Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire
REPORT
OF THE
ANNUAL MEETING
HELD AT
KING GEORGE’S HALL
BLACKBURN
THURSDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2016
Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire King George’s Hall, Blackburn Thursday, 17 November 2016
Registered Attendance RWBro Sir David Trippier, RD, JP, DL ...... Provincial Grand Master VWBro DN Thornhill, JP, PGSwdB ...... Deputy Provincial Grand Master WBro CA Northcott, PSGD ...... Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro N Cope, PSGD ...... Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro JC Welton, PSGD ...... Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro AJ Pearson, PSGD ...... Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro JR Farrington, PSGD ...... Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro PG Hewitt, PSGD ...... Assistant Provincial Grand Master
RWBro GN Elliott, CBE ...... PJGW VWBro N Morrison ...... PGSwdB WBro WR Davenport ...... PSGD WBro DJ Walsh ...... PSGD WBro H Hesmondhalgh ...... PSGD WBro PMA Rose ...... PSGD WBro WR Waite ...... PSGD WBro PG Mountford ...... PSGD WBro MS Caller ...... PSGD WBro F Wilkinson ...... PSGD WBro AS McLaren ...... PSGD WBro MP Roche ...... PSGD WBro JH Aston ...... PJGD WBro KO Beeston ...... PJGD WBro A Bennion ...... PJGD WBro S Bibby ...... PJGD WBro PE Carroll ...... PJGD WBro HAJ Garnett ...... PJGD WBro MD Gibbons ...... PJGD WBro MB Hill ...... PJGD WBro DH Thompson ...... PJGD WBro JC Welton ...... PJGD WBro D Winstanley ...... PJGD WBro Rev’d DJ Halford ...... PAGChap WBro Rev’d DK Pryce ...... PAGChap WBro P Aspinall ...... PAGDC WBro D Basger ...... PAGDC WBro H Basger ...... PAGDC WBro G Bent ...... PAGDC WBro HJ Bentwood ...... PAGDC WBro LD Berkeley ...... PAGDC WBro HS Berry ...... PAGDC WBro DCH Brown ...... PAGDC WBro BJ Carter ...... PAGDC WBro AD Costello ...... PAGDC WBro MW Davis ...... PAGDC WBro D Dunn ...... PAGDC 2 | Page
WBro B Durkin ...... PAGDC WBro JS Dutchman-Smith ...... PAGDC WBro PT Faulkner ...... PAGDC WBro RW Flitcroft ...... PAGDC WBro RI Frankl ...... PAGDC WBro MS Gregory ...... PAGDC WBro JA Griffin ...... PAGDC WBro KG Hampson ...... PAGDC WBro P Hargreaves ...... PAGDC WBro L Hayes ...... PAGDC WBro PG Hewitt ...... PAGDC WBro GT Hodson ...... PAGDC WBro MT Holland ...... PAGDC WBro KA Horne ...... PAGDC WBro B Horne ...... PAGDC WBro S Hughes ...... PAGDC WBro D Lightbown ...... PAGDC WBro PRB Messum ...... PAGDC WBro PJ Price ...... PAGDC WBro JS Seddon ...... PAGDC WBro D Simpson ...... PAGDC WBro IF Thornton ...... PAGDC WBro GNH Young ...... PAGDC WBro A Holland ...... PAGSwdB WBro MT Roberts ...... PAGSwdB WBro T Thomas ...... PAGSwdB WBro JA Topping ...... PAGSwdB WBro B Bristol ...... PAGSuptWks WBro I Eastwood ...... PAGSuptWks WBro DL Pilling ...... PAGSuptWks WBro PG Bowen ...... PGOrg WBro SK Archer ...... AGStB WBro AH Kirwilliam ...... PAGStB
Acting Officers of the Year WBro DM Ferguson ...... ProvSGW WBro AP Thornton ...... ProvJGW WBro Rev’d DJ Halford, PAGChap ...... ProvGChap WBro CA Hayman ...... ProvGTreas WBro MJ Church-Taylor ...... ProvGReg WBro MP Roche, PSGD ...... ProvGSec WBro JA Griffin, PAGDC ...... ProvGDC WBro P Tonge ...... ProvGSwdB WBro DJ Cowen ...... ProvDepGDC WBro AD Taylor ...... ProvDepGDC WBro BJ Carter, PAGDC ...... ProvGAlm WBro JK Davies, MBE, PProvSGW ...... ProvGChStwd WBro M Afsa ...... ProvSGD WBro PW Lambert ...... ProvSGD WBro EW Beaman ...... ProvJGD
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WBro JW Hilton ...... ProvJGD WBro RW Hawkins ...... ProvAGChap WBro E Freeman ...... ProvAGReg WBro A Holland, PAGSwdB ...... ProvAGSec WBro A Bardsley ...... ProvAGDC WBro NDC Davis ...... ProvAGDC WBro DI Gill ...... ProvAGDC WBro AS Jones ...... ProvAGDC WBro LW Stevens ...... ProvAGDC WBro JA Yates ...... ProvAGDC WBro PG Bowen, PGOrg ...... ProvGOrg WBro S Dunks ...... ProvGStB WBro MR Smith ...... ProvGStB WBro JR Burns ...... ProvAGStB WBro SJ Bane ...... ProvGStwd WBro AC Berry ...... ProvGStwd WBro LH Brookes ...... ProvGStwd WBro LJ Gridley ...... ProvGStwd WBro AM Hindle ...... ProvGStwd WBro J Lees ...... ProvGStwd WBro LJ Rickett ...... ProvGStwd WBro SJ Rogers ...... ProvGStwd WBro GP Thornton ...... ProvGStwd WBro G Varga ...... ProvGStwd WBro DJ Smith ...... ProvGTyler
RW Provincial Grand Master: “Brethren, since the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge held on 19 November 2015, we have been saddened by the death of the following Grand Officers:
William McLoughlin, PAGSwdB 12 May 2016 Derek T Bell, PJGD 11 June 2016 Donald Foster, PJGD 24 October 2016 Lionel Taylor, PGStB 12 November 2016
In addition, Provincial Grand Lodge Officers and many Brethren from private Lodges have passed to higher service in the Grand Lodge above. They will be sadly missed by their families, the Brethren of their Lodges and their friends. We offer our sincere condolences to them all. I ask you to rise in silent tribute in respect of departed merit.
To welcome our Distinguished Guests and Heads of Orders Our Distinguished Guests and Head of Orders were introduced and welcomed. The following Brethren attended:
Cumberland and Westmorland RWBro Norman J Thompson, Provincial Grand Master VWBro Keith Young, Deputy Provincial Grand Master WBro Bill J Bewley, Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro Keith R Beaumont, Provincial Grand Secretary
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Isle of Man RWBro R Keith Dalrymple, Provincial Grand Master VWBro Alex F Downie, OBE, Deputy Provincial Grand Master WBro Bill Ashton, Deputy Grand Superintendent
West Lancashire RWBro Tony Harrison, Provincial Grand Master WBro John Hutton, Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro Stewart Seddon, Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro Peter Taylor, Provincial Grand Secretary
Yorkshire, WR WBro D Stuart Cummins, Deputy Provincial Grand Master WBro John B Gledhill, Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro Paul Clarke, Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro David Firmin, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies
Cheshire VWBro Alan Glazier, Deputy Provincial Grand Master WBro George Mann, Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro Paul A Massie, Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro R Adrian Davies, Assistant Provincial Grand Master
A special welcome was offered to WBro Chris White, from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
Our Past Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Paul JE Rink, OBE, had offered his apology for being unable to be in attendance. He extended his sincere best wishes and had commented that this was the first meeting he had missed in forty years.
The Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Nolan Morrison.
Our Deputy Grand Superintendent, EComp Paul MA Rose, together with the Past Deputy Grand Superintendent, EComp Allan Bennion.
Bro Alex McLaren, Provincial Grand Master, Mark Order.
Br Mervyn Wilson, the District Grand Prefect, of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees.
Bro Royce Batters, Inspector General of the District of South East Lancashire, Antient and Accepted Rite.
Bro David Biggs, Inspector General of the District of North East Lancashire, Antient and Accepted Rite.
Bro Frank GH Smith, Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor.
Bro John Aiken, the Provincial Grand Master, for the Royal Order of Scotland, Provincial Grand Lodge of the Counties Palatine of Lancaster and Chester.
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And Bro David Gallear, the Provincial Prior, of the Knights Templar.
The Provincial Grand Master expressed his delight at seeing so many Worshipful Masters and Wardens of Lodges in attendance and in particular Expressed his thanks to them for the excellent work they do in their Lodges and Districts.
The Report of the Provincial Grand Lodge held on 19 November 2015, which has been printed and distributed, will be put for confirmation.
Following a proposition which was duly seconded the Report of the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge held on 19 November 2015 was confirmed and approved.
To re-appoint VWBro Derek N Thornhill, PGSwdB, as the Deputy Provincial Grand Master
The RW Provincial Grand Master said that it was a pleasurable duty to re-appoint Bro Thornhill as the Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
He said: “Derek, we have now worked closely together for five years. Your wise council and support is sincerely appreciated. I value the work that you carry out on my behalf and on behalf of the Province. I am delighted that you have again accepted this appointment and I look forward to the future with your assistance. Thank you for your continued friendship and kindness”.
The ProvGDC then proclaimed VWBro Derek Nelson Thornhill, as the Deputy Provincial Grand Master. Following salutations Bro Thornhill responded.
To Re-appoint the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters
The RW Provincial Grand Master then re-appointed:- Bro Chad Anthony Northcott Bro Norman Cope Bro John Christopher Welton Bro Arthur John Pearson Bro John Richard Farrington and Bro Peter Graham Hewitt
The Provincial Grand Master said “All of my Assistants have afforded me their support during the last year. I am grateful for their loyalty and commitment and particularly the hard work they undertake in their respective areas”
Salutations The ProvGDC then proclaimed the re-appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Masters. Following salutations Bro Northcott responded.
District Chairmen The RW Provincial Grand Master also acknowledged his grateful thanks for the work carried out by the District Chairmen, both in supporting their respective APGM’s but also the Lodges within their Districts.
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He was delighted to welcome to the meeting: David Hudson Chris Prax Geoff Baillie Peter Douthwaite Gerry Hodson Leslie Taylor Peter Rhodes Terry Kakoullis Steven Barton Paul Thornton David Lightbown
To receive and adopt the Accounts of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the year ended 31 December 2015.
The RW Provincial Grand Master invited the Provincial Grand Treasurer, Bro Ashley Hayman to present a report on the accounts.
Bro Ashley Hayman: “RW PGM and Brethren, I am pleased to present the accounts of Provincial Grand Lodge for the year ended 31 December 2015, copies of which have been circulated.
There was again a reduction in Dues from Lodges, down from £107,559 in 2014 to £103,390 in 2015. That does concern me, of course, but the leadership of the Province is very focussed on recruitment and retention so I am happy for now to wait for the downward trend to halt or hopefully to reverse.
I can view a reduction in Dues from Lodges with equanimity because of the surplus on merchandise, £14,876. This is the first time that Provincial merchandise (ties, handkerchiefs, bowties and cufflinks) has been sold by the Province itself. The intention is that the surplus will help us to avoid any increase in the level of fees charged per member. You may be pleased, but not surprised, that I certainly have no intention of proposing any increase in fees.
Below the line, some items expenditure have increased. That, I am afraid, is the natural order of things. But the Provincial Grand Secretary continues to run an efficient office, well supported by the staff and volunteers, and you will see that the traffic is not all one-way. There are some items of expenditure that we have managed to cut.
We made a surplus of £19,815 in 2015. But at this point I need to mention taxation. Without going into detail, there are good reasons why the surplus on merchandise should not be taxable but there are also some technical reasons why it may be taxable. We have not yet managed to agree the question with HM Revenue & Customs. We have therefore taken the prudent view and made a £2,575 provision for corporation tax. The net surplus after tax, £17,240, has been carried to reserves. If our discussions with HMRC have a happy outcome, we will be able to reverse the tax charge next year.
My thanks also go to the auditors who seem to do a more thorough job every year, but always with courtesy and charm.
RW PGM and Brethren, I commend the 2015 accounts to you.
Bro Ian Connor then gave a report on behalf of the Auditors.
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Following a proposition which was duly seconded the accounts of Provincial Grand Lodge for 31 December 2015 were approved.
To elect the Provincial Grand Treasurer for the year 2016 / 2017 In light of no other nomination having been received, the RW Provincial Grand Master then duly re-elected Bro Ashley Hayman as the Provincial Grand Treasurer for the ensuring year 2016 / 2017
He then expressed his own sincere thanks and those of the Brethren of the Province to Bro Hayman for all his hard work and effort during the past 12 months.
To elect the Auditors for the year 2016 / 2017 The RW Provincial Grand Master had great pleasure in re-appointing Brothers Roland Adams, Philip Hollinshead and Ian Connor as the Provincial Auditors for the year 2016/ 2017.
He thanked them for their hard work and effort on behalf of the Province,
Election of two members for the Masonic Charitable Foundation Following a proposition which was duly seconded WBro Martin P Roche and WBro Brian J Carter, were duly elected as Representative Members for the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
To present the EL Masonic Golf Society Derby Cup and the East Lancashire Bowling Trophy The RW Provincial Grand Master after offering his sincere congratulations presented the Derby Cup to the winner, Bro Lawrence Yarwood, of the Lodge of Antiquity No 146.
He expressed his very grateful thanks for the generous donation of £500 to the East Lancashire Masonic Charity and placed on record his sincere thanks to WBro Malcolm Worsley, the Chairman of the Society, WBro Gerry Hodson the Committee Secretary and Bro Richard Zoltie, the Treasurer for organising this special event. He once again reminded Brethren that the competition was open to ALL members of the Province.
He also announced that the EL Bowling Competition had taken place in July and that we had “got our trophy back”. He announced that this year’s winners were Bro Alan Mercer and Bro Stevan Taylor of the Lodge of Fidelity and Crusaders No 269.
He thanked most sincerely Bro Geoff Leach and his wife, Gill for their efforts in once again organising the event.
Report from the Provincial Grand Secretary The RW Provincial Grand Master invited the Provincial Grand Secretary, Bro Martin Roche to present his report.
