NEWS ITEMS
Summer fair for Ecclesholme
The residents’ amenities fund should benefit by more than £2,000 thanks to the Ecclesholme Summer Fair.
The fair, in Eccles Masonic Hall, was opened by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd.
Gerald Bullough, President of the Friends of Ecclesholme, thanked the many groups who had organised stalls for the fair and those who attended.
He said the money raised would help provide entertainment for residents of the home along with day trips out and visits to the theatre.
Malcolm Warren makes a sale on the fancy goods stall to Doreen Rudd watched by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd.
Gerald Bullough, President of the Friends of Ecclesholme, and his wife Paula raised money at the fair selling plants they had grown.
Lodges of Charity meet again
The 21st annual meeting of the family of The Lodges of Charity, was hosted by Charity Centenary Lodge No 350, Audenshaw, Bolton. It was attended by 73 brethren from Belfast, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Kidderminster, Nottingham and Warrington with apologies from Brightlingsea and Portsmouth. Everyone enjoyed meeting up with old friends and some new brethren and talking over old times.
The 22nd meeting will be hosted by The Lodge of Charity No 8769, Nottingham, to
be held at West Bridgford Masonic Hall on the 22 May 2010. This meeting will
also be part of the celebrations for the Masonic Hall building.
Pictured, left to right, are: Kevin Whitaler, Andrew Young (IPM), Ted Tipton (WM), Brian Hargreaves, John Pether, Matthew Heatley, Peter Whalley, Rob Cook and Adrian Percival.
Frank is the ‘epitome’ of a Freemason
Frank Austin Starkey has been described as the “epitome of a Freemason” by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd.
Dennis was speaking at “a very important event in the history of Academy Lodge” which was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Frank’s initiation.
Dennis said at the meeting in Warrington Masonic Hall: “I am honoured with the privilege of attending this Lodge today in order to attempt to pay just tribute to a man who in my opinion, and without any fear of contradiction, is the epitome of a Freemason.
“Such is the amount of involvement of Bro Frank Starkey in all aspects of Freemasonry I do not really know where to begin but I have solicited the help of the Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Degree, RWBro Peter Connolly, who has kindly agreed to add his twopenny worth a little later.”
Frank Austin Starkey, who is 83, was born in Derby Road, Stockton Heath, which was at the time a general dealers shop owned and run by his parents Percy Maddock and Elizabeth Joyce Starkey.
His first job was as an apprentice in electrical engineering at Metro Vickers at Trafford Park, completing that apprenticeship in December 1947. He continued in employment with that company until 1953 and, mainly on day release and after studying part-time, gained a Higher National Certificate in electrical engineering, qualifying as a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers and obtaining Graduate Membership in 1952.
In 1953 he obtained a job with the Mersey Region of the British Electricity Authority as a draughtsman at Woolton in Liverpool. For the next 30 years he engrossed himself in many and varied jobs. Amongst these he was employed as a maintenance planning engineer at Bold Power Station, as a development planning engineer at Connahs Quay, on special investigations at Clarence Dock and Ince Power stations. It was during this period that he was made an associate member of Electrical Engineers as a Chartered Engineer and his final task was as the control engineer assisting in the decommissioning of Ince A power station.
Frank was initiated into St Austin Lodge 4335 in April 1949 and was installed as WM in 1965.
Frank held the office of secretary from 1982 until 1990 and then because of a dropping off in membership did his best to help the Lodge by being installed in the chair on no less than three occasions, but sadly to no avail because the Lodge, to his great disappointment, felt that there was no alternative but to surrender its Warrant. After some deliberation he decided to join Academy Lodge in 2005.
Being an old boy of the Masonic School it was not surprising that he joined Old Masonians West Lancashire Lodge 7702 in 1977 being installed as Worshipful Master in 1980. He was a founder of Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters 9057 and served that Lodge as its founding secretary until 1986
Frank joined Lathom Lodge 2229 in 1984 and during Bro Jack Forsyth’s year as Master, which ended last month, served as his Senior Warden.
His outstanding service was first recognised in 1980 by his appointment to the rank of PPrAGDC followed just one year later by promotion to PPrDGSuptofWrks. The Provincial meeting in October 1985 saw him further promotion to PPrJGW.
