News from around the Province - Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire

On these pages you will find a selection of news from around the Province that have previously been reported on the main news pages.

Warrington hosts conference
Warrington Masonic Fellowship had the honour of hosting the 27th annual conference of the national association of Masonic Fellowships..........<more>

Provincial tie goes on sale
The new tie for the Province “sold like hot cakes” when it went on sale for the first time at the meeting of Provincial Grand Chapter.................<more>

New Provincial charity launched
The merger of the seven Provincial Charities became a reality when, on 1 April 2008, the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity took over responsibility....<more>

HAVING A BALL AT BLACKPOOL
The Winter Gardens, Blackpool was packed with Brethren and Ladies from across the Province for the 148th Grand Masonic Festival and Ball................<more>

Province has its own tie
The new official tie for the Province of West Lancashire was sported by Colin Penty Wright when he was the principal guest at the Warrington Group Dinner....<more>

George, 92, is Province’s oldest initiate
It was a very special initiation ceremony at Hope Street, Liverpool, when 92-year-old George Paterson was initiated into Compass Lodge No 7052...........<more>

£4,100 for ultrasound scanner appeal
Brethren and friends of the Wigan and Garston Group of Lodges supported WBro.Alan Grice of Queen’s Lodge 2681 in his efforts to raise funds.........<more>

The Liobian Masonic Association
Membership of the Liobian Masonic Association is restricted to fully paid up members of a Masonic Lodge recognised by.............<more>

Four new Assistant Provincial Grand Masters

Four new Assistant Provincial Grand Masters were invested at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackpool.

Stanley Oldfield will be responsible for Liverpool Trafalgar and Liverpool Wellington Groups while Howard Jones will be over the Lodges in the Bootle and Garston Groups. Frank Wilkinson is over the Lodges in the Leyland Group and the Chorley and District Group while Philip Gardner is the new Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Furness and South Lakeland and Lancaster and District Groups.

Stanley Oldfield was initiated into Pemberton Lodge in 1971 and served as WM in 1984. His first Provincial appointment came in 1990 when he was a Provincial Grand Steward before becoming Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1994. From 2001 to 2004 he served as Wigan Group Chairman. He was appointed to the rank of PAGDC in 1997 and promoted to PJGD in 2005.

He is also a member of Quingenti Lodge and Lathom Lodge. Stanley was exalted into Corinthian Chapter in 1973 and was First Principal in 1988. His first Provincial appointment in the Royal Arch was as Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1992 and this was followed by promotion to PPrGSN in 1995. From 2004 until it was announced that he was to become an Assistant Provincial Grand Master he served as Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals. A retired police officer, he was appointed to the rank of PGStdB in 1997 and promoted to PAGSoj in 2006.

Howard Jones has had a long association with charities in the Province. He was initiated into King’s Lodge in 1972 and served as WM in 1983 and again in 1995. He has also been a member of the Lodge of Peace and Unity (of which he was WM in 2008), Festival Lodge and Lathom Lodge. In 1991 he was appointed Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works and was Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1996.

He was appointed as a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2000. Exalted into King’s Chapter in 1981, he has also been a member of Vale Chapter (service as First Principal in 2004), the Chapter of Perseverance (of which he served as First Principal in 2000) and Holy Royal Architect Chapter. A retired bank manager, Howard was appointed to the rank of PPrGSN in 2006.

Frank Wilkinson served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Chorley and District Group of Lodges until his appointment as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. He was initiated in Anderton Lodge in 1983 and served as Worshipful Master in 1992. A founder of Dona Conferentes Lodge, Frank has also been a member of Horwich Lodge, Quingenti Lodge, Lathom Lodge, Phoenix Lodge of Installed Masters and Coronation Lodge of Installed Masters.

He was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward in 1994 and was promoted to the rank of PPrGSuptWks in 1998. He served as Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1999 before receiving the rank of PAGDC in 2003. Frank was exalted into Horwich Chapter in 1983 and was First Principal in 1999. In 2003 he was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward and was promoted to PPrGSN in 2006. Frank, who is a photographic equipment retailer, was appointed PGStdB in 2008.