Provincial Grand Secretary: “Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and Brethren, I am pleased to present this, my second Annual Report, to Provincial Grand Lodge.
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The Secretariat continues to support the significant events celebrating the Tercentenary of Freemasonry. To that end and before Christmas, I will be circulating the procedures for Brethren to apply to attend the national events later next year at the Royal Albert Hall and Battersea Evolution. This will be done by a simple emailed application process which will ensure that all our members have an equal opportunity to obtain a ticket.
On this point, I am sensitive to the fact that we are continuing to use email as the preferred medium for communicating with members of the Province. I appreciate that, at times, there may be a higher number of circulars issued. Brethren, this simply reflects that Freemasonry does not standstill and is constantly evolving and looking to the future; our internal communications with you, our members, are key to our success in this. Please take the time to read what we send you or that we ask your Secretaries circulate to you. If it is something which has been sent to all of you, there is no need to read it out again in open Lodge unless requested to do so. I am a member of several Lodges so have a personal stake in not being constantly told again, word for word, what I have said. I have a wife to do that for me. Remember, the better informed you are, the better equipped you are to tell non-Masons about your membership and potentially, make you own personal contribution to growing our Order.
The administration of the Province should happen quietly and effectively to ensure we at the centre make sure that all of you enjoy your membership. That could not happen without Andrew Holland the Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary, as well as Susan O’Neill and Anne Donnelly who all play a key role in that. There may be different roles and titles but we are a team and combined with the remainder of our team members in the guise of our volunteer staff, I am very privileged and indeed, indebted to them all.
Before moving on to announce the Lodge and personal celebrations that have taken place during the last year, may I finally thank all the hard-working Lodge Secretaries in the Province. We appreciate your dedication, your patience, your good humour and all that you do to keep Freemasonry in East Lancashire so efficiently administered.
Since the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge Sir you, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters have attended a number of significant events, Lodge celebrations and personal landmarks throughout the Province namely:
The Investiture of WBro Peter Hewitt as an Assistant Provincial Grand Masters. The Bi-Centenary of the St John’s Lodge No 348 when we welcomed the Assistant Grand Master and also the Bi-Centenary celebration of Charity Lodge No 350.
The Lodge of Integrity No 163 celebrated its 250th anniversary and welcomed Sir Stuart Hampson the Senior Grand Warden to our Province.
The Lodge of Amity and Rossendale Forest No 283 celebrated its 225th
Townley Parker Lodge No 1083 also celebrated its 150th anniversary.
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A Banner Dedication meeting was held at Bury Lodge of Relief No 42.
A Bible-Fall meeting was held at Bank Terrace with King Oswald Lodge No 462.
You have attended Hosted Meetings or made private visits to the following Lodges: • The Lodge of Virtue No 152 • Droylsden Lodge No 3282 • Brierfield Lodge No 7560 During the year there has been a fantastic achievement of 70th years in Freemasonry for Bro Maurice O’Brien of Corinthian Lodge No 221.
There have also been 7 Personal 60ths celebrations and which you attended: Bro William Borrett – Mellor Lodge No 1774 Bro Herbert Hulme – Fidelity Lodge No 430 Bro Philip Westwood – Trinity Lodge No 5651
And in addition there have been a further 35 Personal 50th Celebrations which took place in the following Lodges:
Bro Ronald Proctor - Britannia Lodge No 3005 Bro Leonard Rose – Maccabee Lodge No 8947 Bro William Buckley – Old Blue Lamp No 9543 Bro Colin Taylor – Acorn & Rose Lodge No 5677 Bro Edmund Kenworthy – Three Shires Lodge No 9397 Bro Ian Rogerson – Grants Lodge No 8825 Bro Derek Hanson – Calder Lodge No 4564 Bro Russell Duxbury – Peaceful Valley Lodge No 4111 Bro John Ashworth – Liberty Lodge No 5573 Bro Bryan Tyrell – Royal Lancashire Lodge No 116 Bro Jack Huddart - Papyrean Lodge No 5771 Bro Trevor Proctor – Old Blackburnians Lodge No 7933 Bro Thomas Rawnsley - Harmony Lodge No 298 Bro William Ainsworth - Colne Lodge No 4402 Bro Gordon Craig - Harmony & Industry No 381 Bro Roy Green - Remembrance Lodge No 3787 Bro Robert Pye - Albert Edward Lodge No 1519 Bro George Parker – Ashbury Lodge No 1459 Bro John Davies – Albatross Lodge No 6164 Bro David Schofield – New Trinity Lodge No 4595 Bro Sidney Watson – Mossley Lodge No 6577 Bro Sir Norman Stoller – Zion Menorah Lodge No 1798 Bro Sydney Pearson – Amity & Rossendale Forest Lodge No 283 Bro Walter Ellis – Zetland Lodge No 852 Bro Bernard Taylor – New Avon Lodge No 1633 Bro Francis Jackson – Marsden within Pennine Valley Lodge No 6183 Bro John Jackson – Lodge of Integrity No 163 Bro Arthur Aked – Roycliffe Lodge No 5198 Bro Reginald Greaves – Lodge of Virtue No 152 Bro David Fentem – Earl of Lathom Lodge No 2560 Bro Brandon Fowden, East Lancashire Centurion Lodge No 2322 10 | Page
Bro William Fentem - East Lancashire Centurion Lodge No 2322 Bro Clifford Fishwick – Whalley Arches with Gratitude Lodge No 7489 Bro James Britton – Tonge Hall Lodge No 8763
In March the very successful ‘Let’s Talk Freemasonry’ Conference took place again at Salford. Plans are in place for this event to be repeated on Saturday, 25th March 2017, but on this occasion, it will be held at Rochdale Masonic Hall. Your support for this event Brethren would be greatly appreciated. Sir, that concludes my Report.”
The RW Provincial Grand Master thanked the Provincial Grand Secretary for his very detailed report.
WBro Christopher G White, PAGDC, Trustee of the Masonic Charitable Foundation will address the Brethren
The RW Provincial Grand Master expressed his delight that Bro White had accepted his invitation to address the meeting. He then asked Brethren to give their full attention to Bro White.
“Good afternoon. My name is Chris White and I am delighted to have this opportunity to talk to you about the exciting changes that are happening within Masonic charity.
The launch of the Masonic Charitable Foundation marks a new and exciting era in the long and proud history of Masonic charity.
The Foundation brings together the life-changing work of four central Masonic Charities which operated separately and provided specific types of support for Freemasons, their families and the wider community from the early 18th century: The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and the Masonic Samaritan Fund.
Over the past forty years, the four separate charities carried out excellent work but there was limited logic to the way their roles were defined. Those seeking support, and the Almoners who supported them, frequently did not know which charity to approach for help.
Families faced with financial, health, educational and care needs could easily be faced with having to apply for support from all four charities – a potentially daunting and confusing prospect.
Ultimately the intention is to make it easier for beneficiaries to access the support they need.
Just as the logo of the Foundation depicts a charitable heart at the centre of the widely recognised square and compasses symbol, it is intended that the Foundation will become firmly established at the heart of Freemasonry.
Whether advice or financial grants, the Masonic Charitable Foundation is determined to make support easier to access. Bringing the four charities together has improved 11 | Page the service offered to Freemasons and their families by providing a single point of contact, a simple application process and common eligibility criteria and as a result it is fully expected that the level of demand for support will increase.
