How to find us

The month of November has been a most difficult month for the Hosker family, especially for my wife Julie. I am pleased to report that Julie’s operation went well and that she is now awaiting further significant treatment. Both of us have  been greatly comforted by the many beautiful flowers sent and by the very considerable number of letters, cards, e-mails and telephone calls received. We thank you all most sincerely for thinking of us and supporting us at this demanding time.

It was, of course, necessary to curtail my Masonic and non-Masonic activities but even then, I regret that my mind was not always completely focussed as it should have been. I apologize for my shortcomings.

The number of amalgamations of lodges has been reducing year by year and in this Masonic season there are just four. On 16 November, I was pleased to officiate at the amalgamtion of three lodges, namely Queen’s Lodge, Temperance Lodge and Uranus Lodge, and they united together into the South Liverpool Lodge No 2681. It was a happy occasion and the three amalgamating lodges, with nearly 300 years of service to Freemasonry between them, can look back with pride and pleasure on their respective histories and their respective legacies. I invited the Brethren of the amalgamated lodge to be proud of the past, to enjoy the present and to be confident of the future.

I greatly enjoyed my visit to Quingenti Lodge No 8516 on 23 November. This is the lodge which is populated by those Brethren who are and have been acting Stewards of the Province. I was able to use my visit to salute and thank the lodge and its members for all their good work over the years in running and managing the banquets at Provincial Grand Lodge. On 28 July 2008, when I was invested as Provincial Grand Master, the Lodge looked after the banquet, which, thanks to them, was hugely successful. I have realised that since July 2008, the lodge has already been involved in three more Provincial Grand Lodges.

During November, I visited Westhoughton Chapter No 4215, being the chapter in which Alan Byers is a member. Alan retired as a Royal Arch Assistant earlier this year after many years of wonderful service to Freemasonry. As a Freemason he is, in my opinion, simply one of the best. I also visited Warrington Concord Lodge No 1250, being the lodge in which Barry Jameson is a member. Barry is my Provincial Senior Grand Warden and he has become a very popular and successful Warden of the Province.

In May 2010, Barry Jameson has agreed to take over as the Provincial Charity Steward, in succession to Stuart Thornber. Stuart continues to be a tireless and dedicated leader and Festival Chairman, but when he steps down in May 2010, it is important that the Province returns to a more broadly based approach to charitable support and giving. Festivals for national charities are demanding and, in many ways, exhausting, and after five years, we need to turn and look towards our own charities, especially the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity. Our own charity has had to survive for five years whilst funds are channelled and directed into the 2010 Festival.

I continue to be very ably assisted and supported by my Deputies, my Assistants, my Provincial Grand Secretary, my Directors of Ceremonies, and by so many others. Furthermore, the Group Chairmen and the Hall Chairmen continue to discharge their considerable workload with much benefit to our Province. I thank them all for what they have done and continue to do. I have always believed in a team approach where we share the work, and November has certainly confirmed to me the importance of that structure

Peter Hosker - Provincial Grand Master

Peter Hosker with Barry Jameson who “has become a very popular and successful” Senior Warden of the Province and is to become Provincial Charity Steward in 2010.

Peter Hosker