Group has three new officials
The Warrington Group of Lodges and Chapters is looking forward to the new season with three new officers now in place.
Chris Eyres took over as vice chairman of the group a few weeks ago and now Andy Barton has taken over as secretary from Colin Boardman who has held the post since 2004.
The group’s new treasurer is Jim Cartledge who succeeds Doug Morton.
Andy is a member of Warrington Temple Lodge No 6420 and is an experience secretary having done that job for the lodge since 2006.. He was initiated in 1992 and became WM seven years later, serving as Master again in 2003. Andy has also been the lodge’s charity steward and ADC. Andy was Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in 2002 and was promoted to the rank of PPrSGD four years later. He has also served the group as a mentor since 2009.
He was exalted into Gilbert Greenall Chapter No 1250 in 1994 and served as First Principal in 2005. He was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward in 2007. Andy is also member of the Red Cross of Constantine.
Married to Kath, they have two daughters. Andy starting work with Laportes/Solvay as an apprentice fitter and is now a senior mechanical engineering technician with Solvay Interox and has been with the company for 30 years
Andy says that one of his greatest achievements has been walking 200 miles coast to coast – St Bees Head to Robin Hood’s Bay - in 1996 to raise money for the Warrington Baby Care unit.
In addition to being group secretary, Colin Boardman has also been responsible for setting up and running the Warrington Group Website, a job he will continue to do. Colin is also to continue assisting the group by producing the year book.
A retired ship’s master, Colin is a member of Academy Lodge No 9328, Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters and Quingenti Lodge. He was a Provincial Grand Steward in 2003 and now holds the rank of PPrJGW. In the Royal Arch Colin is a member of Travellers Chapter and Loyalty Chapter. He was honoured by the Province in 2009 when he served as Provincial Grank Registrar and now holds the rank of PPrGSN.
Jim Cartledge is not only treasuer of St Oswald Lodge No 5170 but also occupies the same post for the Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters No 9057 and St Elphine Chapter No 3287.
Group chairman Ian Boswell said: “Barry Jameson, having been appointed to Provincial Grand Charity Steward at the Provincial meeting in May has not been able to continue as our group vice chairman. In his place the Provincial Grand Master has appointed Chris Eyres, as vice chairman. Chris is a well-known and popular member of this and neighbouring groups and I am sure he will quickly adapt to the demands of his new office. I welcome him to the group executive and look forward to working with him in that capacity. He has a steep learning curve ahead of him, but I am sure that the members of the group will give him every support.
“I am delighted that Andy Barton, accepted my invitation to take over the duties of group secretary, to follow in the very able footsteps of our retiring group secretary, Colin Boardman. Colin has been Group Secretary for six years and has shouldered the large secretarial burden with great cheerfulness and efficiency. He will be a tough act to follow; however, Andy has some prior knowledge of the work involved because he has assisted with the compilation of our Yearbook for some years. I am sure he will prove to be an able successor to Colin. Again I am sure that the members of the group will give Andy every support in his new and demanding office.
“There has been another change in the group structure. Our group treasurer, Doug Morton has had to relinquish the post because of his relocation to Scotland. Doug filled this office with great diligence and cheerfulness and I thank him for this on behalf of the group. I am pleased to say that Jim Cartledge, has agreed to become our new treasurer. Jim is well known in the group as a reliable and conscientious treasurer and I am sure he will prove to be so when handling the group's accounts.
“On behalf of the members of the group, I thank our retiring officers for their hard work for us all, and I welcome their successors to the fray!”
Colin Boardman (left) hands over just a couple of group files to Andy Barton, his successor as secretary of the Warrington Group.
Alan Bristow has found a novel way of keeping his sponsors informed of his fund-raising efforts to mark his 70th birthday.
Alan had decided that at the age of 70 the time has arrived for him to scale the heights. To mark his milestone birthday Alan decided to scale the highest peaks in the country to raise money for charity.
His planned ascents were Scafell Pike with his son-in-law Paul before going on to walk up Snowdon with his daughter Menna and finally tackle Ben Nevis with his son Robert.
To let his sponsors know how he is doing a cartoon style page has been created which he has sent by email to many of his sponsors and which can be seen below.
Alan is hoping for attract sponsorship which will go into the charity account of the Lodge of Charity No 2651.
Success for Alan
Alan Bristow found a novel way of keeping his sponsors informed of his fund-raising efforts to mark his 70th birthday.
Alan had decided that at the age of 70 the time has arrived for him to scale the heights. To mark his milestone birthday Alan decided to scale the highest peaks in the country to raise money for charity.
He has now successfully completed ascents of Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis.
To let his sponsors know how he was doing a cartoon style page was been created which he has sent by email to many of his sponsors and the final one of which can be seen below.
