Wigan Group News - Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire

THREE WIGAN LODGES AMALGAMATE
The formal ceremony of the amalgamation of three Wigan Lodges took place at Pemberton Masonic Hall........<more>

Harold is top Wigan golfer
There was a strong wind blowing across Gathurst Golf Course, Shevington for the annual Wigan and District Masonic Golfing Society Stableford event....<more>

MAKING THE NEWS
The Wigan Courier is the town’s ‘good news’ newspaper with a philosophy which promotes only a positive view in its content and has a circulation of more than 40,000 copies..........<more>

Wigan Walk
The weather on Sunday 10th June, 2007 could not have been better for a sponsored walk across the sands of Morecambe Bay.............<more>

First Chapter Amalgamation
The first ever amalgamation of Chapters in the Province of West Lancashire took place at Pemberton Masonic Hall ...........<more>

£2000 For World Scout Jamboree
The Worshipful Master of Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom No. 8500, Bro. Alan Rowley presented five Explorer Scouts from Wigan with a cheque.........<more>

Bryn Lodge Juniors’ visit Holland
Bryn Lodge No. 6553 Ashton in Makerfield have an enviable reputation for encouraging their younger members to participate in the Lodge proceedings....<more>

Columns Galore
Traditions are well preserved in Prodesse Lodge Bro. No.8678 in Hindley.......<more>

Sponsored Slim
Let's do something silly for summer - said three Brethren from Bryn Lodge No. 6553, Ashton-in-Makerfield, at a Festive Board last year......<more>

Wigan and District Group Dinner
Masters of Lodges and 1st Principals of Chapters attended the Wigan and District Group Dinner at Bryn Masonic Hall on Thursday evening 17th February.......<more>

First Amalgamation in the Wigan Group
The first amalgamation in the Wigan Group took place before a capacity filled Lodge room on Monday 1st November at Bryn Masonic Hall..........<more>

John Sharples Retires
Brethren and their wives gathered at Pemberton Masonic Hall on Saturday 30th November, 2004 for a celebration dinner..............<more>

£2000 Given to Wigan Parish Church
The ancient Wigan Parish Church and Freemasonry in Wigan have a long association and this was cemented further.................<more>

Clowes Methodist Church
In their process of refurbishment funds are urgently needed and Wigan Freemason..............................<more>

Wet and Windily in Hindley
Even on a wet, grey day in December you can’t dampen the spirits of the staff at the Wigan and Leigh Hospice.................................................<more>

E. Comp. Frank Sharples - 50th Anniversary
We celebrate this milestone in the career of a very distinguished Freemason. Fifty years in any activity is a long time and is a time of celebration ..........<more>

The formal ceremony of the amalgamation of three Wigan Lodges took place at Pemberton Masonic Hall, by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Brian Gillbanks accompanied by the Provincial Grand Secretary, Geoffrey Lee, under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Mark Dimelow and the Provincial Team.

The three Lodges - Tuscan No 4427, Oak Lodge No 5755 and Lambert Head Lodge No 6387 - became Tuscan Oak and Lamberthead Lodge No 6387 bringing the old and new together.

Tuscan was Consecrated in 1922 and despite having more than 100 members for several years in its history nevertheless found itself in decline and for the past three years has worked in very close association with its daughter Lodge, Oak.

Oak was formed as a result of the large membership in Tuscan Lodge and all its Founders with the exception of one were Tuscan Lodge members. It too has suffered from the general decline in membership and together with its Mother Lodge created a unique way of sharing the work .By reducing its number of meetings along with Tuscan, the two Lodges, whilst remaining independent, shared the work and attended each other’s meetings. This way of keeping the two Lodges alive lasted three years until an approach from Lambert Head Lodge was made to amalgamate.

Even from the initial approach it was fairly clear that this was going to be a successful marriage and a settled will was reach very quickly with Lambert Head becoming the prevailing Lodge. It is the youngest of the three Lodges only being Consecrated in 1947. The unusual name comes from the word ‘Lambert’ which was a small hill or rise in the ground and the story goes that a Scottish invader was captured in the area and beheaded. His head was displayed on a spike and the area became known as Lambert Head.