At the same time, steps are being taken to improve the support provided to the Masonic community including Almoners, Charity Stewards and Festival fundraisers. Bringing the charities together has created a sizeable organisation within the UK charity sector – one which should be widely recognised and which should have a significant voice contributing to the work of the sector. I hope you will agree that all in all this is a very exciting time for Masonic charity and for all those involved.
Support for Freemasons and their Families In recent times, support has been provided to over 5,000 Freemasons and their family members each year at an annual cost of around £15 million. This is a significant number of people, but we know we can still do more. Can anyone here hand on heart say that no one has missed out on support because they were unaware of the help available? It is down to all of us to work harder to get the message out about the support that is available.
The charity’s mission is: “To build better lives by enabling opportunity, advancing healthcare and education and promoting independence for Freemasons, their families and the wider community.” It pursues its mission in two ways. The first way is the provision of a wide range of financial grants and practical support for Freemasons and their families who have a financial, health or family related need.
The Freemasons and families supported by the Foundation have usually experienced a life-changing event that has adversely impacted their household income and quality of life, for example redundancy, a medical diagnosis, family breakdown, a change in care needs or the death of a spouse. Every person’s situation is unique and all applications are considered on individual merit.
To be eligible for a grant, applicants must demonstrate their need for support along with a strong family connection to a Freemason under the United Grand Lodge of England. He does not necessarily need to be a subscribing member, but he must have joined before the need for support arose. Eligible family members include the wives, partners or widows of Freemasons, as well as children, stepchildren and grandchildren who are under the age of 25 and in full-time education.
The Foundation helps those who are eligible with grants to help meet essential daily living costs and to cover specific financial, health or family needs and the provision of advice and support.
Financial Support Daily living grants help those unable to afford essential everyday costs, for example household bills, food or expenditure related to raising a child. The level of income that the household needs for an acceptable standard of living is calculated and, once the application has been approved, grants are provided at regular intervals. Daily living grants not only ensure that the household can afford their outgoings but also include a reasonable allowance for leisure activities to enable active participation in society.
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Following a sudden personal crisis such as an accident or redundancy, support can be provided to reduce the immediate hardship that follows. Additionally, grants can be made to cover unexpected costs such as funeral bills and minor home repairs.
Health Other specific grants are related to a range of health and care needs. The full or partial cost of medical treatment such as physiotherapy can be covered where there is a wait of 12 weeks or more for NHS treatment and where a Freemason or family member cannot easily afford the cost of private treatment or surgery. With minor exceptions, anything that is licensed by the NHS will be considered.
And to help people retain their independence, grants are available for mobility aids such as scooters and powered wheelchairs, and home adaptations including stairlifts, entry ramps and car hoists.
As well as support for medical and mobility needs, grants are available to restore dental function and promote good dental health where treatment is clinically necessary and will cost in excess of NHS charging rates. Grants are not available for cosmetic treatment.
In order to confirm a health, mobility, dental or other need, applicants are required to have a consultation with an appropriate specialist – but if the waiting time to see a specialist is longer than eight weeks, the Foundation may cover the cost of seeing a private specialist much sooner.
Alongside grants for physical needs, the Foundation also provides a Counselling Careline to support the emotional well-being of Freemasons and their families. The Careline is a confidential, free helpline operated by trained professionals who will listen and offer guidance to those experiencing depression, anxiety and those going through a difficult time.
Family – Children and young people The Foundation can provide specific grants to help children in full-time education to ensure that they have the opportunity to reach their potential despite difficulties they may be experiencing at home. The full or partial cost of items such as computers, printers and school uniforms can also be covered, as well as specialist tuition and extra-curricular activities so that children have access to the same resources as their peers. If necessary, support for a child’s education can be provided from nursery all the way through to university when scholarships and accommodation grants can be awarded. The Foundation can also enable young people to undertake once in a lifetime educational travel or volunteering, and can support exceptional talent in sport, music or the performing arts.
Family – Care The Foundation can also support a wide range of care needs. Respite care grants can help meet the cost of short-term residential care breaks, domiciliary care in an individual’s own home or visits to day centres. Respite is vital to provide support and relief for those caring for family members. For older members of the Masonic community, there are also a limited number of short breaks to British seaside
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For those with more permanent care needs, the Foundation provides Masonic care homes and other services at 17 locations across England and Wales that offer residential and nursing care and all offer places to people with dementia. The Homes care for older Freemasons and their families as well as some people in the community, with over 1,000 people currently supported. Those members of the Masonic community who choose to live in one of the Homes have the security of knowing that they have a home for life as long as it is possible to support their needs, even if their financial circumstances change for the worse.
So, the Foundation provides a wide range of grants for Freemasons and their families experiencing a financial, health or family need, but the support provided goes far beyond financial grants.
Members of the Masonic family at any age can also draw on the expertise of the Advice and Support Team who offer confidential, impartial and practical guidance about the help available. The Team work closely with Provinces and Lodge Almoners and treat every case with sympathy, tact and sensitivity. They can visit people at home, speak on the telephone and send information by email or post and can also help with applications for state and local authority benefits, provide advice about care, employment and education and recommend other organisations that may be able to provide further assistance. They are also incredibly helpful when it comes to applying for support from the Foundation.
The Application Process Freemasons and their family members who wish to apply for support from the Masonic Charitable Foundation will find that there are three simple steps in the process: contact, response and outcome.
Those in need of support can either speak to their Lodge Almoner or contact the charity directly via telephone, email or post. Once a Masonic connection and a financial, health or family need has been identified, the application process can begin. For those who wish to move into a Care Home, contact can be made directly with the Home.
If an application is made and a grant is approved, applicants will receive a clear written response confirming support and arranging payment. Payment will usually be made directly to an applicant or a third party provider such as a hospital, tutor or home adaptation company.
Community Support and Research The first part of my talk today was to explain how the Masonic Charitable Foundation pursues its mission by supporting Freemasons and their families who have a financial, health or family related need.
The second way that the Foundation helps is to look beyond Freemasonry. Significant financial grants are regularly awarded to charitable projects and services in the wider community which help people to live happy, fulfilling lives and participate actively in society.
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In recent years, Freemasons have provided support amounting to over £100 million to charities across England and Wales and overseas in response to natural disasters. The Foundation continues this legacy by awarding grants to charities that provide support in several areas, specifically:
• Financial hardship for those in poverty, debt or unemployment • Health and disability for people experiencing chronic or life-limiting conditions and disabilities, and • Education and employability for disadvantaged children and young people • Social exclusion and disadvantage for those facing barriers to participating in society
Additionally, the Foundation provides funding to advance medical research into whole life medical conditions, diseases and disabilities. Funding is also provided to hospices throughout England and Wales, air ambulance and rescue services and worldwide disaster relief appeals.
Alongside the thousands of people helped by Community Support and Research grants, the Foundation has also positively impacted the lives of around 9,000 life- limited, disabled children through support for Lifelites, a charity which provides education and fun technology packages for every baby and children’s hospice in the British Isles.
The charities supported by the Foundation make a significant and lasting difference to people in need, something that is only possible because of the generosity of Freemasons and their families.