Legal executive Philip Gardner was initiated into Poulton Hall Lodge in 1982 serving as Worshipful Master 10 years later. He has also been WM of Quingenti Lodge (1997) and Poulton le Sands Lodge (2002). He is also a member of Plantagenet Lodge of Installed Masters and Lathom Lodge. In 1995 he was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward and was promoted to the rank of PPrJGW in 1999.

He became a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2003. Exalted into Heysham Chapter in 1985, he served as First Principal in 1998. He is also a member of Vale Chapter. Philip’s first Royal Arch promotion was in 1999 when he was made a PPrPGSoj which was followed by being appointed PPrGSN in 2007. He was made a PGStdB in 2007. Philip has served the Lancaster Group as Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman.

New Assistants

The four new Assistant Provincial Grand Masters (left to right): Frank Wilkinson, Stanley Oldfield, Philip Gardner and Howard Jones.

Warrington Masonic Fellowship had the honour of hosting the 27th annual conference of the national association of Masonic Fellowships.

In all 63 delegates representing Masonic Fellowships from all parts of the country attended the meeting in Warrington Masonic Hall.

Before the business session started there was a carvery lunch with a glass of wine.

The guests were greeted by Ian Boswell, chairman of the Warrington Group of Lodges, who gave a summary of the origins of Masonic Fellowships.

During an open forum delegates gave their views on different aspects ofr the Fellowships, mainly how to generate interest and to encourage more people to join.

Masonic Fellowships are organisations to enhance the cultural and social life of Freemasons who have retired, their wives or partners, retired wives of working Brethren or widows of deceased Brethren.

Stanley Churm, president of the Warrington Fellowship, thanked the delegates for their attendance and wishes them a safe journey home.

The 28th annual conference will be hosted next year by Audenshaw Masonic Fellowship.

David Brookes and Arthur Walton of the Warrington Masonic Fellowship chat to David Horth (right) who is chairman of the Audenshaw Masonic Fellowship which will host next year's event.

The new tie for the Province “sold like hot cakes” when it went on sale for the first time at the meeting of Provincial Grand Chapter.

The “Provincial Office” in the Guildhall was kept busy as Royal Arch members took the first opportunity to buy and wear the tie. The tie has a black background, maroon and pale blue stripes (to represent Craft and Chapter colours) a red rose and the square and compasses in gold. It was designed by Les Ashcroft, a member of the True Light Lodge of Friendship No 2963.

The tie was on sale in two versions, a polyester costing £9 and a silk one at £15.

Purchasers were all given guidance on when the tie can be worn. It may be worn at any meeting of a Lodge or Chapter within the Province of West Lancashire and at the meetings of Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter of West Lancashire.

The tie may be worn in public but must not be worn at any Masonic meeting outside the Province of West Lancashire. The tie must not be worn at meetings of Grand Lodge or Supreme Grand Chapter.

The tie will be on sale again at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge at Blackpool on May 12. Arrangements are being made for Groups throughout the Province to order supplies of the tie for their members.

Dave Sweeney and Steve Nickson sell a tie to David Randerson, Vice Chairman of the South Fylde Group.

John and Pat Russell made a memorable trip to London 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 John as one of only 12 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 said that though there was about 300 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.

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 10 of them present and due to the fact that John was a boy seaman of 17 years of age when serving with the Free French. Now at the age of 81 he is the youngest of the veterans, most of whom are well into their 80s.

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?”

The merger of the seven Provincial Charities became a reality when, on 1 April 2008, the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity took over responsibility for handling the collection and dispersal of charitable funds in the Craft and Royal Arch Province of West Lancashire.

The formation of the charity is the second major phase of the new Care structure and will result in it being the largest Masonic charity outside the Grand Charities. It will be distributing around £750,000 each year to those in need.

Although the charity itself is new, its history will go back to 1850 when the first of the Provincial charities, The West Lancashire Masonic Educational Trust, was created, and it will continue the fine tradition of that charity and the other charities which have served the Province so well.