Alan is hoping for attract sponsorship which will go into the charity account of the Lodge of Charity No 2651.
Cash help for community hospital
Freemasons have now donated more than £2,000 to Newton Community Hospital.
The latest donation to be presented was for £550 which had been raised by a St George’s Day event in Warrington Masonic Hall.
The cheque was presented by Warrington Group Chairman Ian Boswell to hospital matron Sue Winstanley and Florence Fairhurst who is assistant treasurer of Newton Community Hospital Welfare Assocation.
There is a strong link between Warrington Group Freemasons and the hospital as Norman Pritchard, Bob Williams and Arthur Hamblett are all members of the welfare association.
Sue Winstanley said the support from Freemason had been “magnificent” and pointed out that previously Birchwood Lodge had made donations totalling £600, Academy Lodge had given £700 and Willows Lodge and Newton Lodge had each given £100 and there had been a further £100 individual donation.
Organisers of the St George’s Day event – Alan Greggs, Peter Whalley, Dave Whitmore, Chris Eyres and Tony Kolita – select a different charity each year to benefit from their fund-raising. Because Norman Pritchard has assisted so many lodges they decided to ask him where he would like the money to go to and he selected the hospital.
The hospital is based in Bradley Road, Newton-le-Willows, and cares for 23 in patients for rehabilitation and sub acute care of people too ill to be cared for at home. It also has an out patient department as well as providing outreach services for people in the area who have been discharged from hospital.
All the money donated has been used to improve facilities for patients.
Warrington Group Chairman Ian Boswell presents the cheque to Sue Winstanley and Florence Fairhurst.
Jazz lunch is a hot idea
Boteler Lodge No 7367 hit on a hot idea when WM Bill Hinchliffe decided to organise a Sunday jazz lunch.
Apart from everyone having a super time the event raised £250 which is being donated to the fund to install a new central heating boiler in Warrington Masonic Hall.
After a three-course carvery lunch the 90 guests were entertained by the Chicago Teddy Bears Jazz Band.
Bethany Rigby, aged 10, is learning to play the cornet so she was quite keen to pick up a few tips from Kenny Doran (right) who plays the trumpet and fronts the Chicago Teddy Bears Jazz Band. Pictured with them is Bill Hinchliffe, WM of Boteler Lodge.
Chef Dwayne Taylor serves Brenda Hinchliffe, wife of the WM.
Support for heroes
Freemasons give “immense support” to Help for Heroes according to Dave Roberts who is the Merseyside county co-ordinator for the charity.
Dave made the comment after he received a cheque for £4,000 from Warrington Group Vice Chairman Chris Eyres and Vic Charlesworth.
The money was raised at a Sportsman’s Dinner when it was originally thought that £3,000 had been raised. However, when all bills were paid and all cash collected in the total profit from the evening was £4,000.
Dave said he was “honoured to relieve the Warrington Masonic Group of £4,000” on behalf of the charity which supports wounded members of the Armed Forces.
He said that in the Merseyside area a total of £38,000 had been raised last year. So far this year a total of more than £108,000 has been raised in the area.
A non-Masonic charity is selected each year to benefit from the dinner which is organised by Vic Charlesworth who said that Help for Heroes had been selected this year because of the superb work it undertakes on behalf of injured members of the Armed Forces.
Chris Eyres and Vic Charlesworth present the cheque for £4,000 top Dave Roberts.
Canalathon boost for MS
The WM of Travellers’ Lodge, Neil Blundell, decided to organise a fund-raising walk from Leigh, following first the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, then the Bridgewater Canal to Walton, a total distance of 29.5 miles, in aid of Multiple Sclerosis. After meticulous planning, Neil accompanied by Barry Corcoran, Phil Kilgour and Brian Potter set out on a beautiful summer’s morning to the sound of the dawn chorus!
The scenery along the route changed from industrial towns to beautiful open countryside. At Barton Bridge the walkers were met by Mike Hamilton, secretary of Travellers’ Lodge, with a superb McDonalds hot breakfast, just what was needed after a 7.0am start. Passing through Trafford Park they saw huge carp in a pond behind the Kelloggs factory. No time to do any shopping at the Trafford Centre. After Altrincham they called into a canalside pub, this was, of course, to prevent dehydration and to rattle their buckets in aid of MS! Throughout the walk the four were amazed at the generosity of people they passed - some walkers, cyclists and boaters on the canal.
At Agden theywere met by Yvonne Potter and Phil Kilgour’s two children, Sally and Toby, aged 11 and eight respectively, who joined the walk for the last 8.5 miles to the finish at the Walton Arms pub. Sally and Toby had raised £25 in sponsorship from their school friends.