Festivals and Fundraising The Provincial Festival system is at the centre of the Masonic Charitable Foundation’s fundraising. Each year, four Masonic Provinces hold a Festival to celebrate their achievement in raising funds for the charity’s work. During the years leading up to the Festival, fundraising events and activities take place that make a significant contribution to the charity’s income.
Additionally, many Freemasons and their families choose to support the Foundation even if their own Province is not holding a Festival Appeal. Donations can be made online, via telephone, via text or simply by sending a cheque.
Legacy gifts also make an important contribution to the funding of the charity. Every gift, large or small, can help to make a difference to Freemasons and their families across England and Wales.
In short, the Foundation relies exclusively on the generous donations of Freemasons and their families and the charity is extremely grateful to those who make their life- changing work possible.
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The launch of the Masonic Charitable Foundation marks a new era in the long and proud history of Masonic charity that builds on increasing collaboration between the four Charities over recent years and goes one step further. I hope you agree that the Foundation will serve the needs of the Masonic family well and I would like to finish today by reminding you all why the Foundation exists, by reading a letter from Peter, a Freemason who knows all too well about our work.
“To all at the Foundation, I would like to thank you for all that you have done for me and my family. Everything happened at once. My wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and she became so ill she was unable to work. Soon after, I was made redundant on health grounds due to a degenerative eye condition. We had no jobs, no money coming in at all and my wife was undergoing chemotherapy. As you can imagine, it was a very tough, very frightening time for us all and it truly felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. And to add to our worries, our daughter Katie was starting university and we were anxious that we wouldn’t be able to support her. The grants that the Foundation have provided for us have taken away the financial pressure we were facing so that we can concentrate on my wife’s fight against cancer. She is still undergoing treatment but it makes a huge difference to not have to worry about how we’re going to pay the bills. As for Katie, the annual scholarship and laptop you have provided for her have meant that she has been able to focus on her studies at university and I am proud to tell you she is doing really well.
Thanks to the Masonic Charitable Foundation, we now feel like we have a future to look forward to. The service has been wonderful and very professional, and the staff have made sure we are looked after. I’ve been a Mason for over 20 years and I would definitely recommend Brethren who are in need of support to apply.
Yours sincerely and fraternally, Peter
With your continuing support, the Masonic Charitable Foundation can build on the legacy established by the separate charities and transform the lives of even more people like Peter. Thank you again for inviting me to speak to you all.”
Following the address by Bro White, the RW Provincial Grand Master once again expressed his grateful thanks to WBro Chris White for taking the time and trouble to visit our annual meeting and to bring us all up to date on the exciting developments with our Masonic Charities nationally.
He said that the new Masonic Charitable Foundation had already clearly grabbed the attention and enthusiasm of the members of our Province, demonstrated by over fifty nominations which were received by the Provincial Grand Secretary for the 2017 MCF Community Awards. He was grateful to all our Brethren for the interest they have shown and the manner in which they have embraced this exciting initiative. All of the nominations received were deserving of our support, but we have been able to produce from this the required shortlist of six charities which have now been submitted. They represent causes across the whole Province and a range of needs
16 | Page which are both humbling in their objectives and inspirational in their works. We now await with eager anticipation, for the formal announcement when the national public vote is launched early next year.
Collection A collection was held in aid of the East Lancashire Masonic Charity. During the collection the Brethren sang Jerusalem.
Address of the RW Provincial Grand Master RW Provincial Grand Master:
“Brethren, please let me begin my annual address by repeating my thanks to you all for being her this afternoon.
I must also congratulate all those Brethren who are to be appointed or promoted within this Province and thank those who relinquish their appointments today, for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment.
It is also essential that I should thank the very Senior members of this Province, including the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, the Provincial Grand Secretary and all the members of the Craft Cabinet, never forgetting the Deputy Grand Superintendent, the Second Provincial Grand Principal and Third Provincial Grand Principals in the Royal Arch and, of course, all the Secretariat at Ashday Lea.
I am very lucky, because all of those Brethren and all the staff are good friends of mine and it is a privilege for me to work with them.
As many of you know, I use this annual address to highlight what has happened over the last twelve months and to share with you what is happening now and in the future.
This last year has been a very busy time for most of us.
As a result of the devastation caused by storms and flooding in this Province last Christmas, I have set up an Emergency Planning Committee and a Provincial Flood Relief Committee to ensure that we will not be caught on the back foot again. The Emergency Planning Committee under the Chairmanship of WBro Chad Northcott and the Relief Committee chaired by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master will not only disperse funds to those adversely affected in the future but will, now be in a position to react quickly and decisively should such devastation occur again.
This last year, I have concentrated on the importance of the Royal Arch Representatives in our various Craft Lodges. The selection of the right Brethren to occupy this position in the Lodges is of special significance to me to ensure that at the appropriate time more members of the Craft are encouraged to join the Holy Royal Arch. Assistance to the Lodges to accomplish the success we wish to see will be available through the Chain of Command in both the Craft and Royal Arch. We have also set up a Committee which concentrates on Recruitment of non- masons into Freemasonry.
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This Committee chaired by WBro John Farrington has already taken a number of initiatives which will assist in that process. I have appointed WBro Dr Mo Afsa as the Provincial Membership Officer and he together with the assistance of other members of John Farrington’s Committee have made a number of presentations within this Province which have been very well received.
As an important adjunction to our Recruitment Drive, earlier this year, I was delighted to launch a brand new trailer which highlights the many advantages of joining Masonry. It has already been on display at many public events such as agricultural shows, country fairs and anywhere else appropriate.
Many of you will have seen the trailer outside this Hall today and I hope you approve of our initiative. My special thanks go to WBro David Lightbown and his colleagues for ensuring that this trailer is something we can all be proud of. Please inform us whenever and wherever you think it could be effectively used.
I can also announce that the new Provincial Website is launched today.
The new format has been skilfully and professionally prepared. It is attractive and engaging and will assist us in our task for increasing recruitment as well as being of considerable assistance to all of you in keeping up to date with various developments in this Province.
I must also mention that this Province, along with others, has been selected by Grand Lodge to pilot their initiative on the Pathway strategy – again encouraging recruitment and retention and ensuring that the selection process of new members is more carefully processed.
This initiative together with Masonic Education, Leadership training and a strategy on Masonic Halls has now passed from the Membership Focus Group, set up by Grand Lodge, to a new body entitled the Improvement Delivery Group. The IDG will be under the Chairmanship of the Assistant Grand Master the Right Worshipful Bro, Sir David Wootton and I am pleased to say that the RWBro Stephen Blank will sit on it.
The preparation of many of the papers emanating from this national strategy, have been greatly assisted by the significant input of our own Provincial Grand Mentor, WBro Alan Kirwilliam and in the case of the Education initiative by WBro Chris Welton. We are emphasising the importance of our ritual and our desire to make our meetings more interesting and enjoyable in preparation for the Tercentenary next year. I promised at this meeting last year that we would launch a new Video or DVD which will go on our Website. WBro John Hesketh and his wife Sandy have already captured on film a selection of interviews with younger Brethren in this Province, many of whom wear light blue aprons, who have shared their reasons for joining and their enjoyment of Masonry. It also captures the experience of a young wife who details why she supports her husband in his Masonic journey. As this is the wife of WBro Chad Northcott, it would be appropriate to describe her as a child bride with the patience of a saint.
