Towering glory

One hundred years of masonic meetings in Blackpool’s Masonic Hall have been commemorated with the issue of special commemorative covers. A special postmark has been designed which merges the masonic symbols of a square and compasses with the famous Blackpool Tower. Meanwhile, the Province of South Wales Eastern Division has also commissioned a limited edition first day cover to commemorate the installations of the RW Provincial Grand Master and the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent at Builth Wells. Only 1,000 have been printed and a few are still available at £2.50. Signed copies are £5 plus 50p p&p in each case from Provincial Office (FDC), 7 Guildford Street, Cardiff, CF1 4HL.

Top of the world

W Bro Graham Chipperfield of Bristol’s Peace Lodge No 3992 took part in a sponsored hike for Scope, formerly the Spastics Society, which took him to Gillman’s Point, 18,700 feet up Mount Kilimanjaro. Now he is planning another walk for charity, following the Inca trail in Peru to Maccu Picchu. Before that he is returning to the Chair of Peace Lodge, 11 years after he was first made Master.

Masonic hall destroyed by fire

Saffron Walden’s Masonic Hall has been destroyed by a fire. Local premises were sought as temporary accommodation after the blaze which destroyed the whole of the upstairs and roof area and the temple and its contents were completely destroyed. Most of the Robing Room was devastated by either the fire or by water and smoke damage. Some of the various lodges’ regalia was saved from the fire but all needed cleaning or attention. The Saffron Walden Freemasons Hall Association was making a video for future historical purposes and as a record of how they recover from the event. Association chairman W Bro John Emerick, who was called by the fire brigade, said: “You can imagine when I arrived and saw the extent of the fire, I realised just how much of our history and building was going to be lost and I have to admit I was in tears at the sight of this.”

Hospice help

Middlesex Freemasons have given a further £3,000 to hospices in Harrow, Hampton and Harlington. On a national level, in the last 10 years almost 200 hospices throughout the country have received contributions from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity Hospice Project, totalling almost £2.5 million.

Open house

An open day was held at the only masonic hall in the country (apart from Jersey) where all the lodges in one Province meet together: Freemasons’ Hall, Bristol.

Heart Circle

The Dursley-based Gloucestershire Lodge of Agriculture has donated £1,000 to the South West Children’s Heart Circle for the purchase of two diagnostic blood test machines.

Generous kick-off

The Vassar-Smith Lodge of Lynley, Gloucestershire, marked the start of its new season of meetings by making donations to local medical causes. Cheques of £500 went to the Gloucester Royal Hospital Coronary Care Unit, the Friends of Linley Hospital and the Great Oaks Forest of Dean Hospice.

Visit by MP

Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson has spent some time with Gloucestershire Freemasons when he toured the masonic hall in Trinity Walk. He was welcomed by Provincial Grand Master Peter Marsh and a member of the hall management committee, Bob Macrea.

Splashing out

A sustained campaign among the Freemasons of Ashton, Audenshaw and Mossley has raised the magnificent sum of £26,000 for the provision of a hydrotherapy pool at the Willow Wood Hospice in the Tameside area of Greater Manchester.

Russian ceremony

A demonstration by the Monmouth Masonic Study Group of a Russian initiation ceremony as performed by the Lodge of Apollo in 1810 is to be given on Wednesday 8 March 2000, at Freemasons’ Hall, London. It is part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of Cannon Lodge No. 1539. Dining follows in the Connaught Rooms, and details can be obtained from W Bro GWI Snelling on 020 8599 8589.

Flying high

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire is on permanent view at Birmingham Airport. Arriving passengers now see a plaque with details of how to get in touch with the Province.

Double event

Solicitor and deputy district judge Peter Walthall (pictured right) has succeeded James Dunsford Hemsley as Provincial Grand Master for East Lancashire. Earlier on the same day he was invested as Provincial Grand Superintendent in Royal Arch.

In remembrance

Reverting to the traditions of some 50 years ago, Freemasons participated in the London Borough of Brent’s Remembrance Parade and Service. Information officer Keith Waters said: “We joined with other organisations to lay a wreath to honour the memory of the many Freemasons who had given their lives in service to their country.”

Fine century

W. Bro Norman Bryning of Suffolk’s Anchor Lodge No 1337, reaches 100 years of age in January 2000, and in October celebrated 60 years as a member of the Craft.

Chair for Sabash

Ballards Lodge No 5091, Surrey, gave £500 for a 14 year old Nepalese boy, Sabash, who suffers from the effects of cerebral palsy, to be provided with a special wheelchair. The lodge has also recognised local needs by donating £475 to James Terry Court and raised £700 for the Surrey County Hospital St Luke’s cancer fund.

Nairobi consecration

Twenty two years after Freemasonry was introduced into the Republic of Seychelles, an Installed Masters Lodge was consecrated at Freemasons’ Hall, Nairobi.

Open House

The London Masonic Centre at Clerkenwell was again part of the London Open House event supported by more than 450 buildings throughout Greater London with features of special architectural interest. It was visited by 350-plus people during the morning who were shown around by guides from the various lodges and chapters meeting there. During the morning £1,500 was presented to Prof Tony Mellows, Chancellor of the Order of St. John, celebrating its 900th anniversary this year, and housed nearby in premises dating to 1504, by Graham Seabrook, chairman of CLMC Ltd.

Lodge of note

The Bank of England Lodge No 263 has been celebrating its bi-centenary, while an exhibition staged by the Library and Museum of Freemasonry at Freemasons’ Hall has included a large number of artefacts associated with the lodge. A special dinner was also held in the 17th century hall of the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers in the City of London.

Top guns

Provinces of Cumberland and Westmoreland, Yorkshire West Riding, Cheshire, West Lancashire and the hosts, East Lancashire, took part in the annual Inter Provincial Society competition held at Kelbrook Shooting Lodge, Kelbrook, on the summit of Noyna Rock, near the legendary Pendle Hill. The Watson Eden Trophy went to the host team. High Gun was W Bro Mark Donnelly.

Flying the flag

The centenary of St Michael’s Lodge, Newquay, was celebrated with the dedication of a new banner, the gift of the Master, Jim Byrne. PGM Nicholas Barrington led the ceremonies and the dedication and address was by the Provincial Grand Chaplain, the Rev HCT. Olivey. The banner, which took Gillian Nott of Quintrell Downs over five months to make, depicts St. Michael slaying the dragon, the emblem of a pilchard representing the town and the coats of arms of two old Cornish families both closely associated with local Freemasonry.

Welcome boost

Pro Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex, the Rev David Bonner has presented a £25,000 cheque - a grant awarded by the Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys - towards the appeal fund for the Children’s Centre at the Northwick Park Hospital, Middlesex. Cheques totalling £1,000 from individual lodges at the Harrow Masonic Centre were also presented.

Full circle

Thirty years after he was first installed as Master of Bucklebury Lodge 8129, founder member Bro Alan Eadie became Master again. An avid collector of masonic memorabilia, brethren from the Masonic Philatelic Club, The Mark Token Collectors’ Club and the Jewels of the Craft Study Circle, among others, turned out to support him.

Golden years

A celebration of Bro. Vernon Hargreaves’ 50 years in Freemasonry was held at Accrington Masonic Hall. Guests included district chairman Derek Day and congratulations came from, among others, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Dr A Ramsden.