Cheshire

Beneficent Lodge No 6472 in Macclesfield was host in April to the Master and 10 brethren of Santa Rosa Lodge No 16 of Milton, Florida, USA. Another ‘visitor’ to the festive board was a travelling gavel which originated from Lodge Wyong No 247, NSW, Australia. Speaking for the gavel, its maker, W Bro Rick Howes, stated in his introductory letter: “I was made, and presented for the purpose of getting brethren to visit lodges, and have eight travelling gavel brothers throughout the world, all doing a fine job.” The gavel has been hosted by 11 lodges in this country.

Cornwall

Six masons have recently returned from a spectacular visit to California where they stayed at Cornish ‘twin cities’ (Nevada-Penzance; Grass Valley-Bodmin), hosted by two US lodges, having seen the old mining areas where their ancestors worked. Philip Southwood, WM of St Levan Lodge, Penzance (pictured below, fourth from left, back row), said: “We were treated like royalty by our American hosts.” Highlights of the tour were the welcomes given by the Mayor of Grass Valley and its Madison Lodge, and at the Nevada City Lodge. The San Francisco Masonic Memorial Temple was also specially opened for them.

Durham

Saint Cecilia Lodge No 9685 was consecrated on 21 November 1998 at Wearside Masonic Temple in Sunderland by RW Bro Dr AM Davison, Provincial Grand Master of Durham, and will meet five times a year in Durham (four meetings accompanied by appropriate music and the fifth, a performance evening). The lodge’s first Master, VW Bro George Cheesmond was inspired to create the lodge by his observations of the wealth of musical talent possessed by brethren. Saint Cecilia is a musician’s lodge, supporting talented young musicians with masonic connections. The long-term aim is to create a provincial choir and orchestra. Another aim is to encourage music by the awarding of a bursary grant, supported directly by additions to the founders’ annual subscriptions.

East Lancashire

On 20 May 1999, Bank Terrace Chapter No 462 (Accrington) celebrated 100 years of continuous working. About 100 Companions filled the Chapter Room for the celebrations led by James Dunsford Hemsley, Grand Superintendent of the Province. Chapter Scribe E, E Comp Gordon Haworth delivered a potted history of the Chapter (his booklet on the subject was also deposited at Accrington Central Library in the interests of openness), followed by an oration by the Provincial Third Grand Principal, E Comp Dr Nigel Bramley-Haworth. The Chapter First Principal then presented a cheque for £1000 to the Grand Superintendent for the Province’s 2004 Festival for the Grand Charity. The picture shows (l to r) the Grand Superintendent, Second Principal E Comp Roy Taylor, Third Principal E Comp Clive Carroll and First Principal E Comp Jack Aston with the Centenary Warrant.

Gloucestershire

April saw Kingswood Chase Lodge in Bristol honour its oldest member, E Cecil Kendall, who celebrated 70 years of masonic membership, having joined the Craft in 1929. Bro Kendall, 92, holds a national Grand Rank honour for his services to Freemasonry. In thanking the lodge for the gift of a painting, he mentioned that when he joined, the lodge met at the Church Institute in Staple Hill, which meant a walk to the Horseshoe Pub for supper afterwards. He was present when the masonic hall in Downend was opened in 1931, serving on the management committee from 1961 to 1992. “It has been a wonderful experience, great fun - I wish I could do it all over again” Bro Kendall concluded. 90 members and guests witnessed the Province’s Provicial Grand Master, Peter Marsh, present the painting of Downend Cricket Club to Bro Kendall (pictured left) who has a lifelong love of the game.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight

The name ‘Gateway Lodge’ took on a new meaning recently when it lent its name to a magnificent purpose-built wendy house, erected in ‘Naomi House’, the new Children’s Hospice in Sutton Scotney, near Winchester. Lodge members raised £5000 to complete the project which stands two storeys high, replete with fitted kitchen, balcony carvings and wheelchair access. The picture shows Mrs Jean Miles, Senior Administrator, receiving the keys from members of Gateway Lodge.