This video will be available in the run up to the Tercentenary and I must emphasise Brethren that this is yet another recruitment initiative.
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All of this leads me onto our Tercentenary in 2017 when we celebrate 300 years of Freemasonry. It will be a glorious opportunity for us to emphasise the importance of Masonry – not only in our communities but regionally and nationally.
As many of you know nationally the United Grand Lodge will mark the Tercentenary with a huge meeting in the Royal Albert Hall in London on the 31st October next year. It will be presided over by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Duke of Kent. That will be followed by a formal dinner at the Battersea Evolution. As one of the larger Provinces we have been allocated 71 tickets for the Royal Albert Hall and 26 tickets for the Dinner.
I am anxious that all members of the Province, irrespective of rank, should have the opportunity for applying and that any procedure implemented to allocate places is fairly administered. The Provincial Grand Secretary will – in due course – advise all our members of this procedure.
A video of both these events will capture the significance of them and I intend to arrange that to be shown within this Province at a venue and time to be decided.
Quite apart from events which will be organised by individual Lodges and Districts, it is important that I should underline what events are being organised by us at Provincial level.
First of all, I am encouraging all the various Hall Companies within the Province to open their doors to welcome, Mayors, MP’s, Leaders of the Clergy, other leaders in the community and many other non-masons to witness at first hand what we do and why we wish them to join in our celebration.
We will be holding an East Lancashire Tercentenary Dinner at the Macron Stadium in Bolton with a party worthy of our 300th Birthday and where we will simply have fun.
We will also have a Teddy Bears Picnic at Hewlett Court on Saturday, 1 July. It is an opportunity for us to showcase Freemasonry in this Province. It will be a day with something for everyone, but especially the children, grandchildren and of course teddy bears. I am still waiting for nominations from Lodges to recommend a clown in their Lodge. I would have thought it wouldn’t be difficult.
On Saturday, the 28th October we will celebrate 300 years of Freemasonry and Music by holding a unique Concert at this Hall.
It will feature the Greater Manchester Police Band, fanfare trumpeters, the superb Haydock Male Voice Choir, guest soloists all tied together with a narrative plotting our Masonic history against a historical and musical backdrop leading up to the present day.
I think perhaps the most exciting and significant event of the year is that I can now confirm that Manchester Cathedral have generously agreed to host a celebration of our 300th Birthday on Sunday, the 17th September. We are one of the few Provinces to have been able to secure such an event and the fact we have managed to do so is a great achievement for our Province. I have been ably supported in this undertaking by WBro the Reverend Canon Richard Hawkins – an Honorary Canon of
19 | Page the Cathedral, who has been tireless in arranging this landmark event. After this address, I will be appointing him to be Provincial Grand Chaplain. This event will be, of course be a family occasion and an opportunity for all religious faiths to come together and recognise and celebrate the significance of 300 years of English Freemasonry.
In addition to all this, I should inform you that I have invited the Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Duke of Kent to officially open the newly renovated Freemasons’ Hall in Manchester in the Autumn of next year.
I hope you will all be impressed by the events which I have now catalogued. Just looking at them and thinking about them, I am physically and mentally exhausted. I am sure you will support them wherever you can.
Brethren, many of you will have realised that throughout this address, I have repeatedly referred to the importance of us enjoying our Freemasonry. It is in my opinion, the most important part of our commitment to the Craft. Without that enjoyment, none of us would continue to do what we do.
But there is another very significant bond which binds us all together and that is the critical importance of family to each and every one of us.
In the website of the United Grand Lodge of England it emphasises that all Freemasons consider the importance of family to be “Paramount”.
You will soon discover when the new video is launched, that in my brief introduction to it that I use the words – and I quote – “as Freemasons, we are expected to put our families first”.
These words are not some idle dream or a placatory statement simply to encourage people to join us but a fundamental truth which is the cornerstone of our commitment to a civilized society.
Whilst it is true that we are one of the world’s oldest and longest non-religious fraternal and charitable organisations, it is also true that we are very proud of the fact that we have members who are Christians, Jewish, Muslim and from many other denominations.
What is significant is that all these denominations prize, the importance of family as being paramount in their lives. Every single one of them.
It is an unequivocal statement that our families in general have such importance to us, that they are the glue which holds us together and has a deeper meaning which allows us to become better people in such a troublesome and turbulent world.
I am very proud of that commitment; it has immense significance for me personally. It is no wonder then that in every description of Freemasonry to enlighten non masons of our beliefs, whether on a website, in serious articles on the Craft and in our ceremonies, the word “family” occurs, time and time again.
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I have only just realised that when I was describing the events planned for our Tercentenary, I used words such as “this will be a family occasion” or “this will be family event”. That in itself is significant!!
Finally, Brethren, there is of course, another family. The family of Masons which I am proud to be a member of. Your help and support in ensuring that this family of masons in this Province is in good heart is invaluable. It is a powerful force for good. As in Freemasonry in general!
In a world full of people who couldn’t “care less”, we all try to be people who “care more”.
I wish each and every one of you continued success in the year that lies ahead.
To present Certificates of Exceptional Service The RW Provincial Grand Master then asked the Provincial Grand Secretary to read out the name of the Brother who had been awarded a Certificate of Exceptional Service.
The Provincial Grand Secretary: “Bro Edwin Baines was initiated into Freemasonry in Albert Lodge No 854 in 1997 and has served the Province continually since that time. He was promoted to his current rank of PProvDepGReg in 2011.
He was Exalted into Albert Chapter No 854 in 2003 and was promoted to his current Provincial rank of PProv1stAGSoj in 2015.
To say that Bro Baines has been a valued and dedicated member of the Oldham District Committee since 2008 is a considerable under statement. But it has been his work in identifying community based projects within the Oldham District which has been exceptional.
Bro Baines, in addition to preparing a full plan of work and estimate of costs, organises the volunteer members of Oldham District Lodges and the funding for materials via the ELMC Community Fund. Although he supervises the work, it is fair to say that he carries out much of it himself. From equipping community centre kitchens to renovating an ATC Drill Hall; refurbishing amenity areas for patients with mental health issues to building changing facilities for children’s football teams as well as new shower facilities for local Sea Cadets. The list does go on.
At eighty years of age, Bro Baines’ tireless dedication is an inspiration to all whom he meets and he facilitates all of this with charm, quiet selfless dignity and always with the needs of the less fortunate in view. A true Freemason and one this Province is proud to have in its number.”
Bro Baines was escorted to the stage for presentation.
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Investiture The RW Provincial Grand Master reiterated his thanks to the Provincial Grand Wardens and other outgoing Officers of the year and those continuing in office for their hard work and support.