The festive board after the ceremony was a lively affair and one guest who had travelled all the way from Devon specially to witness an amalgamation ceremony, remarked ‘It was a very good ceremony followed by an excellent festive board and I have never met a friendlier group of Mason’s anywhere. It was thoroughly enjoyable experience.’

The new Lodge has two candidates in the pipeline and hopes shortly to attract others.
Caption

There was a strong wind blowing across Gathurst Golf Course, Shevington for the annual Wigan and District Masonic Golfing Society Stableford event, but the sun was shining and the competitors were not deterred by the conditions.

Some very good scores were returned by the 29 competitors who took part including 40 points scored by two Masons, Harold Bibby of Orrell Lodge and John Gibbons of Prodesse Lodge. Harold not only collected the overall prize, on a better back nine holes, but picked up the Seniors prize as well. The Ladies’ Prize went to Jessie Higham and the visitors’ prize was won by Alan Assheton-Smith.

Overall: Harold Bibby 40 points (Card play off, better back nine). John Gibbons 40 points.
Ladies: Jessie Higham 34 points
Seniors: Harold Bibby 40 points; Fred Lomax 34 points
Visitors: Alan Assheton-Smith 38 points; Tony Turner 37 points.
Birdie 2’s was won by Bert Sweeney of Orrell Lodge.

Runner-up John Gibbons, left, receives his prizes from Wigan Group Secretary Malcolm Taylor.

The Wigan Courier is the town’s ‘good news’ newspaper with a philosophy which promotes only a positive view in its content and has a circulation of more than 40,000 copies.

It has regularly accepted and published stories and photographs of Masonic events. As a result of an e-mail from the Editor John Callon, Wigan Group Communications Officer, Fred Lomax, was asked if he would be interested in attending a course for community groups and voluntary organisations to see how a modern newspaper works, how to write news stories, headlines and to get hands on experience of taking digital phtographs suitable for publication.

As a celebration of the course work over the two days a special two-page feature was produced in the Courier which was published in conjunction with the Wigan Borough Partnership Gazette who had teamed up with the Courier as co-sponsors.

The weather on Sunday 10th June, 2007 could not have been better for a sponsored walk across the sands of Morecambe Bay, to raise funds for the 2010 Festival and the Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

Some 40 Brethren, accompanied by their families, friends and a lone Red Indian set off from the promenade at Arnside at 1-00pm.

After a short break on the beach near to Arnside Point, Cedric Robinson MBE, who holds the official title of "the Queen's Guide to the Sands", blew his whistle, and approximately 250 people, including Freemasons from other groups, set off on a meandering path across the treacherous sands. Two small river channels were crossed before the main channel of the River Kent was forded.

Luckily, due to the recent fine weather not only was the water quite tepid, but it was also fairly shallow.

Cedric set a cracking pace across the sands, though several people were heard muttering that they thought he had gone the wrong way, as at one stage we appeared to be heading towards Heysham power station and not Kents Bank railway station !!

After 2 hours the first of the walkers arrived at Kents Bank railway station well in advance of the receiving party of Wigan Group Officials, who had either got lost, had an extended lunch or quite simply did not realise how fit we all were.

All in all a cracking day out which will ultimately be to the benefit of two very deserving causes.

Thanks to all participants, sponsors and Hatton's coaches for providing the transport.

The first ever amalgamation of Chapters in the Province of West Lancashire took place at Pemberton Masonic Hall between Peace No. 2269 and Pemberton No. 4686 to become Peace and Pemberton Chapter No. 4686.

The ceremony, designed exclusively by the Province, was conducted by The Grand Superintendent, Excellent Companion Colin Penty Wright assisted by the 2nd and 3rd Provincial Grand Principals Ex. Companions Terry Hudson and The Revd Kenneth Cox. Also assisting was the principal designer, Deputy Grand Superintendent, Ex. Companion Stephen P.J. Reid and Assistant to the Three Grand Principals, Ex. Companion Stanley Oldfield.

