Festival total tops £5,418,000
The brethren of the Province of West Lancashire have been “astonishingly generous” in raising £5,418,004 for the Masonic Samaritan Fund.
The final total for the 2010 Festival was announced by Richard Douglas, Chief Executive of the Masonic Samaritan Fund at a special meeting of the Province in the Guild Hall, Preston.
The Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master, Bro Geoffrey Peter Lowndes, said the brethren of the Province had been “astonishingly generous” in their support for the Festival.
The President of The Masonic Samaritan Fund, VWBro Hugh William James Stubbs, described the total as “fantastic”.
Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker said raising the money for the Festival was Freemasonry at “its very best”.
A special edition of the West Lancashire Freemason is being printed containing more stories and photographs from the 2010 Festival Weekend of Celebrations. The magazine will be posted as soon as possible to all of West Lancashire’s Freemasons. Following its publication more stories and photographs will appear on the website.
Peter Hosker presents the cheque for £5,418,004 to Hugh Stubbs at the meeting in the Guild Hall.
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PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS
Ladies add ‘more colour and complexion’ to 2010 meeting
In his opening remarks to the special meeting for the 2010 Festival in the Guild Hall, Preston, Provincial Grand Master and Festival President Peter Hosker said; “I welcome you all to Provincial Grand Lodge as we come together to celebrate our 2010 Festival for the Masonic Samaritan Fund. In particular, may I say how pleasing it is to have our ladies in attendance today, adding even more colour and complexion to our meeting.
“Before entering, I have already opened Provincial Grand Lodge in a separate room, in conjunction with a quorum of members of my Provincial Team. For the sake of regularity, there were also witnesses in attendance from the Chorley and District Group who are today hosting this occasion. I can report that we have duly undertaken the necessary business of the Province and such business will be properly recorded in the Provincial Minutes of this meeting. In addition to the 2010 Festival, I will invest my acting Provincial Officers for the year, together with the investiture of some five Brethren who are to receive the highest Provincial Rank that I can confer.
“ Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren, since our last meeting in October 2009, many of our colleagues both in Grand Rank and Provincial Grand Rank have departed this life and been called to higher service. The list includes a very distinguished leader and good friend of this Province namely VWBro Eddie Houghton, past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, who died last Monday. Our thoughts go to the families and friends of those we have lost and I invite you to stand with me for a moment in memory, respect and tribute to departed merit.”
Peter then welcomed the special guests at the meeting.
Peter said: “MW Pro Grand Master Bro Peter Geoffrey Lowndes, may I welcome you once again to the Province of West Lancashire. You do us honour by your presence and I trust that you will enjoy your visit. I also welcome Bro Hugh Stubbs, the President and Chairman of the Board of Management of the Masonic Samaritan Fund, the Chief Executive of the Fund Mr Richard Douglas, and the many members of the Board of Management of the Fund.”
The Provincial Grand Master then delivered an explanation of the Province’s group system and announced the procession of banners.
Each of the 24 groups in the Province was represented by a banner which was carried in by a representative of the group who was accompanied by his group chairman.
Once the banners were in place the Provincial Grand Master said: “Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren, only two weeks ago at Grand Lodge, certain distinguished brethren of our Province were most deservedly appointed to or promoted in Grand Rank.
“Appointed Grand Orator, Bro Kai Hughes; appointed PJGD, Bro Jonathan Clipsham
and appointed to PAGDC: Bros David Arrowsmith; John Dutchman-Smith; David Fairclough; Michael Goodwin; Peter Greathead; Ian Higham; Derek Hunt; Peter Taylor and Stephen Walls.
“Promoted to the rank of PJGD: Bros Alan Byers; Paul Shepherd and Stuart Thornber.
“We thank them for the work which has resulted in their preferment and congratulate them on their new ranks.
“I now wish to invest those Brethren whom I have appointed to acting Provincial Grand Rank for the ensuing year. I hope that my acting Provincial Officers will take the opportunity of being as active as possible during their year of office. I also wish to invest those five Brethren whom I have promoted to PPrSGW. The rank of PPrSGW is the most senior Provincial rank and very few such ranks are awarded each year and then only to Brethren who have given outstanding service. Those who have been awarded a past Provincial rank will be honoured at our November meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge.”
A section of the audience at the special 2010 Festival Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire – including many ladies.