He then asked the Provincial Grand Secretary to read out the names of those to be honoured:
INVESTITURE ProvSGW David Hudson, PProvJGW ...... 152 ProvJGW Terry Kakoullis, PProvJGW ...... 37 ProvGChap The Rev Canon Richard Hawkins ...... 8561 ProvGTreas Ashley Hayman ...... 3140 ProvGReg Michael Church-Taylor ...... 3342 ProvGSec Martin Roche, PSGD ...... 64 ProvGDC John Griffin, PAGDC ...... 4661 ProvGSwdB Douglas Smith, PProvSGD ...... 363 ProvGSuptWks Chris Wildman, PProvDepGDC ...... 6594 ProvDepGDC Philip Collier, PProvGSuptWks ...... 5814 ProvDepGDC Andrew Taylor ...... 8542 ProvGAlm Mark Davis, PAGDC ...... 992 ProvGChStwd Ken Davies, MBE, PProvSGW ...... 298 ProvGMentor Alan Kirwilliam, PAGStB ...... 8825 ProvSGD Ian Batty ...... 3478 ProvSGD Raymond Degg ...... 4964 ProvSGD Chris Hegarty, PProvGStwd ...... 7968 ProvSGD Bruce Pollard, PProvAGDC ...... 369 ProvJGD Colin Barton, PProvGStB ...... 8249 ProvJGD David Duxbury ...... 54 ProvJGD Terry Marney, PProvAGDC ...... 992 ProvJGD Ross Turner ...... 274 ProvAGChap Russell Conn, PProvDepGDC ...... 8947 ProvAGReg Edward Freeman ...... 8947 ProvAGSec Andrew Holland, PAGSwdB ...... 4365 ProvAGDC Mark Barlow ...... 4703 ProvAGDC Christopher Cunliffe ...... 268 ProvAGDC Steven Flanagan ...... 934 ProvAGDC David Kemp ...... 7933 ProvAGDC Darren Kennedy ...... 4553 ProvAGDC Richard Kenyon ...... 1083 ProvGOrg Paul Bowen, PGOrg ...... 3248 ProvGStB James Burns, ProvAGStB ...... 8528 ProvGStB Michael Sutton ...... 2560 ProvAGStB Chris Carter ...... 581 ProvGPurs Brian Robinson, PProvSGW ...... 3248 ProvGStwd John Curry ...... 3837 ProvGStwd Dr Andrew Halford ...... 3317 ProvGStwd Russell Harwood ...... 283 ProvGStwd David Kyme ...... 2560 ProvGStwd Adrian May ...... 6163
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ProvGStwd Richard Sagar ...... 5118 ProvGStwd Steven Stanley ...... 268 ProvGStwd Stephen Thomson ...... 6594 ProvGStwd Andrew Tonge ...... 7968 ProvGStwd Peter Wood ...... 9174 ProvGTyler Jim Smith ...... 462
PROMOTIONS PAST PROVINCIAL SENIOR GRAND WARDEN Jim Adams, PProvDepGSwdB ...... 210 Paul Brookes, PProvGSuptWks ...... 1773 Robert Calrow, PProvJGW ...... 1012 Barry Leech, PProvJGW ...... 5309 Nigel Pickering, PProvJGW ...... 8825
PAST PROVINCIAL JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN Mohamad Afsa, PProvSGD ...... 3140 Peter Douthwaite, PProvGSwdB ...... 268 Maj Brandon Fowden, PProvGSwdB ...... 2320 Bob King, PProvGSwdB ...... 369 Howard Munton, PProvGSwdB ...... 78 Andrew Procter, PProvDepGDC ...... 345 Peter Rhodes, PProvDepGSwdB ...... 6721 Paul Roberts, PProvGSwdB ...... 5140 Les Taylor, PProvGSwdB ...... 3837
PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND SWORD BEARER Syd Bardsley, PProvDepGSwdB ...... 462 Raymond Barnes, PProvGSuptWks ...... 3716 Richard Bermitz, PProvDepGDC ...... 1798 Steven Boyle, PProvGSuptWks ...... 210 Clive Carroll, PProvDepGReg ...... 462 Allan Cunliffe, PProvDepGSwdB ...... 7489 Colin Farrow, PProvDepGReg ...... 5120 Peter Hegarty, PProvDepGDC ...... 7968 Peter Jones, PProvDepGReg ...... 348 Graham Smith, PProvDepGSwdB ...... 4402 Raymond Tattersall, PProvDepGReg ...... 462
PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND SUPERINTENDENT OF WORKS Eric Bond, PProvDepGReg ...... 2529 Peter Cryer, PProvDepGReg ...... 226 Brian Daber, PProvDepGSuptWks ...... 4207 David Garnett, PProvDepGReg ...... 6721 Philip Myers, PProvDepGReg ...... 5118 Melvyn Rosenthal, PProvSGD ...... 8947 David Wright, PProvDepGDC ...... 226
PAST PROVINCIAL DEPUTY GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES Jack Ball, PProvJGD ...... 6163
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John Bentley, PProvJGD ...... 678 Stephen Bissett, PProvSGD ...... 2363 Keith Buckley, PProvJGD ...... 854 Imre Burjan, PProvSGD ...... 2917 Stuart Butterworth, PProvSGD ...... 3282 Roy Chapman, PProvSGD ...... 4553 Anthony Coffey, PProvSGD ...... 4315 Michael Cohen, PProvSGD ...... 5309 Gordon Cresswell, PProvSGD ...... 6521 Paul Doran, PProvSGD ...... 8763 David Dredge, ProvSGD ...... 6577 Richard Elliott, PProvJGD ...... 5309 Bill Fishwick, PProvSGD ...... 3322 Clive Goldman, PProvSGD ...... 6594 Peter Green, PProvJGD ...... 7869 Kenny Greer, PProvGStwd ...... 6721 Kenneth Grundy, PProvSGD ...... 4595 Geoffrey Guy, PProvSGD ...... 4207 Robert Hathaway, PProvSGD ...... 4315 Barry Heal, PProvSGD ...... 9101 Frank Howard, PProvAGDC ...... 381 Dennis Jones, PProvSGD ...... 5309 David Kelly, PProvSGD ...... 816 John Le Brun, PProvSGD ...... 5120 Martin McKinley, PProvSGD ...... 5677 Roy Morris, PProvJGD ...... 3322 Kirk Mulhearn, PProvSGD ...... 6521 Paul O'Carroll, ProvJGD ...... 44 Aubrey Oldham, PProvSGD ...... 816 Bernard Percy, PProvJGD ...... 298 John Polson, PProvJGD ...... 1519 Ken Rowlatt, PProvSGD ...... 367 Thomas Ryan, PProvSGD ...... 678 Dennis Schiff, PProvSGD ...... 999 Derek Smith, PProvSGD ...... 283 Terry Smith, PProvSGD ...... 7869 Kevan Stephenson, PProvSGD ...... 5814 Stephen Terry, PProvSGD ...... 5309 Peter Whitnall, PProvSGD ...... 191 James Wilkins, PProvSGD ...... 344 David Williams, PProvSGD ...... 8896 Gary Williams, PProvSGD ...... 4402 Lawrence Yarwood, PProvJGD ...... 146
PAST PROVINCIAL SENIOR GRAND DEACON Peter Barton-Price, PProvAGDC ...... 3282 Jonathan Basger, PProvGStwd ...... 6594 Nicholas Bellas, PProvAGDC ...... 8542 Neil Bostock, PProvAGDC ...... 8879 Peter Brodie, PProvAGSuptWks ...... 581 John Cooper, ProvAGDC ...... 2529
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Stephen Crowther, ProvGStwd ...... 4591 Bill Edisbury, PProvAGDC ...... 6164 Michael Faraday, PProvAGDC ...... 369 Frank Firth, PProvAGDC ...... 325 Joe Galvin, ProvAGDC ...... 226 Anthony Gillard, ProvGStwd ...... 367 Kevin Hawley, ProvGStwd ...... 4315 Brian Hill, PProvAGDC ...... 1144 Stephen Holland, ProvGStwd ...... 8825 Rob Horwich, PProvAGDC ...... 1798 Glyn Jones, PProvAGDC ...... 42 Bill Jordan, PProvAGDC ...... 325 Gerard Journo, PProvAGDC ...... 6594 Harvey Kaye, PProvAGStB ...... 2905 Paul Kinsella, PProvAGDC ...... 6164 Ritesh Mehta, ProvGStwd ...... 3788 Keith Newsome, ProvAGDC ...... 3478 Trevor Pickles, PProvAGDC ...... 116 Russell Pike, ProvGStwd ...... 3615 Mark Reader, PProvAGDC ...... 210 Steven Roberts, ProvGStwd ...... 5633 Alan Roscoe, PProvAGDC ...... 3326 Michael Schofield, PProvAGDC ...... 128 Peter Shrigley, PProvGStB ...... 816 Frank Stansfield, PProvAGDC ...... 268 Jeffrey Stones, PProvAGDC ...... 4574 Michael Stubbs, ProvGStwd ...... 3949 John Styles, ProvAGSuptWks ...... 6005 Lt Col Leslie Taylor-Duff, PProvAGDC ...... 2322 Roy Tindall, ProvGStB ...... 1144 Norman Wharf, ProvAGDC ...... 1504 James Whittaker, ProvAGDC ...... 4858 Brian Wilbraham, PProvJGD ...... 5588