The charity is fortunate to retain the involvement of volunteers from all the charities in handling applications for financial assistance and has been strengthened by the addition of the Care Office team at Hope Street, thereby enabling it to provide an all-round service.

More information on the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity can be found on its website www.westlancscharity.org.uk

The Winter Gardens, Blackpool was packed with Brethren and Ladies from across the Province for the 148th Grand Masonic Festival and Ball. All proceeds from the evening will be distributed between The West Lancashire Masonic Charities and the 2010 Festival.

A sumptuous dinner was enjoyed by all in The Ballroom, followed by dancing in the beautiful Spanish Hall.

During dinner the address was given by Festival Chairman Antonis Georges who paid tribute to the huge efforts of the Festival Organising Committee and their partners. This was mentioned further in a following address by the Provincial Grand Master who congratulated the outgoing Honorary Secretary Alex Sharp and his wife Marjorie. The Provincial Grand Master presented Alex and Marjorie with a retirement gift of a Wall Clock as a token of esteem for 10 years of commitment towards this important Masonic event.

Later, in The Spanish Hall everyone joined in the Grand March led by the Provincial Grand Master and Mrs Wright.

Alex and Marjorie Sharp – retiring Honorary Secretary of the Festival following the presentation.

It was a chance conversation between author and Masonic historian the Rev VWBro Neville Barker Cryer and WBro.Fred Lomax, who is now WM of the Manchester Lodge for Masonic Research No 5502 which led to a highly successful evening when more than 130 Masons witnessed the officers of Lodge of Faith No 484 present a excellent First Degree ceremony with commentary provided by members of the Wigan District Association for Masonic Research.

This type of demonstration with commentaries is aimed at giving a better understanding of our ceremonies and it has always been Neville’s wish that they should benefit those who have recently joined the Craft. It was with his sanction that the demonstration took place before a packed lodge room at Bryn Masonic Hall.

Five commentators strategically placed around the room paused the proceedings at various stages to give an explanation of the ceremony as it unfolded.

Numerous Entered Apprentices, Fellowcrafts and Master Masons, not only from the Wigan Group, but also from Leigh, Bolton, Liverpool, Southport and even Cheshire attended the event which was fully supported by the Wigan Group.

Similar events, for the Second and Third Degree ceremonies are planned for the future.

David Mills, Chairman of the Group said: “It was a brilliant occasion, which far exceeded my wildest dreams when we started the whole idea. The WM was exceptionally good, particularly as he himself has only been in the Craft for a relatively short time.

I was also delighted for our Mentors, who I am sure will have received a boost to their work and it will make people realize what can be achieved if we all pull together.”

The new official tie for the Province of West Lancashire was sported by Colin Penty Wright when he was the principal guest at the Warrington Group Dinner.

It was appropriate that the Provincial Grand Master wore the tie for the first time in Warrington as it had been designed by Les Ashcroft, a member of the True Light Lodge of Friendship No 2963 who was at the dinner.

The Provincial Grand Master told more than 100 members of the Group at the dinner that West Lancashire was one of the few Provinces which did not have its own tie. He thanked Les Ashcroft for his skill in designing the tie and also negotiating for its production. Les, he said, had provided several designs and the Provincial Cabinet had made the final selection.

The Provincial Grand Master said the tie can be worn at Craft and Chapter meetings within the Province of West Lancashire but should not be worn when visiting other Provinces. “I hope the tie will be worn by everyone in the Province,” said the Provincial Grand Master.

The tie will go on sale for the first time at the meeting of Provincial Grand Chapter on 16 April at Preston. A decision has yet to be made on how the ties will be sold after that meeting.

There will be two versions of the tie, a woven polyester costing under £10 and a woven silk version which will sell for under £15.

Profits from the sale of the ties will initially go to the 2010 Festival and after that to the new Provincial charity fund.

The Provincial Grand Master wore the new Provincial tie
at the Warrington Group Dinner.

Colin Penty Wright thanks Les Ashcroft for his work
in designing the new Provincial tie.

It was a very special initiation ceremony at Hope Street, Liverpool, when 92-year-old George Paterson was initiated into Compass Lodge No 7052.