The walkers arrived at the finish, 12.5 hours after they had set off, foot sore and pleasantly tired. They were greeted by a party of family and friends including, Ian and Linda Boswell. Everyone adjourned to the Walton Arms for liquid refreshment and dinner. It was a most enjoyable and rewarding day which raised £827.10 for MS, plus Gift Aid.
The four walkers at the start of the Canalathon at Leigh.
Almost half way and the bucket is getting heavier at Worsley village.
At Agden, near. Lymm, the walkers were joined by Yvonne Potter and Sally and Toby Kilgour.
Journey’s end, the Walton Arms, with family and friends, 12.5 hours and 29.5 miles after the start.
Bryan wins RW Collin Trophy
Bryan Martin won the Warrington Group golf championship after a card play-off.
Bryan, of the Lodge of Concord, and Les Ashcroft (True Light Lodge of Friendship) both had 28 points in the Stableford competition. The tie was resolved with a card play-off which resulted in Bryan taking the RW Collin Trophy.
The competition was played under an overcast sky, with a wind swirling around the course, not quite perfect weather for the 25 golfers who competed for the RW Collin and the Ron Hankin Trophies at Warrington Golf Club.
The morning competition was cancelled because of cost and support.
The winner of the Ron Hankin Trophy for the best gross score was George Irvine of the Lodge of Rectitude.
The longest drive was won by Ian White, a guest of Brian Potter, Travellers' Lodge. Andy Jennings of Birchwood Lodge, and George Irvine were nearest the pins on the third and 13th holes respectively. The Visitors’ Prize, a hip flask donated by Cars R Us was won by Reg Dumbill, a guest of Bryan Martin.
The dinner was attended by Warrington Group Vice Chairman, Chris Eyres, and Andy Barton who is to be group secretary, the Warrington Captain, and Barry Jameson the Captain of Haydock Park Golf Club, Chris thanked Bryan Martin, the group golf representative for organising the competition and Warrington Golf Club for its hospitality, before he presented the prizes. A raffle raised £135 for charity.
Chris presented a cheque for £30 to John Monaghan, the Captain of Warrington Golf Club for his charity Help for Hero's
Warrington Group Vice Chairman Chris Eyres is pictured with Michael James and Ian Holden
Bryan Martin with the championship trophy
Provincial Grand Charity Steward and former Warrington Group Vice Chairman Barry Jameson is captain of Haydock Park Golf Club this year and was welcomed to the group golf day by the Warrington Golf Club captain.
Two Provincial Grand Stewards visit St Oswald Lodge
Greg Pinnington from Arthur Stanley Lodge No 3469 in the Ormskirk Group and David Thomas from Peace and Unity Lodge No 3966 in the North Fylde Group travelled to Warrington to attend their first installation meeting as Provincial Grand Stewards at St Oswald Lodge No 5170.
Greg and David were taken through their paces in preparation for their role by Kevin Poynton who was acting as Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies for the installation ceremony.
The principal guest was Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd who is responsible for the Warrington, Woolton and Widnes Groups.
It was also a special meeting for Derek Hunt. Derek is the Provincial Publicity Officer for the Province of West Lancashire and he is the first Warrington Freemason for five years to be honoured with Grand Rank. Derek is a member of St Oswald Lodge and this was the first meeting he has attended since he was invested by the Grand Master, the Duke of Kent, as a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies at the annual investiture meeting of the United Grand Lodge of England in Freemasons’ Hall, London.
Pictured, left to right, are: Derek Hunt, David Thomas, Dennis Rudd and Greg Pinnington.
Photographer praised
The work of photographer George Thornton whose images have appeared across the centre pages of the last two editions of the West Lancashire Freemason has been praised by Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker.
At the Final Team Dinner for the regional and group charity stewards and Festival Appeal Committee to celebrate the conclusion of the 2010 Festival Peter gave those present a sneak preview of the latest edition of the magazine.
Across the centre pages is a photograph taken by George giving a full view of the Guild Hall, Preston, as Peter approached the stage to open the special 2010 Festival meeting.
Peter said that one of George’s “wonderful, wonderful” photographs taken at his installation and which appeared in last year’s West Lancashire Freemason now takes pride of place his study. The image has earned praise from Freemasons in all parts of the country.
He said the special photograph from the present edition will “very shortly” also be on the wall of his study.
He said George was to be congratulated on producing these very special images for the magazine.
A professional photographer, George is a member of Optima Lodge No 6101 in Warrington.
Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker shows the centre page photograph which appears in the latest edition of the West Lancashire Freemason to those present at the Final Team Dinner in Wellington Park, Leyland.