Frank was secretary of the Warrington Group of Lodges and Chapters from 1982 until 1991 and as the group vice-chairman for three years. He was promoted to Grand Rank of PAGDC in 1987 and promoted to his present rank of PJGD in 1999
Frank was exalted in the Chapter of Friendship 2963 in 1960 and installed as its First Principal in 1971 before serving as Scribe E for 11 years until 1984. Sadly this Chapter has surrendered its Warrant. Frank was the founding First Principal of Old Masonians West Lancashire Chapter. He held the office of DC from 1983 for 10years.
His first Provincial appointment in the Royal Arch Province was that of PPrPGSoj in 1980, promoted to PPrGSN in 1983 and to the rank of PGStdB in Supreme Grand Chapter in 1991.
The Assistant Provincial Grand Master said: “If I were to go into any detail at all of your very many achievements in the other degrees we would be here all night and I really do wish to give Bro Peter Connolly an opportunity to say what he thinks about you in the Mark and Royal Ark Mariners. Suffice it to say therefore that you have held, and in some cases still hold, active and high rank in: The Knights Templar; The Rose Croix; Order of the Secret Monitor; Red Cross of Constantine; Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests; Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees; Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters; The Worshipful Society of Free Masons (the operatives) and the Royal Order of Scotland.
Peter Connolly, the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Mark Master Masons of West Lancashire, said the reason Frank had been so successful was his “phenomenal memory and accuracy”. He said that although Frank had not yet completed 50 years in Mark he “has certainly done 50 years worth of hard work”.
When Frank was appointed as Provincial Secretary there were 65 Mark Lodges and 24 RAMs. It is the largest Mark Province outside London and bigger than an average Craft Province. Frank served 18 years as Provincial Secretary, served four Mark Provincial Grand Masters and “survived” three Grand Secretaries
Dennis concluded by saying: “WM and Brethren, I don’t know about you but what I have said and what I have heard from Bro Peter leaves me quite exhausted. Neither of us could quite do sufficient justice to such a remarkable career in Freemasonry.”
Warrington Group Chairman Ian Boswell read out a commemorative certificate signed by the Provincial Grand Master before it was presented to Frank by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
At the festive board Jack Forsyth paid tribute to an aspect of Frank’s life outside Freemasonry – his devotion to St Thomas’s Church in Stockton Heath. Frank had served for 12 years as Church Warden, is now deputy warden and acts as “cashier”.
Responding to the toast to his health Frank said he was “a glutton for punishment”. He also revealed that he had been given his middle name of Austin because his grandfather was a founder member of St Austin Lodge, the lodge into which Frank was eventually initiated.
Norman Prichard, the WM of Academy Lodge, presented Frank with a telephone system on behalf of members and a lapel badge showing that he had celebrated 60 years as a Freemason.
Frank Starkey is presented with his commemorative certificate by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd watched by some of the Grand and acting Provincial Grand Officers who attended the special celebration meeting.
WM Norman Pritchard pins on the special lapel badge watched by Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Paul Hesketh..
Freemasons give £1,000 for play trail
Freemasons have donated more than £1,000 to help provide a play trail for children in Grappenhall.
The Friends of St Wilfrid’s decided to re-generate a piece of land by the school in Church Lane, Grappenhall which was unusable for up to eight months of the year due to its high water table. It was decided that by putting down an all-weather surface and installing a holistic low level timber play trail it would provide a facility which could be used throughout the year.
The total cost of the project is £17,000 and after raising £13,000 the Friends applied to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity for a grant to help complete the project. The Friends had raised most of the cash at the annual Walking Day, summer fair, a summer ball, several recycling projects, school discos/film nights and even selling ice lollies after school!
A donation of more than £1,000 was handed over by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd to the school’s deputy head, Hazel Fryman.
It is estimated that more than 600 different children will use the play trail each year. The items on the play trail include a “bumpy clatterbridge” and “wobbly balance beam”.
Sarah Barwell, Fundraiser for the Friends of St Wilfrid’s, said: “A low-level play trail has been the wish of children and parents for a long time, given that the nearest park is severely lacking the apparatus that so many other children benefit from these days. We have been working with the school council to understand exactly what the children themselves need and they believed children should have high quality experiences outside of the classroom. Children have commented that there was nothing to do in the play area, ‘it’s boring’ and they asked for outside apparatus. We also liaised with the local pre-school and other day nurseries who are regularly invited to the school, as well as the independently run Link Club (breakfast and after school club).
“Each piece of equipment has been carefully chosen for specific use and will be suitable for all children aged two-and-a-half to 11 years.
