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Chorley
Group News
£2,500 boost for festival
The 2010 Festival has received a £2,500 boost thanks to the efforts of Chorley Group Freemason Ray Dainton...........<more>
Group honours Bill Seddon
Following his recent retirement as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, a dinner was held in honour of Bill Seddon by the Chorley and District Group........<more>
Provincial Tie goes on sale
Provincial Grand Chapter at Preston saw the sale of the new Provincial tie go on sale for the first time...............<more>
Lodge celebrates 150th anniversary
Members of The Ellesmere Lodge No 730 held a meeting at the Masonic Hall in Cunliffe Street, Chorley to mark their 150th anniversary ........<more>
Church with an interesting Masonic history receives £1,000
In 1897 after a meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in the Mechanics’ Institute in Horwich, the Right Honourable the Earl of Lathom..............<more>
Chorley Group salutes Ken Shaw
More than 80 Chorley Group brethren gathered for a celebration dinner in honour of the Group’s Past Chairman, WBro Kenneth W Shaw.........<more>
Bay walkers raise £2,600
The 2010 Festival and Derian House Children’s Hospice have both benefited as a result of a successful sponsored walk across Morecambe Bay........<more>
50 walkers and five dogs cross the bay
Members of the Chorley and District Group along with family and friends took part in a trek across Morcambe Bay............<more>
Brookfield Masonic Hall, Westhoughton receives its new Defibrillation Machine
On Thursday 8th December 2006, Brookfield will be officially presented with its new defibrillation machine...................<more>
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£2,500 boost for festival
The 2010 Festival has received a £2,500 boost thanks to the efforts of Chorley Group Freemason Ray Dainton.
Ray, of St Bartholomew Lodge No 6071 which meets at Westhoughton, decided to stage a fund-raising event at his home. The classic car rally followed by a hog roast and clay pigeon shoot was a massive success and raised £2,500.
Ray presented a cheque for £2,500 to 2010 Festival Chairman Stuart Thornber who described Ray’s efforts as “magnificent”.
Ray Dainton is pictured presenting the cheque to Stuart Thornber watched by Chorley Group Chairman John Robson and Malcom Warren (Group Charity).
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Group honours Bill Seddon
Following his recent retirement as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, a dinner was held in honour of Bill Seddon by the Chorley and District Group at Westhoughton Masonic Hall.
The dinner, hosted by the Group Chairman, John Robson, was attended by more than 80 members of the group, together with Bill’s successor as Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Frank Wilkinson, and the Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, Alan Byers.
A first class meal was followed by a short but beautiful song recital by Miss Rachel Catterall, accompanied by Adele Capaldi.
In the toast to the health of the principal guest, John Robson confirmed the respect and affection in which Bill Seddon was held by the Group and thanked him for the excellent service he had given in the five years spent as our Assistant. Bill responded that he had enjoyed every minute of the time he had spent within the Group and was pleased if he had been of assistance. He said he was looking forward to his retirement and wished the Group well for the future.
The Group Chairman presented him with a digital camera, with had been chosen as a gift after consultation with Bill’s wife, Christine, and which Bill assured the gathering would be very well used.
Bill Seddon is presented with a digital camera by John Robson. Also pictured are Alan Byers (left) and Frank Wilkinson.
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Provincial Tie goes on sale
Provincial Grand Chapter at Preston saw the sale of the new Provincial tie go on sale for the first time
Dave Sweeney and Steve Nickson do brisk business selling the new Provincial tie to David Redhead (Widnes Group), Bryan Barton Collier (Ormskirk Group) and Paul Snape (Chorley Group).
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Lodge celebrates 150th anniversary
Members of The Ellesmere Lodge No 730 held a meeting at the Masonic Hall in Cunliffe Street, Chorley to mark their 150th anniversary at which the principal guest was the Provincial Grand Master Colin Penty Wright.
The Lodge met for the first time at the Red Lion Hotel in Mealhouse Lane, Chorley when the landlord was William Samson who was a founding member of the Lodge.
Over the next 150 years the Lodge has met variously in a small room in the Town Hall, from 1879 until 1934, then in purpose built rooms to the rear of the Imperial Hotel before moving into the present location at the Masonic Hall in Cunliffe Street, Chorley in 1971.
The Provincial Grand Master accepted the offer of the Worshipful Master, William Carr, to occupy the Master’s Chair. He then delivered a short summary of the Lodge history which he had prepared from a booklet specially produced by John Lancaster and John Bicknell, two past masters of the Lodge, to commemorate the occasion.
He noted that it was not the first time that a Provincial Grand Master had visited the Ellesmere Lodge as the minute book recorded that the Earl of Lathom had presided at a meeting in 1904, following which he had presented an ebony and ivory mallet to the Lodge to which is attached an inscription stating that the mallet had been used by Lord Skelmersdale at the laying of the corner stone of the new Masonic hall in Hope Street, Liverpool in 1879. This mallet is still in the possession of the Lodge.
Another fact commented on was that the Warrant of the Ellesmere Lodge includes the original Lodge number of 1032, a number which is also the Lodge number of the first daughter Lodge, Townley Parker Lodge, which also meets in Chorley. It is thought that it may be unique within the United Grand Lodge of England for mother and daughter Lodges to have Warrants with the same number on them.
The Provincial Grand Master concluded by observing that that the longevity of the Lodge was due in no small part to the involvement through the years of its members in the local community and practising their Masonic Principles. He believed that, providing we all continued to say why we enjoyed our Freemasonry and lived our lives by those Masonic Principles, the Ellesmere Lodge would be meeting under the Banner for many years to come.