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Fund’s 444 grants to Province
Hugh Stubbs, President of the Masonic Samaritan Fund praised the “fantastic” total raised by the Festival and said that every Freemason in the Province could feel very proud of the contribution made to the total.
After thanking all the people who had headed the Festival appeal, Hugh went on to outline some of the work of the fund.
He said that since the fund was established a total of 444 grants had been approved for the Province of West Lancashire. The MSF has evolved in keeping with the perceived needs of beneficiaries. In 2005 it predominantly funded medical treatment but now supports dental and respite care. More recently it had assumed responsibility for mobility aids and home adaptations.
He envisaged that there would be a further impact because of the recession on health and social care provision with budgets being cut across health authorities. This means that MSF expects an increase in demand for its support which it is ready and willing to meet.
Hugh went on to give an outline of some recent case studies.
Although the need for respite is usually associated with those who are senior in years the Fund has provided support to younger applicants. Kevin is the 42-year-old son of a Freemason. The MSF made a grant to Kevin so that he could attend the Calvert Trust facility in the Kielder Forest. The grant he received from the Fund gave him, and his parents, a much needed break that they could not afford even with a contribution from the local authority. As he said in his thank you letter “I am not ready to go into an elderly care home just yet, as our local services would have me do.”
Julie, the wife of a Derbyshire Mason, was diagnosed with leukaemia and in need of a bone marrow transplant. Her local health authority refused to pay for the treatment despite a strong case put forward by her consultant. Had she lived 10 miles away, within a different local health authority her treatment would have been funded. An application to the MSF was quickly approved and funds were agreed to cover all aspects of her treatment. After promising early progress sadly the treatment was unsuccessful and Julie passed away this time last year. Her daughter wrote a letter of thanks saying that because of the generosity of the Fund all the family had had to think about was mum.
At the age of 16, Rhys, the son of a Mason, suffered a catastrophic brain injury. Since his accident he has remained in hospital, and more recently a Leonard Cheshire home. His family were unable to take him out as their car could not accommodate his specialist wheelchair. A grant from the MSF helped to fund the adaptation of a motor vehicle to cater for his specific needs. Rhys was able to return home, briefly, for the first time in order to celebrate his 18th birthday. The MSF is now working in conjunction with the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys to adapt the family home so that Rhys can be cared for at home.
MSF Trustees who attended the 2010 Festival were: James Bartlett, Owen Davidson, Garth Ezekiel, Simon Fellerman, Katharine Fender, Eric Heaviside, David Nunn, Graham Sisson, Chris Williams and David Woodings Another trustee.
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‘Pride, determination and generosity’
Provincial Grand Master and 2010 Festival President Peter Hosker spoke of the Province’s “pride, determination and generosity” when responding to the address made to the special meeting by The Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master Peter Geoffrey Lowndes.
The Pro Grand Master said members of the Province had excelled themselves in raising such a massive total in such difficult economic times.
In his response Peter Hosker said: “MW Pro Grand Master, thank you for your address and for your kind comments in respect of my Province. Indeed, this Province feels sure that it played a significant role in your elevation to the position of Pro Grand Master. As Deputy Grand Master, you came to Blackpool on 28 July 2008 when you invested me as Provincial Grand Master for West Lancashire, being the largest and best Province under UGLE. The excellence and popularity of your visit clearly did not escape the all seeing eye of the MW The Grand Master, because, shortly thereafter, he appointed you as the Pro Grand Master. Sir, I pledge you our support in all your endeavours and I sincerely thank you for honouring us today with your attendance.
“VW Bro Hugh Stubbs, I thank you also for addressing us in your capacity as the President of the Masonic Samaritan Fund and for giving us a sketch of the very important work that you do. Your generous comments in respect of the Festival Chairman Stuart Thornber, the Secretary Geoffrey Saul, the Treasurer John Dutchman-Smith and the large team of Stewards who have worked so long and so hard since 2005 are much appreciated. May I say that it is pleasing that you and so many of your Board of Management and their ladies have joined us this weekend to celebrate our Festival. It is also delightful that Richard Douglas, the Chief Executive of the Samaritan Fund, has joined us for the weekend, and we thank him for his unfailing help and guidance to us throughout the course of the Festival. Bro Hugh, I am sure that you have come to recognise that this Province is well known for its pride, determination and generosity and, that once again, we have used those attributes to the full in undertaking and completing this Festival. This is Freemasonry in the Province of West Lancashire at its very best, and every member of the Province is entitled to rejoice and celebrate the wonderful total of £5,418,004.