Peace Chapter was named after Most Excellent Companion Maskell William Peace, Solicitor and Town Clerk of Wigan and came into being in June 1892 at the Masonic Rooms, King Street, Wigan. Initial membership was relatively small and it was another fourteen years before the Chapter moved to the old Tower Buildings Masonic Hall in Wallgate.

The Chapter is now situated at Pemberton Masonic Hall and was previously attached to the fourth oldest Lodge in Wigan, Peace No. 2269, now resident in Westhoughton. The Founders of the Chapter were fourteen members of the Chapter of Harmony No. 178 and the Consecration took place on 23rd June, 1892 and in the absence of the Earl of Lathom, Grand Superintendent, it was conducted by Ex. Companion William Goodacre, PGStB, Provincial Grand Scribe E. who following the Consecration retired with the Companions to the Victoria Hotel for a festive board. By 1902 membership was still only twenty and stayed like that for some time.

By 1914 as war clouds gathered, donations were being requested for the HRH the Prince of Wales Relief Fund as well as to assist Companions serving in HM Forces. During the First World War membership increased and there is a record in the minutes of a letter from Grand Chapter of 1915 which states “Companions of German, Austrian, Hungarian or Turkish birth, should not during the continuance of War, attend any Chapter meeting of any kind”….”and to absolve Companions affected by this resolution from paying any fees during their enforced absence, from all Masonic functions.” This the only recorded comment in the Chapter minutes referring to the First World War.
By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War membership had increased into the thirties and continued after the War and saw the Exaltation of some well known Companions including, Tom Winstanley, Lewis Pardey, Bill Frodsham, Dick Smith, Stanley Clayton, Geoff Latimer and Harry Phillips.

In 1992 the Chapter celebrated its Centenary but by 2003 along with many Lodges and Chapters it was forced to move to Pemberton Masonic Hall by the closure of Tower Buildings.

Pemberton Chapter was Consecrated on 19th September, 1974 under the direction of Excellent Companion Alan Fletcher Ferris, PDepGDC, PrGDC and conducted by Most Excellent Companion Sir Knowles Edge Bt. Grand Superintendent, assisted by Ex Companion R. Trevor Evans, PAGSoj, Second Provincial Grand Principal. The first Officers were Ex Companion P.H.King, PPrGSN, Z, T.Hart PPrAGSoj, H, and T. Winstanley PPrGSoj. J.

The Chapter came into being by the desire of the senior Lodge in Pemberton, Pemberton Lodge No. 4686 to have Royal Arch Masonry available in the then relatively new Masonic Hall. In the early days efforts had been made to form a Chapter without success but by 15th June,1973 under the expert guidance of Ex. Companion L.P.J.A Schofield, PAGSoj, Assistant to the Grand Superintendent, the first meeting took place to discuss the formation with seventeen potential Founders present.

Over the following months several more meetings took place and in January 1974 at a regular meeting of Pemberton Lodge No. 4686 it was formally proposed that it sponsor the formation of a Royal Arch Chapter to be known the Pemberton Chapter No. 4686 and the Petition was duly signed by the Master and Wardens of the Lodge. Due to the large number of Founders, Companions and guests, approximately one hundred in total, the Consecration had to take place at Tower Buildings, Wigan.

At the first meeting following the Consecration on 12th November, 1974, two W Bro’s were Exalted and there were two joining members Companions Edgar Wigglesworth and John Clegg. Sadly Edward has passed away but John is still going strong and attending the Chapter regularly.

The photograph shows Ex. Companion Colin Penty Wright, his 2nd and 3rd Principals resplendent in their ermine robes, together with the Deputy Grand Superintendent Stephen P.J.Reid and Stanley Oldfield, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals and David Mills shortly after the ceremony.

The Presentation of the £1000 Cheque from the Arnold Singer Memorial Fund Relief Chest to celebrate the Centenary of the Scout Movement to the Trustees of the Scout Holiday Homes Trust took place on Saturday 5th May, 2007 at a Caravan Site near Prestatyn when a party from Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom No 8500.