Information available makes him the oldest Entered Apprentice in the history of the Province of West Lancashire. Enquiries to Grand Lodge have been made and although they cannot say with complete certainty, they believe that he may well be the oldest in UK history.

This story began in 1938 when George was invited into Freemasonry by a friend, but unfortunately his friend died suddenly, before George could be recommended. Due to the fact that Freemasonry was less open at that time, he was left not knowing who to contact and so he was never able to join, something he has regretted over the years.

George is an amazing character who has led a very interesting life. While serving with the British army during the Second World War, he was a military weapons designer and was appointed to a position with the impressive title of “Technical advisor to the director of carriages of guns NATO”.

He then held various posts running Royal Army Ordinance Corps factories for the Ministry of Defence, finally heading up Fazakerley Engineering in Liverpool, where he manufactured rifles for the British army.

George was coaxed out of retirement in 1973 when he was asked by the president of Korea to go to Seoul and design and supervise the construction of the Kia motor plant which was completed in 1976. He finally took a well deserved retirement in 1979.

George spent a happy retirement with his late wife Iris, who in her younger days had been a mezzo soprano at Covent Garden and who later became a singer with the George Melachrino Orchestra. He spent many an enjoyable hour making things on his lathe, at his home Hightown, Merseyside which he does to this day.

The story may have ended here, but as luck would have it George struck up a friendship with his neighbour Stephen Faulkner. George discovered that Stephen was a member of the fraternity and told him his story and this led to George finally being initiated into Freemasonry, 70 years after first being invited to join.

George is still a very active and lively character and there is no doubt that in the future the Lodge can look forward to him becoming WM when he is 100.

Brethren and friends of the Wigan and Garston Group of Lodges supported WBro.Alan Grice of Queen’s Lodge 2681 in his efforts to raise funds towards the cost of an ultrasound scanner for the Cancer Breast Care Unit at the Wigan Royal Infirmary.

The events supported included an Old Time Music Hall and a Burns’ Night which were both held at Pemberton Masonic Hall.

Donations were also received from Brethren as a result of visits by Alan to Lodges across the Province of West Lancashire.

The West Lancashire Community Fund also supported Alan’s efforts by matching his total which in turn raised the magnificent sum of £4,132.29 which was presented to Mr RLN Harland, a Consultant breast cancer surgeon at the Thomas Linacre Centre.

Alan thanks all those who attended the functions including the local businesses who contributed so generously in donating prizes for the raffles.

Pictured at the cheque presentation are breast cancer surgeon Mr RLN Harland, Alan Grice, Sister Christine Roberts and David Mills, Chairman of the Wigan Group of Lodges.

Jack Milner has a great family - his mother works for BAe Systems, his dad is a communications engineer, and he has a sister Jennifer. They are a great family and an inspiration to many as to how families should be. Jack attends Penwortham Priory Sports and Technology College, and his favourite subject is technology. At the moment, when he leaves formal education he wants to go into graphic design, and he has the capability judging by his performance so far. He’s not much bothered about sport, but he enjoys the company of a group of good friends, and he likes to go fishing now and again.

Jack Milner has a problem, though. He suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which means that he needs a wheelchair to get around. Some time ago it became apparent that he needed a new chair as he was rapidly outgrowing the one he had, and his parents John and Pam set about the process of evaluating what Jack needed. Their research identified the ideal vehicle for Jack.

That vehicle was the ‘Quantum 600’ – the cost, including vital special seating so that Jack could stretch out whilst in the chair, was £9,385. This was a substantial amount, but being the people they are, Jack’s parents launched an appeal to raise the necessary funds. The fund had raised part of the finance, but it was clear that it would be some time before the final cost was realised.

Enter the Freemasons in the form of the Almoner of the Lodge of Good Fellowship No 5901 in Preston. Jack’s grandfather has been a member of the Lodge for many years, but he had become ill and was in hospital, so the Almoner had gone to visit him. At the bedside the Almoner got into a conversation with the grandfather’s daughter, Jack’s mum, and discovered that she had a son who needed a new wheelchair.