PAST PROVINCIAL JUNIOR GRAND DEACON Luke Griffiths, ProvGStwd ...... 9174 Bob Lucas, PProvAGStB ...... 5633 Tony Mason, PProvAGDC ...... 1798 Thomas Mills, PProvAGDC ...... 5040 Frank Peel, PProvAGDC ...... 7489 Alan Pojur, PProvAGSwdB ...... 2905 Anthony Wainwright, PProvAGDC ...... 1534
PAST PROVINCIAL ASSISTANT GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES Howard Burns, ProvGStwd ...... 6594 Patrick O'Neill, PProvAGStB ...... 5040
APPOINTMENTS PAST PROVINCIAL SENIOR GRAND WARDEN Alan Tibbetts ...... 9659
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PAST PROVINCIAL SENIOR GRAND DEACON Jonathan Brownson ...... 5813 Brian Holland ...... 9468 Arthur Price ...... 6521 Eric Simcox ...... 4315
PAST PROVINCIAL JUNIOR GRAND DEACON Andrew Bishop ...... 4111 Mike Bluer ...... 6522 Leslie Bond ...... 4295 Graham Chadwick ...... 1519 Brian Fawcett ...... 344 Mark Griffin ...... 9659 Kevin Hatton ...... 3837 Alexander Hosford ...... 1519 David Law ...... 8763 Jeremy Martin ...... 3140 Pat McEvoy ...... 42 James McNally ...... 4703 Peter Mullings ...... 5309 Steven Smith ...... 6163 Brian Stevens ...... 5040 Alan Williams ...... 462 Patrick Wynne ...... 8529
PAST PROVINCIAL ASSISTANT GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES Tom Binns ...... 5218 Fred Blackburn ...... 191 Syd Burch ...... 4767 Jeffrey Caplan ...... 1798 Alan Clarke ...... 210 Barry Cunningham ...... 4402 Michael Dickson ...... 7968 Ernest Earlam ...... 3989 Wayne Edmondson ...... 6538 John Evans ...... 3786 Peter Evans ...... 816 David Frieslander ...... 1798 John Hayden ...... 8542 Tony Head ...... 6163 David Hilton ...... 2560 Peter Hughes ...... 5205 David Liversidge ...... 2193 Neil Martin ...... 8896 Gerald Norman ...... 4564 Richard Payne ...... 4767 Grahame Peel ...... 5205 Mark Pickup ...... 2529 John Pritchard ...... 1218 Gordon Robinson ...... 3786
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Keith Robinson ...... 350 Ian Southern ...... 9248 Paul Spencer ...... 9174 Bill Whitton ...... 1012
PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND STANDARD BEARER Michael Dugdill ...... 4641 Roger Marsh ...... 4767 Andrew Turner ...... 5140
“Sir, the following additional Honours have also been conferred during the year:-
WBro Roy Woodcock was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer at the Bi-Centenary of St John’s Lodge No 348.
WBro Eric Cropper was promoted to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden at the 150th celebration of Townley Parker Lodge No 1083.
WBro Michael Stanistreet was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer at the 250th celebration of the Lodge of Integrity No 163.
WBro Jack Hall was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works at the Bi-Centenary celebration of Charity Lodge No 350.
WBro Neil MacSymons was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden at the meeting of the East Lancashire Provincial Grand Officers’ Lodge No 3747 and
WBro Geoffrey Bent was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden earlier today.
Sir, you have been pleased to confer a total of 230 appointments, re-appointments and promotions in your 2016 Honours List.
To receive a Report on the attendance. The total attendance was 861 with 72 Grand Officers, 517 Provincial Grand Officers, 146 Masters and Past Masters and 126 Master Masons.
The collection for the East Lancashire Masonic Charity raised £4,520.93 together with £1077.92 in Tax Relief giving a grand total of £5,598.85
Any Other Business The RW Provincial Grand Master finished by saying: I want to thank the Chairman of the East Lancashire Masonic Charity and the Chairmen of the various sub-Committees who work tirelessly throughout the year on behalf of the Province and who are an essential part of our structure.
I also wish to place on record my sincere thanks to the many people involved in organising today’s meeting. In particular, the Provincial Grand Secretary, Martin Roche, the Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary, Andrew Holland, the Provincial Office Manager, Susan O’Neill the Administrator, Anne Donnelly, and, of course, all 27 | Page the volunteers. We are of course missing one important member of that team this year, WBro Roger Norris who is recuperating from major surgery. We wish him well for a speedy recovery.
Likewise, we must congratulate the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team, for their splendid ceremonial presentation which was most impressive.
I also wish to give a special thank you to our Tyler, Jim Smith and his team for all their arrangements today.
On your entry to King Georges Hall today you were guided by Stewards from the East Ribble District led by the District Chairman, Bro David Lightbown and from the Provincial Grand Stewards’ Lodge No 8408.
Outside this main hall, guarding and ensuring our privacy are our Security Brethren, under the direction of Bro Steve Smith.
Thanks also to our soundmen Bro John Hesketh and Bro Peter Hegarty.
Our thanks are also extended to our “medical staff” led by Bro Eddie Barlow and to the Charity Stewards, under the direction of Bro Brian Bennion who have efficiently taken our contributions towards the ELMC.
The Provincial Grand Secretary reported that there was no further business that could be properly brought before this meeting. The Proceedings concluded with the singing of two verses of the National Anthem.
WBro Martin P Roche, JP, PSGD, PAPGM, ProvGSec
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