The photograph shows left to right, W.Bro.K.Lang, Mr. John le Warre, Scout Holiday Homes Trust, Bro.Alan Rowley, Worshipful Master and W.Bro.Philip Stansbie

Wigan’s first amalgamated Lodge Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom No. 8500 had its new banner dedicated at the Spring Festival of the Kindred Lodges Association meeting at Bryn Masonic Hall on Saturday 14th April.

W.Bro. Leon J Tax, Assistant Provincial Grand Master a former Scout Leader in Blackpool officiated and he was accompanied by W. Bro Eddie Caulfield, Asst. Provincial Grand Master and Past Asst PGM The Revd John Sharples, a former President of Wigan Scout Council and many other distinguished guests from West Lancashire and other Provinces.

The Lodge has gone from strength to strength since the amalgamation and in addition to having recently given £3000 to the Scouting movement, its members are proud to have the honour of being the hosts of this years Kindred Lodges Festival.

The banner was designed by a member of the Lodge and made by Mrs Barbara Shaw, wife of the Immediate Past Master, Graham Shaw.

The Worshipful Master of Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom No. 8500, Bro. Alan Rowley presented five Explorer Scouts from Wigan with a cheque for £ 2,000 towards the 21st World Scout Jamboree to be held at Chelmsford between 26th July and 8th August this year, at a ceremony at Bryn Masonic Hall.

The money was donated by the Lodge from the Arnold Singer Memorial Fund which was set up from bequests made by late Brothers’ Arnold Singer, 1st Master of the Lodge and District Commissioner for Wigan Scout Council and Barrie Arrowsmith a well known local Scout Leader. The Scouts will be attending the Jamboree as part of the Greater Manchester West Scout County. In addition the Lodge will also be making a donation of £1000 to the Scout Homes Trust which provides holiday facilities to deprived families.

The photograph shows the Master of Bryn Lodge David Heaton, Mrs. Rita Heaton and Charity Steward W Bro. Joe Mather presenting a cheque for £500 to Sara White at Derian House. Funds were raised at Bryn Masonic Hall, Ladies Fashion Show, by SHUFFS

Bryn Lodge No. 6553 Ashton in Makerfield have an enviable reputation for encouraging their younger members to participate in the Lodge proceedings but not only that, but also but for enjoying themselves outside the lodge as well including trips to lodges outside the English Constitution.

Since the Millennium they have visited various jurisdictions and 2006 was no exception when the Lodge visited Holland and in particular Blazing Star Lodge No. 26 in Amorsfoort, under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Prince Hall Freemasonry is now regular and comprises mainly African American members and was recognised by United Grand Lodge in 1994.

Previous trips have included Lagandale Lodge, Ireland, Lodge Kilwinning in Scotland, Keys of Munster in Germany, Lodge Hiram in Prague and Spain, to Lodge Amona d’Ifach, Benidorm.

The home of Blazing Star is the Masonic Hall in Amorsforrt which during World War II was closed and sealed by the Nazi’s. The original wax seals have been preserved on the shutters as a reminder of those dark days for Freemasonry in Holland.

The ten members of Bryn received a very warm welcome from the moment they entered the building yet they were not allowed to see the opening of the Lodge, which may seem strange to English brethren. As with most Lodges under American constitutions the Lodge operates in the Third Degree and all business of the Lodge is conducted in that degree. The lower degrees are for the purpose of Initiation or Passing only, a custom common in American lodges and candidates may not see an opening or closing for some time until they are raised to the Third Degree. Candidates follow an ancient custom and for the first two degrees are placed in a special room with no windows containing only a seat, a table, a candle and the VSL in which they are expected to reflect whilst the Lodge is in session or whilst they are waiting for a particular ceremony.

Although the brethren didn’t see the opening, Blazing Star did conduct what is known as a ‘re-dedication ceremony’ in which the members of the Lodge gave an explanation of the degrees and excerpts from the ceremonies, allowing Mark Seddon, an Initiate of two days before the trip, and Damien Dickinson a Fellow Craft, to see the appropriate parts of the demonstration before being ushered out of the Lodge room at the appropriate point.