It was logical that the Freemasons provide assistance if possible. The Almoner explored several channels but was initially unable to source the necessary funding. However, being persistent, and working along with his contacts within Freemasonry, his persistence eventually paid off when he contacted the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Trust who, to his delight, was able to provide the full balance of the cost of the chair for Jack. In the way people his age do with technology, Jack soon familiarised himself with the chair, and now he is fully mobile in it. The chair has an added advantage for Jack because it can be adjusted into almost any position, and since Jack cannot move around that is important to avoid pressure on any sensitive areas.

Jack’s change of chair will have a knock-on effect for a little girl in Tanzania. He is sending the chair he has grown out of to her to replace her current transport – a white plastic garden chair with added wheels!

The Milners’ search has not ended though – Jack’s transport is a very complex machine and although his folks are competent enough to see what needs to be done; it will need some expensive specialist maintenance in the future. The Lodge of Good Fellowship has undertaken to review Jack’s needs with a view to possibly providing further financial assistance in the future.

So the search for finance goes on, but whatever life holds for Jack, he will know that he could not be part of a better family than the Milners.

A charity which provides support for children and young people following the loss of a loved one has been given a financial boost by Freemasons.

The Butterflies Project is part of the Listening Ear charity which was set up in 1999. It is based at the St Nicholas Centre, in Church Road, Halewood, Liverpool, where volunteers run the charity without any charge to the users and is open to all.

The Butterflies Project provides counselling support for children and young people following bereavement or loss. It helps them to come to terms with the loss of a loved one, often a parent following death. It also gives help to youngsters following the separation or divorce of their parents.

WBro David Brown, of the Prince of Architects Lodge No 4188, first came into contact with the Butterflies Project when his son-in-law died in October 2004. He left a widow and two young children who then seven and five. The counselling by the Butterflies team consisted of twice weekly sessions for six weeks of one hour each on a one-to-one basis There are also twice yearly get-togethers (which still continue) at no cost to the family. These sessions, with such friendly and competent volunteers, helped David’s grandchildren come to terms with their loss and although they still miss their father, they can now concentrate on remembering the good times.

WBro Brown recommends that similarly affected children be introduced to the Butterflies Project because of the positive results the volunteers have had on his grandchildren. However, money is required for maintenance of the building, heat and light and general administration.

WBro. Brown was delighted when the members of the Prince of Architects Lodge agreed to make a generous donation towards these costs. Mrs Tracy Allen, the Butterflies Co-ordinator, was pleased to receive the cheque in the presence of David’s two grandchildren. She said that the money will be used to furnish a new room especially for teenagers, where the requirement is different to the rooms used for young children. The demand for such a facility has doubled in recent months.

WBro David Brown presents the cheque from the Prince of Architects Lodge to Mrs Tracy Allen, the Butterflies Project Co-ordinator.

David Brown's grandchildren, Oliver (aged 10) and eight-year-old Amelia are pictured with Tracy Allen

Membership of the Liobian Masonic Association is restricted to fully paid up members of a Masonic Lodge recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England and have attended the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, Mount Street, Liverpool, as a pupil or master, for a period of more than one term, or is a graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

The formation of the Association began in 1970, when Bro Cyril McGibbon, a former pupil and Governor of the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, was appointed Senior Warden of the Province of West Lancashire. To honour this preferment, the late Bro Cyril James and the late Bro Reg Brooks arranged a dinner at the old Racquet Club, Liverpool, in 1971, which was attended by 21 Masons, who were all Liobians. It was agreed that another dinner should be held and efforts made to contact further former pupils of the school. In the event, a second dinner was held in 1972, when other Liobians had been traced, including the late Bro Percy A Shaw and the late Bro R Trevor Evans. It was at this function that it was decided to form the Liobian Masonic Association.

The objects of the Association are to afford facilities for meeting one another, for the entertainment of our ladies and ourselves. This is usually achieved by means of an annual dinner and a ladies’ function. If you wish to become a member of the Liobian Masonic Association please contact the Registrar: Bro. David Anderton, 15 Childwall Park Avenue, Liverpool, L16 0JE or e-mail da@freerapid.net