London

Neil Dunnet is the Secretary of Mill Hill Lodge No 3574. He is also a ‘legger’ for the BT Global Challenge 2000/01 yacht race which set sail in September to sail around the world the wrong way - against prevailing winds and currents. Mill Hill has pledged £1000 towards his personal target of £8,888 for the race charity, Save the Children Fund. The Cathedral Lodge No 2741 (S.Paul’s) celebrated its centenary on June 28 with a song written by RW Bro Canon Richard Tydeman and set to music by the Master, VW Bro Andrew Pearmain, a former vicar choral and deputy organist. The idea of a lodge for members of the cathedral staff was conceived under the dome of S.Paul’s during a Sunday afternoon service towards the close of 1898 by an assistant vicar choral, W Bro Charles Tinney and consecrated at the old Freemason’s Hall on Monday 15 May 1899. The first Master was VW Bro the Ven WM Sinclair, Archdeacon of London with Bro Sir George Martin, the cathedral organist, as organist. Eight vicars choral and four former choristers were among the founders.

Middlesex

The Middlesex Masonic Choir was formed several years ago to perform at consecrations, ladies and other festivals and Provincial Grand Lodge meetings, including the annual masonic service held in October at St Albans Cathedral. On Saturday 17 April the choir performed to a packed house of Chelsea Pensioners, their families and friends, at a concert held at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea - the first time the full choir (which includes sopranos and contraltos) had given a concert to a non-masonic audience. The pensioners gave full voice to choruses of Pack up your Troubles, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, Now is the Hour and other popular songs. At the conclusion of the concert, the hospital’s adjutant, Brigadier AG Ross, OBE, presented the choir’s director of music, Martin Katz, with a cheque for £100 towards charity, hoping the event would become an annual one.

North Wales

After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, North Wales’ Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro IL Mackeson-Sandbach, set up a fund to provide equipment for disabled and elderly non-masons. Mrs Veronica Williams, the wife of a member of Yale Lodge No 5636, nominated 10 year old Natalie Povey, who suffers from spina bifida, for a quality home computer system. Philip Miller, headmaster of Natalie’s school, St Giles, in Wrexham, said: “This is a wonderful gift for Natalie, who is a bright girl, and it will help her enormously. We can’t thank the masons of North Wales enough for such an expensive gift. She is absolutely delighted with it.” The picture shows W Bro Eric Hill, chairman of the Wrexham Group of Lodges, presenting the computer to Natalie, watched by Mrs Williams and W Bro Stephen Kelley, Master of Yale Lodge.

South Wales

Freemasons are supporting the 1999 Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in Wales. This international initiative, run by cancer charities across the world, will this year have a grand finale in Wales with a Pink Ribbon Ball. Organised on behalf of Welsh cancer charity Tenovus by the Lodge of Enterprise, the ball will take place in the Cardiff Bay Coal Exchange on November 13 to raise a substantial sum for charity. A range of top entertainment is being arranged for the event. Proceeds will mainly go to Tenovus’ breast cancer research at University Hospital, Cardiff, as well as masonic charities. Tickets for the ball are available from Tenovus on 02920 621433, or visit the Lodge of Enterprise web site http://www.enterprise.masons.org.uk

Staffordshire

Sunday 23 May 1999 saw Canon Charles Taylor, Precentor of Lichfield Cathedral, welcome Stafforshire Freemasons, their wives, families and friends to a service of thanksgiving and dedication for the Province. The canon spoke of the continuing financial support of brethren for the cathedral and particularly its bell frame. Contributions to the service came from a number of masons, including the Provincial Grand Master, Kevin Chawner, the Provincial Chaplain, Stephen Cooke, and the provincial choir. The collection amounted to £1000 and was given to cathedral funds.

Sussex

On Thursday 20 May, brethren at the Sussex Masonic Centre in Brighton witnessed the installation of Bro Bryan Goatcher into the chair of Arthur Jolly Lodge No 8102. Bro Bryan is unable to speak and also suffers a hearing defect after a severe stroke deprived him not only of his ability to communicate directly but also the use of his right arm. Bro Goatcher’s ‘voice’ was provided by W Bro Steve Thompson Prov SGD, who will continue to provide this assistance. Permission for his progression was given by Past Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Llewellyn CBE, an honorary member of the lodge, who attended with the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VW Bro Don Durrant. W Bro Geoff Field performed an outstandingly moving ceremony which brought tears to the eyes of many brethren, as did the subsequent festive board and master’s song. W Bro Goatcher’s installation truly shows the brotherly love, caring, affection and dedication of the Craft at its best. The lodge is in for a great year.