The demonstration lasted about four hours with ‘Calling Off’ for coffee and cake at regular intervals. Despite the formal proceedings which were carried out with military precision there was conviviality and fun was had by everyone. There was no doubt that the members of Blazing Star really enjoyed their Freemasonry and whilst taking it very seriously, they never missed an opportunity to have a joke and join in light hearted banter.

The Lodge doesn’t have a Festive Board in the English manner but instead provided lots of food and drink, buffet style served up by a single Steward. The members of Bryn gave Blazing Star a rendition of “Let us Have Harmony” which was much appreciated by the Dutch brethren. The proceeding were closed in Peace, Love and Harmony and the brethren of Bryn returned to their hotel

Two Bryn members Bro’s Dave Brogan and David Ogden took a stroll in woods next to the hotel before leaving for home and came across a former World War II Concentration Camp which is now a memorial to that awful period in history. Both brethren felt that even after all the years between, it still had an eerie feel about it.

Despite a rough crossing over the Channel on the way back, the brethren arrived home safely after yet another highly successful Masonic experience in the Bryn Lodge tradition.

The re-dedication of the two magnificent pillars which formerly adorned the Lodge Room at the Masonic Hall, Tower Buildings, Wigan, took place at Bryn Masonic Hall by the Rev Canon John Sharples PSGD, PAsstPrGM at a meeting of Vigilance and Douglas Lodge No. 6236 on Monday 13th November, 2006.

The pillars were originally made in 1947 by Bro. Edward Higham of the then Douglas Lodge No. 5348 for Cyril and Brian Park (members of County Palatine Lodge No. 2505, Southport) and presented to the Wigan Masonic Hall Committee at a meeting of Douglas Lodge on 8th September, 1947. The pillars were dedicated by W Bro. Revd. T. Barton. Incidentally Cyril Park became an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1955.

It was believed that the pillars, which are hollow, contained many archives from that era but on being dismantled after their removal by W Bro. Cyril Brindle, it was found that they contained only two Craft summonses, a Corinthian Chapter summons, one Crawford Chapter Rose Croix, a Provincial Grand Lodge (Western Division) summons for a meeting to be held on 25th June 1947, in the Queens Hall, Wigan. A Liverpool Diocesan Newsletter February, 1947, St. Catherine’s Church magazine, same date, and a poster entitled ‘New Roads to Adventure for a CMS exhibition giving some glimpses of post was life and work in India, China, Southern Sudan and Middle East. It was anticipated that they would also hold newspapers of the time but these were not present.

Before the re-dedication the pillars were again dismantled by Bro. Brindle at Bryn and a photographic record of this process was made and placed inside the pillars along with a considerable amount of material from the present day including archives from the original Douglas Lodge No. 5348.
Douglas Lodge was the last Lodge to hold a meeting at Tower buildings on 13th April 2004 and this is commemorated by a summons and menu card for the meeting, along with a copy of the talk given that day by W Bro. Fred Lomax, PrGStB entitled ‘Freemasonry in Wigan Town Centre’ along with a photograph of Tower buildings taken in 2004 and an account of the opening of the buildings in 1901. Sadly there are no longer any lodges meeting in the town centre, breaking a tradition which stood for two hundred and twenty years.

All the Lodges in the Bryn building were asked if they would like to contribute to items to be placed in the pillars and most did. Finally before the pillars were re-assembled, Coins of the Realm in 2004, i.e. £5.£2, £1,50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p with material from 1947, Archives of Douglas Lodge, Vigilance Lodge, Vigilance & Douglas Lodge, Coins of the Realm and the photographs taken on 29th October, 2006 are all in ‘BOAZ’ (with the terrestrial globe). All other items from the present day are archived in ‘JACHIN’ (with the celestial globe)

On Monday last two teams of Masonic golfers pitted their skills against one another for the Mike Wareing Trophy.

This is an annual event in memory of Mike Wareing who sadly died of cancer whilst still relatively young and for only the second time in six years Chorley were victorious.

