Freemasons and their guests attended the Blackpool Group annual Giving Night held at Blackpool Masonic Hall. Invited guests included Paul Maynard MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, Scott Benton MP for Blackpool South, Cllr Adrian Hoyle Deputy Mayor of Blackpool and Sharon Hoyle Deputy Mayoress. Along with various Masonic and non-Masonic guests and charity representatives.
Cllr Sharon Hoyle, Cllr. Adrian Hoyle, Stephen Jelly, David Barr and Robert Marsden.
Before the event commenced, the guests were treated to a fine buffet in the museum dining room, supplied by Shaun and his team at Masonic Catering. Afterwards everyone proceeded to the Eric Sharples Suite upstairs for the charity presentations. £54,209.31p has been raised during the past year and distributed to 71 Masonic and non-Masonic charities and other deserving organisations, both locally and nationally. All were invited to attend the Giving Night to give a talk on what they used the money for and hopefully, to gain more donations for their worthy cause.
Blackpool Group Chairman Stephen Jelly opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone to the Giving Night and explained the role that Freemasonry has in the community. For Freemasons, there are four important values that help define their path through life; integrity, friendship, respect and charity, and with today’s world filled with uncertainty, these principles are as true now as they have been at any point in the history of Freemasonry.
Charity has always been a core principle and Freemasons are proud of their 300-year history of helping those in need. Freemasons make an important contribution at a local and national level every year by giving both their time and money to make a real difference to various charities and communities. Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry. It provides a support structure that helps members make positive contributions to communities and worthwhile causes through fundraising events and volunteer work.
The evening continued with Bob Marsden introducing the various charities who had sent a representative and invited them to give a brief synopsis on how the money they have received was being faithfully applied. Charities attending and giving a presentation were; Trinity Hospice and Brian House, Kindness Counts, Blackpool Sea Cadets, Donna’s Dream House, Swallows Head and Neck Cancer, Haemochromatosis Iron Overload, Northwest Blood Bikes, Tiggers Autism Charity and Blackpool Young Carers.
Members from the local lodges and chapters proudly presented their fund-raising cheques to the representatives of the charities attending the event.
Story and pictures by Gordon Ivett, Blackpool Group Publicity Officer.