“Last night, at our pre-Festival Dinner, I was able to deliver my personal tribute to Stuart Thornber, the Festival Chairman, to his officers and to his team of Stewards, all of whom have worked diligently and tirelessly throughout the Festival. Although these are the principal players, there have also been so many other Brethren who have quietly worked away in their lodges and chapters to help and support the fund-raising. Many of them are here today. Thank you very much indeed, I salute and congratulate you all.
“And it is especially satisfying to have the ladies with us this weekend because, ladies, we could not have done what we have done in Freemasonry without your help and encouragement, and this certainly extends to the work and success of the 2010 Festival. Thank you most sincerely for your gracious and generous support.
“The Province is also delighted to welcome the many distinguished Brethren from other Provinces and their ladies who have been able to join our celebrations. Thank you for coming. And in particular the Province is truly grateful to those neighbouring Provinces who have generously supported our Festival.
“There are so many ‘thank yous’ at such a joyous event as this, but an endless list can sometimes come to sound less than sincere, so, briefly, I express my gratitude and appreciation to Frank Wilkinson, Barry Jameson and their Festival organising Committee; to my Provincial Secretary and Director of Ceremonies and their teams for their good work today and throughout the weekend; to John Robson, Chairman of the Chorley group, his Captain of Stewards Bernard Davenport and his team for their careful organisation of the day and to Quingenti Lodge for their administration of the luncheon for the designates. We are so fortunate to have such assistance and we thank them all.
“There is one very important person missing from my expresssions of appreciation and thanks. That person is my predecessor Past Provincial Grand Master, Colin Wright. It was he who launched the Festival in 2005 and it was he who was its enthusiastic and hard-working President for three years until 2008. In that year, when I became Provincial Grand Master, I inherited his legacy which included the Presidency of this Festival. Today, I especially wish to share with him all the joys, celebrations and expressions of enthusiastic approval in respect of our Festival.
“MW Pro Grand Master, we have for the last five energetic years been focused, to good effect we believe, on our work for this Festival. We have been proud and pleased to carry out the duty of supporting one of our great national charities. However, you will no doubt forgive us, if we now turn our attention for a time to other important duties, both charitable and practical, within our Province. In particular, we wish to revisit the needs of our own very important West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, which has understandably been somewhat neglected over the past five years and is justified in expecting more of our attention. We also wish to further develop my important strategies in respect of recruitment, retention and mentoring, and the future of our Masonic Halls for whom the Province is to provide an appeal structure.
“In these directions, I am determined to grow and strengthen Freemasonry in this Province, so that we continue to be a force for good in society and so that we can meet the challenges that will undoubtedly face us in the years ahead. But today, I am particularly enjoying the great privilege of being Provincial Grand Master for this wonderful Province of West Lancashire at the culmination of our 2010 Festival, and in so doing, confirming what we do best: thinking of those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”
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Colour and pageantry
There was a spectacular splash of colour and pageantry when banners representing all the groups in the Province of West Lancashire were carried into the special 2010 Festival meeting in the Guild Hall, Preston, by a Master Mason. They were accompanied by their group chairman.
The banners were from individual lodges within each group, with the exception of the Warrington Group which has a Group Banner.
Listed below are the names of the banner bearer, the name of the lodge whose banner was used and the name of the group chairman.
Furness: Bro John Stephenson, Thurston Lodge No 2525, HR Saunders.
Lancaster: Bro Mark Oliver, Lune Lodge No 4724, JH Wilson.
North Fylde: Bro Alan Barnes, Spartan Lodge No 8048, J Coates.
Blackpool: Bro Mark Brown, St John’s Lodge No 2825, J Robertson.
South Fylde: Bro Mark Mottoshed, Ansdell Lodge No 3607, D Randerson.
Preston: Bro Neil Fitzgerald, Ribbleton Lodge No 6386, I Greenwood
Leyland: Bro Derek Sherliker, Carnarvon Lodge No 2376, P Hadfield.
Chorley: Bro Don Vinten, Wilderswood Lodge No 5932, J Robson
Southport: Bro Greg Clements, Freshfield Lodge No 8165, B Henshaw.
Ormskirk: Bro David Paton, St John’s Lodge No 673, PH Gunning.