The photograph shows Assistant Provincial Grand Master Eddie Caulfield presenting the trophy to Ken Shaw, Chairman of the Chorley Group.

The day raised £270 for Wigan Hospice partly through the generosity of the owner of Hart Common Golf Club, Peter Roberts, his staff and the players.

Traditions are well preserved in Prodesse Lodge Bro. No.8678 in Hindley. Bro.Neil Dunlop, a skilled master craftsman followed his Father’s footsteps in more ways than one, not only as a professional joiner but also as an enthusiastic Freemason. When Neil’s Father, W.Bro.Joseph Dunlop sadly died, Neil decided that he would make and donate two beautiful and ornately decorated columns in loving memory of his late Father.

These two columns now stand in all their glory in the Lodge room, facing the Master’s chair for all those who visit and regularly meet at Hindley to enjoy. Neil is now beginning to realise that he has started a new fashion in Masonic furniture.

The Rt. Worshipful Provincial Grand Master officially opened the new £190K extension to Bryn Masonic Hall on Sunday 5th March before a large number of guests.

The opening was followed by a service of dedication conducted by the The Rev Canon John Charles Sharples, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master.

The new Lounge and Bar facilities have more than doubled the previous space available for social occasions at the Hall.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice receives a further cheque from recent Hospices Charity Walk by Alf Short

On Friday 15th July, Eddie Caulfield, Asst.PGM for the Wigan & Leigh Group accompanied by the Group Chairmen, David Mills and Tony Bent presented cheques for £2701 to Stuart Liptrot, Chief Executive of Wigan & Leigh Hospice. They were accompanied by Alf himself, Vice Chairman of the Leigh Group, Malcolm Parr and Steve Lanson

This is only one of several cheques likely to be presented to the Hospice this year by the Freemasons of Wigan.

In the photograph are Stuart Liptrot Chief Executive of Wigan & Leigh Hospice, David Mills Wigan Group Chairman, Claire Simpson Ward Manager, Fred Lomax Communications Officer and George Shuttleworth Charity Steward, Lambert Head Lodge No.6387 in the garden of the Hospice.

Clifford Atherton Davies, celebrated his 60 year's as a Freemason on Friday 29th May at Pemberton Masonic Hall, Wigan. During the celebration ceremony The R.W.Provincial Grand Master, Brother Colin Penty Wright paid tribute to Clifford both as a a Freemason and as a very hard working member of his local community.

Clifford Atherton Davies was born on the 7th July, 1920 in St. Helens and was educated at St. Thomas's School, Ashton in Makerfield and at Ashton Grammar School. He joined the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of World War II and served for six years, some of it abroad. He returned to the U.K in 1945 as a Flight Engineer Instructor and after demobilisation he joined the family wholesale and retail fish merchants business. In 1957 he started his own business, selling out to the Ross Group ten years later. During this time he also took over the family confectionery business with his wife Margaret, retiring in 1972.

Not only was Clifford busy with his business affairs but also found time for his Freemasonry having been Initiated into Mesnes Lodge No. 5967 on the 16th April, 1945. A man of great energy he held various offices in his Lodge, eventually becoming its Secretary before he was Installed as its Worshipful Master, which he achieved on the 26th April, 1957. Shortly after this Clifford became involved with Masonic Charity and became his Lodge's, Charity Representative in 1959, later that year be became R.M.I.G. Festival Representative until 1966 and at the same time Secretary of the Wigan Group Social Committee of the R.M.I.G. 1966 Festival. Also during this same period he was Treasurer of his Lodge.

In 1964 he received his first Provincial appointment as PPrJGD and five years later he was promoted to PPrJGW. On 24th April, 1974 he was appointed to Grand Rank as PAGDC and that same year he joined Lathom Lodge No. 2229. In 1983 he was promoted to PJGD and the following year he became Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Another promotion followed with the rank of PSGD in 1985. Sadly, in 1989 he was forced to relinquish this post to take care of his wife Margaret who had become seriously ill. A sign of the regard in which Clifford is held is the fact that he is an Honorary Member of no less than twelve Lodges. In the Royal Arch he was exalted into Lindsey Chapter in 1958 becoming MEZ in 1972. In 1974 he was appointed PPrGSN and later that year he was a Founder Member and IPZ of Pemberton Chapter No. 4686. Grand Rank came in 1976 as PGStdB and in 1992 he was promoted to PAGSoj. He is a Past Grand Prefect in the Red Cross of Constantine.

