the ‘Ellesmere Suite’ our social hall.

The ‘Ellesmere Suite’ project started in May 2010 before the Provincial Masonic Hall project was started in November 2010. During the summer period the ground floor ladies toilets were completely refurbished to an excellent modem standard.

The ‘Provincial Pack’ and input has added to the voice of both the Board of Directors and the Leigh Group Executive and will continue throughout the ‘Three Year Plan for the Ellesmere Suite’.

In March this year work started to refurbish the gents ground floor facilities to bring them up to the standards of the Ladies toilets.

It is also intended to refurbish the entrance area adjoining the toilet facilities, with completion planned for the end of July.

The ability to complete the ladies and gents toilets within a very tight financial budget has been thanks to the number of Directors who have given freely of their time, skills and efforts and others who have helped.

The publicised need for physical and financial support has caused brethren and lodges to direct some thought to raising cash for the ‘Ellesmere Suite’, or Leigh Masonic Hall appeal and this has had some success resulting in donations from lodges and other degrees and specific lodge efforts to raise money.

Efforts such as a sportsman’s dinner, band concert, dinner dance (all with raffles) and a book Stall, stocked with donated books sold at £2 for a hard back and £1 for paperback book, have all helped lodges and individuals to subscribe to the appeal.

Work is now under-way to plan the next project for the closed season of 2012.

On the down side, the Masonic hall is 109 years old and requires a financial budget each year for those unexpected occurrences (Life isn’t always easy).