There were 130 Lodge members and their guests at the meeting, which was followed by a suitably impressive banquet at which the Provincial Grand Master proposed a toast to the Lodge and expressed the wish that it may continue in existence for a further 150 years.
Provincial Grand Master Colin Penty Wright is pictured with members and guests at the celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of The Ellesmere Lodge No 730.
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Church with an interesting Masonic history receives £1,000
In 1897 after a meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in the Mechanics’ Institute in Horwich, the Right Honourable the Earl of Lathom, the MW Pro Grand Master and Provincial Grand Master for the Province of West Lancashire (Western Division) accompanied by his officers and a large number of Brethren, processed in full regalia to the church, which was half a mile away.
There, in a splendid ceremony watched by hundreds of Brethren and local people he laid the foundation stone for the new St Catherine’s Church, using a silver trowel specially presented for the occasion.
Now, 111 years later Assistant Provincial Grand Master William R. Seddon presented a cheque for £1,000 to the church. The donation, which was from the Community Fund of West Lancashire Freemasons, is to assist with the church’s renovation project.
WBro John Robinson PPrSGW of Horwich Lodge No 2324, who is a member of the church, approached the Fund through the Chorley Group and was delighted when the Fund agreed to donate this very generous sum.
Assistant Provincial Grand Master William R. Seddon presents the cheque to the Rev Michael Behrend, Vicar of St Catherine’s watched by Chorley Group Chairman Frank Wilkinson (left) and John Robinson.
A plaque, appropriately placed in the north-east corner of the church, commemorates the laying of the foundation stone.
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Chorley Group salutes Ken Shaw
More than 80 Chorley Group brethren gathered for a celebration dinner in honour of the Group’s Past Chairman, WBro Kenneth W Shaw.
The dinner, which was superbly organised by the Group Social Committee under its chairman WBro David Clough, was hosted by the new Group Chairman, WBro Frank Wilkinson and the guest of honour was WBro William R. Seddon APrGM.
Bro Seddon proposed a toast to Ken Shaw and outlined his many successes in both his professional and Masonic life and thanked him for his 14 years of service as a group officer, the last seven of which were as Group Chairman.
In responding, Ken said how much he had enjoyed his time in office and made particular mention of all the friends he had made during that time.
Ken was then presented with a laptop computer, which had been purchased from donations from all of the Lodges and Chapters in the Group. He was also presented with a delightful bouquet of flowers for his wife Yvonne as a small gesture of the support that she too had given to the Group during Ken’s tenure.
Pictured left to right are: Bill Seddon , Ken Shaw and Frank Wilkinson
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Bay walkers raise £2,600
The 2010 Festival and Derian House Children’s Hospice have both benefited as a result of a successful sponsored walk across Morecambe Bay.
After a tremendous effort by members of the Chorley Group, together with the help of family and friends, a total sponsorship of nearly £2,600 was raised for the two charities.
The 2010 Festival was presented with a cheque for £1024.50 while Derian House Children’s Hospice was presented with a cheque for £1546.50.
Trevor Briggs, general manager of Derian House said how much he appreciated the support given by Freemasons. The 42” TV in the lounge needed replacing and with this donation as well as replacing the television other items to benefit the children could be purchased. He said that Freemasons’ support to Derian House was not just with monetary donations but with their time and skills as each week local Masons look after the computer system as part of the lifelites project.
Presenting the cheque on behalf of the Group, Assistant Provincial Grand Master Bill Seddon said how much everyone values the work of Derian House and he looked forward to giving continued support of the hospice.
WBro Bill Seddon presents a cheque for £1,546.50 for Derian House to Trevor Briggs. Also pictured, left to right, are Ron Appleton and Derek McKee who made the walk, Paul Snape Group Vice-Chairman and Malcolm Warren Group Charity Steward
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50 walkers and five dogs cross the bay<
Members of the Chorley and District Group along with family and friends took part in a trek across Morcambe Bay.
They joined members of the Wigan Group for the walk across the bay which was guided by Cedric Robinson, the Queen’s Official Guide to the Sands.
In all about 50 walkers – and five dogs - left Arnside to make a meandering trek to cross eight miles of the sands. They had to cross part of a river which reached knee level and was not too pleasant due to the chilly “summer” weather.
All the walkers enjoyed the day out and the money raised by sponsorship will support the 2010 Festival and Derian House.
Chorley Group Vice-Chairman Paul Snape and his wife Sally prepare for the walk.
WBro Ken Ingham surveys the bay before setting off.
WBro Derek Whittle and his family together with Bro Tim Smith.
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Brookfield Masonic Hall, Westhoughton receives its new Defibrillation Machine
On Thursday 8th December 2006, Brookfield will be officially presented with its new defibrillation machine. This has been purchased due to a number of incidents occurring in the building and is seen as a major investment in first aid facilities provided at Brookfield. The machine, is a Phillips HeartStart + and one of the most advanced units available on the market today. It has been funded by the hall with part funding from donations at a cost of over £1500. A substantial discount was given by the manufacturer ' Phillips' and thanks must go to them for this generous gesture.
A programme to train both staff and members on the use of this machine has already begun and thanks go to Gerry Ashworth - Resuscitation Officer at Royal Bolton Hospital for giving up his time to supervise these training sessions. To date 10 members and staff have been certified by him. With the increasing average age of Freemasons, this defibrillation machine is considered to be an essential part of first aid facilities for all Masonic Halls.
Pictured is Mike Silver receiving the first certificate from Sheila Wallwork, who prompted the purchase of this machine. Also pictured are Gerry Ashworth and Alex Prescott, both of whom work at Royal Bolton Hospital.
(From Left to Right, Gerry Ashworth, Mike Silver, Sheila Wallwork, Alex
Prescott)
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