In the Wigan Group, Clifford was also very busy as Secretary in 1968, Vice Chairman in 1971 and Chairman in 1981. During the 1981 RMBI Festival in which he acted as Chairman of the Group Representatives, the Wigan Group contributed the highest total in the Province of £259,799.00.

You might think that during those years Clifford would have little time for anything else yet remarkably he served his local community as a Justice of the Peace, for the County Borough of Wigan, from 1973, becoming Chairman of the Juvenile Panel from 1982 to 1985. He became Chairman of the Bench in 1987 retiring in 1990. He also served on the executive committee of the Central Council of Magistrates Courts Committee for England and Wales, Chairman, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's Advisory Committee for the selection and appointment of Magistrates for Leigh, Makerfield and Wigan from 1985 to 1990. He was a Founder member of the Forty Club in 1959, served as Secretary, Vice-Chairman and Chairman to date.

A family man, Clifford married his wife Margaret on the 5th October, 1945 and they have two daughters, Angela and Glenda, five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

The RW Provincial Grand Master said in his tribute to Clifford "There can seldom be many who have served their Country in War, served their Community in so many capacities and yet found time to serve Freemasonry so well and with such distinction, and that man is Clifford Atherton Davies." Clifford was presented with a 60 year certificate by the Provincial Grand Master, followed by a very well attended celebration festive board.

"Let's do something silly for summer" said three Brethren from Bryn Lodge No. 6553, Ashton-in-Makerfield, at a Festive Board last year. So they did, but it turned out to be something a bit more than silly when Barry Dickinson, David Brogan and David Ogden decided to go on a sponsored slim. The three, who admit to not being health freaks, eventually lost over five stone between them and raised money from Mason's here and abroad. Bryn Lodge have a very active 'junior' section which visited Prague, Czechoslovakia last year to meet up with Freemasons from that country and many sponsored their colleagues from England.

Unfortunately, due to business commitments none of the slimmers were able to attend Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley on Thursday 24th March when the Master of Bryn Lodge, Wayne Carder and Group Charity Steward, John Parrot presented a cheque for £2,000 to Judy Nix, Derian House Appeals Co-ordinator.

The Hospice receives very little money from the Government and needs to raise £1.4million annually to survive and as Judy said "Freemasons are among the regular supports of the Hospice and we are very grateful for this magnificent sum raised by the three members of Bryn Lodge".

John Parrot, Wigan Group Charity Steward, Judy Nix and Wayne Carder, Master of Bryn Lodge presenting the cheque in the grounds of the Hospice.

Masters of Lodges and 1st Principals of Chapters attended the Wigan and District Group Dinner at Bryn Masonic Hall on Thursday evening 17th February.

Ex. Companion Brian Jackson, Provincial Deputy Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch was the special guest for the evening, which was also attended by several present and past senior officers of the Group.

Prior to the Dinner senior officers of the Province held an hour long question and answer forum with the Masters and 1st. Principals, during which they were able to express their views concerning the Craft and the Royal Arch.

Brethren in deep conversation with Past Asst. Provincial Grand Master
the Rev. Canon John Sharples

Past Asst. Prov. Grand Master, Clifford Davies, Bert Ross, Past Gr. Chairman,
Ray Martland, Prov. Grand Almoner and Danny Jones, Group Vice Chairman
enjoy a light hearted moment before the dinner.

Wigan and Leigh group of Freemasons presented a cheque for £2,300 from their ‘National Grand Charity’ to Wigan and Leigh Hospice. This is part of £540,000 being donated this year to Hospices nationally, nearly £5m to Hospices over the last 20 years and over £22m to non-masonic charities over the same period.