Wigan: Bro James Moore, Lodge of Faith No 484, M Taylor.
Leigh: Bro Alf Hayes, Lodge of Valour No 4322, A Bent
South Eastern: Bro Craig Scott, Peel Moat Lodge No 7633, M Adams.
Eccles: Bro Alan Peak, Egerton Lodge No 2216, S Shea.
St Helens: Bro Peter Whalley, Prescot Lodge No 5470, L Gornall
Bootle: Bro Mark Hilton, Litherland Lodge No 3676, I Gee.
Gladstone: Bro Daniel Darwin, Coronation Lodge No 2923, P Shepherd.
Sandon: Bro Stephen Lyon, Anfield Lodge No 2215, J Wreyford.
Trafalgar: Bro Michael Tattersall, Royal Victoria Lodge No 1013, M Winterbottom.
Wellington: Bro David Evans, Neptune Lodge No 1264, J Roberts.
Warrington: Bro Ricardo Stephen, Group Banner, I Boswell.
Woolton: Bro John Wilson, Mariners’ Lodge No 249, D Hawkes.
Garston: Bro Alan Cartwright, Lodge of Harmony No 220, S Ford.
Widnes: Bro David Cooke, Widnes and Knowsley Lodge No 3581, D Redhead.
Some of the lodge banners which were paraded into the meeting.
Pictured above and below are the chairmen of the 24 groups in the Province who entered the special meeting with the banner representing their group.
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Julie Hosker, wife of Provincial Grand Master Peter, has written the following article to add a female perspective on the 2010 celebrations.
A wonderful spectacle
I have been involved with the 2010 Festival for five years in various ways and I was therefore very pleased to be invited to share the Festival celebrations with Peter and the brethren of the Province of West Lancashire.
The Friday night was very much to my liking, particularly as I first heard the Houghton Weavers so many years ago and yet their music is timeless, bringing out happy memories for us all here in Lancashire. Also, our friends from London joined in the singing with gusto even though some thought that Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls were ‘Meat’ Balls.
I did not know what to expect on the Saturday at Provincial Grand Lodge but I was most impressed. The ceremonial part of the Provincial meeting was good to watch and added much to the occasion. I can imagine that it was special for those who were invested at the meeting, especially as they were watched and supported by their ladies.
The addresses were interesting and informative and put the 2010 Festival into context.
Overall, my memory is of a wonderful spectacle, but at the same time of an event that was focussed on the 2010 Festival and the fantastic amount raised for the Masonic Samaritan Fund.
I feel privileged to have been part of the celebrations.
Julie Hosker
Scenes from the special 2010 Festival meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in the Guild Hall, Preston, and the reception/dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool.
2010 team’s final celebration
Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker described the 2010 Festival celebrations in Blackpool and Preston were “one of the happiest and proudest weekends” of his life.
Peter, who was also 2010 Festival President, was speaking at the Final Team Dinner for the regional and group charity stewards and Festival Appeal Committee to celebrate the conclusion of the appeal.
He said that the celebration dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool, “set the scene” and that the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in Preston Guild Hall was “truly magnificent”.
“You have all worked so hard,” he said. “I thank you most sincerely. You should all feel very proud and happy that you have raised this amount of money.”
Peter said he had received a letter of thanks from Hugh Stubbs the head of the Masonic Samaritan Fund, describing our West Lancashire result as "fantastic".
The highlight of the evening was the draw for the Provincial Raffle which has raised the fantastic sum of £14,978 which had been credited to the 2010 Festival. A similar amount was raised by the previous year’s draw. Festival Chairman Stuart Thornber thanked David Ogden, John Parrott and the Splinter Group for all their sterling efforts in bringing the Provincial Raffle to a successful conclusion. He also thank Glynn Wrennal for his music during the evening.
The prize winners in the draw were: £1000, No10462, Mr MacCormack of Wigan; £500, No 13360, Mr Golding of Flixton; Week End Away, No 13833, Lodge Charity No 2651; Gallon of Whisky, No 04059, Mr Buckley of Cleveleys; Six bottles of Champagne, No 13190, Social Lodge No 3472; Six bottles of wine, No 02437, Mr Johnson.
Festival Chairman Stuart Thornber with some of the regional and group charity stewards who attended the Final Team Dinner at Wellington Park, Leyland.
Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker digs deep to select one of the prize tickets.
Julie Hosker picks a winner.
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