DEREK’S ‘GRAND’ HONOUR
Derek Hunt has become the first Warrington Freemason for five years to be honoured with Grand Rank.
Derek was invested by the Grand Master, the Duke of Kent, as a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies at the annual investiture meeting of the United Grand Lodge of England in Freemasons’ Hall, London.
A retired newspaper editor, 65-year-old Derek is the Provincial Publicity Officer for the Province of West Lancashire. He has been a member of St Oswald Lodge No 5170 for 40 years and was WM in 1982. He is the seventh member of St Oswald Lodge to be honoured with Grand Rank. The first was Lord Daresbury who was Senior Grand Warden of England and later became Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Munster.
A founder member of the Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters, Derek was its first “light blue” Director of Ceremonies. He is a member of the Chapter of Perseverance No 155 and is its DC.
Freemasonry’s ‘unique blend’
Freemasonry provides a unique blend which has enabled it to survive for so many years.
Deputy Grand Superintendent Steven Reid said the message he wanted brethren and companions to take away from the Warrington Group Dinner was that Freemasonry has its serious side during its meetings but it also has an important “fun side” at its social events. “It is this unique blend which has enabled Freemasonry to survive so long,” he said.
Steven was speaking at the question and answer session which was held in Warrington Masonic Hall before the dinner.
Answering questions and putting views forward alongside Steven were Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals John Hutton and Provincial Grand Secretary Geoffrey Lee.
During the session Steven encouraged lodges and chapters to allow work in lodge to be shared and stressed the importance of mentoring new members. Geoffrey encouraged people to visit the Provincial website and read Matt’s Blog which gave a good indication of how young members view the Craft. Warrington Group mentor Dave Petley said that every new member in the group will now receive special packs of information to help guide them before joining, at their initiation, second and third degree ceremonies.
When questioned about Royal Arch membership Geoffrey Lee said that in the last year the number joining had increased by 3%.
During a discussion about the 2010 Festival, Steven said he thought any future festival in any part of the country would be over a shorter period.
At the dinner the toast to Steven’s health was proposed by Alan Thomas. In his response Steven said that attending group dinners was probably one of the most enjoyable parts of his job. He said there was a sense of enthusiasm during the question and answer session which was good for Freemasonry in Warrington.
Steven praised the work of Dennis Rudd and John Hutton saying that the group was lucky to have “two leaders with so much experience and who are so approachable”.
He said the town had a “dynamic group team” and particularly thanked Colin Boardman who is to step down as group secretary later this year.
The toast to the group was proposed by Provincial Scribe N, David Grainer. During his toast David referred to the appointment of Barry Jameson as Provincial Grand Charity Steward and said the job “could not be in a safer pair of hands”.
In his response to the toast group chairman Ian Boswell said there were many members of the group team in addition to the chairman, vice chairman and secretary. He highlighted the work undertaken by the group’s musical brethren in raising the funds to replace all the musical instruments in the hall. He also urged everyone to support the project to create a group museum saying that there may be an open day at the hall at the time of the national Heritage Weekend.
There was a pleasant surprise for the hall chairman Eric Drinkwater when Ian presented him with a cheque for £2,000 for the appeal to raise money to replace the central heating boiler at a cost of £6,000.
The group had also arranged for a cheque to be taken to Liverpool on the day for £2,500 as its final contribution to the 2010 Festival.
Ian paid tribute to the work during his time as vice chairman of the group of Barry Jameson who is giving up the post to concentrate on his new role as Provincial Charity Steward. Ian said: “Barry would have made a very good group chairman, but that is not to be.”
Ian went on to day that Chris Eyres will be a “very able replacement” for Barry as vice chairman.
Ian then praised the tremendous amount of work done by Colin Boardman during his time as group secretary. Ian said: “This is Colin’s last group dinner and hasn’t he done a grand job?” He thanked Colin for all his work during the last six years.
Taking over later this year as group secretary will be Andy Barton.
Ian said he will be looking to fill another group position in the near future as group treasurer Doug Morton is moving back to Scotland at the end of May,
Deputy Grand Superintendent Steven Reid, Dennis Rudd and John Hutton are pictured with some of the Masters and First Principals who attended the Warrington Group Dinner.
Steven Reid chats to Alan Thomas (Warrington Lodge of Concord) and Bill Hinchliffe (Boteler Lodge).
Provincial Grand Secretary with Geoff Bond (Newton Lodge) and Steve Ward (St Oswald Lodge).
Steven Reid leads the question and answer session.
Ian Boswell presents a cheque to hall chairman Eric Drinkwater towards the cost of a new central heating boiler.
Scenes at the Gentlemen’s Evening which raised more than £4,000 for Help for Heroes.