Eddie Caulfield, Assistant Provincial Grand Master said “These donations are from The National Masonic Charity and are in addition to funds donated locally by lodges.” He added “For example, a recent sponsored walk for 12 Hospices in the North West raised £45,000. This money is yet to be distributed.”

Hospice Chief Executive Stuart Liptrot said, “We are thrilled to receive another terrific donation from the Masons who regularly support us.”

The photograph shows W.Bro. Eddie Caulfield presenting the cheque to Dr. Cliff Godby, Medical Director of the Hospice accompanied by W.Bro. David Mills, Wigan Group Chairman, Malcolm Parr, Leigh Group Vice Chairman, (2nd right) Stuart Liptrot, Hospice Chief Executive and Fred Lomax.

The first amalgamation in the Wigan Group took place before a capacity filled Lodge room on Monday 1st November at Bryn Masonic Hall, Ashton in Makerfield.

The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Brother Colin Penty Wright and his Provincial team presided at the Amalgamation of the Lodge of Freedom No. 5918 and Arrowhead Lodge No. 8500 to become he Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom No. 8500.

The mother Lodge, The Lodge of Freedom was first consecrated in 1944 and its daughter Lodge, Arrowhead in 1973. Both used to meet at Tower Buildings, Wigan
Until earlier this year when they both moved to Bryn to enable the amalgamation to take place.

Brethren and their wives gathered at Pemberton Masonic Hall on Saturday 30th November, 2004 for a celebration dinner to recognise the service given by W.Bro. John Charles Sharples, PSGD, PAsstGM to the Craft and Royal Arch Masonry and to the Wigan Group on his retirement as Assistant Provincial Grand Master.

The toast to Brother John was proposed by David Mills, Chairman of the Wigan & District Group, who presented holiday vouchers John and his wife Elsie. John responded in his inimitable style and had his audience in fits of laughter especially, at his ‘bishop’ jokes.

His retirement marks the end a period of eight years in office as APrGM in charge of the Wigan & District Group, a period which has seen some dramatic changes. Outside Freemasonry, John received the signal honour of having a new school named after him “The Canon John Sharples Church of England Primary School” which is to be built in New Springs, Wigan.

John has had a very extensive professional career in Education and his Masonic career is worthy of all the honours he has received. We all wish him a “Long and Happy Retirement”

The ancient Wigan Parish Church and Freemasonry in Wigan have a long association and this was cemented further at the Annual Church Service held on Sunday 10th October, 2004 when the Provincial Grand Master, presented a cheque to the Rector, Rev. R. Hutchinson for £2000 towards the purchase of a loop and sound system.

Hopefully this will be installed in the Church in time for the Christmas celebrations.

The money was made up of £1000 raised at the 50th Anniversary in Freemasonry of the Rev. John Charles Sharples, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master and £1000 from the West Lancashire Community Fund.

In their process of refurbishment funds are urgently needed and Wigan Freemason, W.Bro.Les Rudd asked for help and was delighted to receive from the Masonic Community Fund of West Lancs a cheque in the sum of £500 for Clowes Church.

(Left to Right) Norman Aspey, Church Treasurer, Kathleen Lord, Steward - W.Bro.Ray Martland, Provincial Almoner for West Lancs. Freemasons, Rev. Dr. Andrew Pratt and W.Bro.Les Rudd

Even on a wet, grey day in December you can’t dampen the spirits of the staff at the Wigan and Leigh Hospice or those who visit and support them in their efforts.

Wigan and District and Leigh Groups of Masonic Lodges - rivals on the football field join forces to present a cheque for £2300 from the Freemasons Grand Charity in their continued efforts to support this worthy cause.

Left to Right - Malcolm Parr - Leigh Group Vice Chairman, David Mills - Wigan and District Group Chairman, Irene Cieplak - Hospice Volunteer coordinater, Tony Bent - Leigh Group Chairman, Len Hart - Leigh Group Sec.

Extracts from address given by E.Comp Brian Anthony Jackson P.G.Swd.B., Dep. Grand. Superintendent