“There are huge benefits of physical activity. It has been proven that physical activity, particularly with boys, helps improve concentration and overall behaviour both inside and outside the classroom.”
Of the donation from local Freemasons Sarah said: “We have been delighted with the generosity of this donation and it has made the dreams of so many children become reality. It enabled us to bring forward the plans for installing the equipment and now the children’s play has been transformed. Thank you once again.”
Dennis Rudd said: “When the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity was approached for a donation it was obvious that this was a project which would not only benefit the children of today but youngsters for many years to come. We are delighted to have been able to help with this play trail which is a valuable asset for our youngsters.”
Hazel Fryman said: “We are very grateful for this generous donation which is making a real difference to the play experience for the children.”
Pupils from St Wilfrid’s C of E School try out some of the play trail watched by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd who presented the cheque for more than £1,000 to deputy head Hazel Fryman.
Leaders are re-appointed
Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker re-appointed the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackpool. Pictured, front row, left to right are: Leon Tax, Eddie Caulfield, Deputy Provincial Grand Master Brian Gillbanks, Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker, Dennis Rudd, John Moore and Geoffrey Bloch. Back row, left to right: Frank Wilkinson, Stanley Oldfield, Michael Hill, Terry Hudson, Howard Jones and Philip Gardner.
Provincial Officers at installation
The installation meeting of St Oswald Lodge 5170 afforded the first opportunity for members of the Warrington Group who had been promoted to Provincial Grand Rank to appear in their new regalia and process in with Assistant Provincial Grand Master Eddie Caulfield.
And it was not only West Lancashire’s new officers at the meeting for a Provincial Grand Steward from Spain also attended.
There were special congratulations from Eddie for the Province’s new Senior Warden, Barry Jameson who is Vice-chairman of the Warrington Group. There were also three other acting Provincial Officers from the Warrington Group present – Norman Pritchard (Provincial Senior Grand Deacon), Alan Briggs (Provincial Grand Steward) and Stan Jackson (Provincial Assistant Grand Pursuivant).
There were also two other Provincial Grand Stewards at the meeting, Mark Holloway and Wayne Carder.
Geoff Balshaw was initiated into St Oswald Lodge but three years ago went to live in Spain. He joined Sierra Espund Lodge 136 in the Grand Lodge of Spain and this year is a Provincial Grand Steward in the Province of Valencia.
At the meeting congratulations were also extended to two members of St Oswald Lodge. John Sawyer was invested as a Past Provincial Assistant Grand Superintendent of Works at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackpool and Ray Thompson is to receive the same rank at the meeting at Preston.
Assistant Provincial Grand Master Eddie Caulfield congratulates acting Provincial Grand Officers from Warrington, Barry Jameson, Alan Briggs and Stan Jackson.
Three West Lancashire Provincial Stewards, Alan Briggs, Wayne Carder and Mark Holloway are pictured with Geoff Balshaw (second from the right) who is a Provincial Grand Steward in the Province of Valencia.
Meet the Provincial Wardens
The new Provincial Grand Wardens will have plenty to chat about during their meetings around the Province as they have several things in common apart from Freemasonry.
Barry Jameson and David Daisley Durling both have vast experience of being at the helm of major companies. They both also have a love of golf and involvement in community work.
Warrington Group of Lodges Vice-chairman Barry Jameson is the new Senior Warden while David Durling, who is Chairman of the South Manchester Freemasons’ Hall Steering Committee, is Junior Warden.
Barry is following in the footsteps of Gilbert Greenall who was the first Warrington Freemason to become Senior Warden of the Province of West Lancashire. He went on to become Lord Daresbury. He was invested as Senior Warden at a special meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in the Public Hall, Rylands Street, Warrington to celebrate the centenary of the Lodge of Lights of which Bro Greenall was Worshipful Master in 1865. He went on to become Senior Grand Warden of England.
Barry became vice-chairman of the group last year. Barry was initiated into Gilbert Greenall Lodge No 1250 in 1977 and became WM in 1986. He served that Lodge for a number of years as chaplain, charity steward, auditor and almoner. When Gilbert Greenall became part of the new Warrington Lodge of Concord Barry took on the roles of assistant almoner and chaplain.
His first Provincial appointment was in 1996 when he became PPrAGDC and in 2004 was promoted to become Provincial Senior Grand Deacon.
Barry was exalted into Gilbert Greenall Chapter in 1982 and was First Principal in 1991. He has held many positions in Chapter including auditor, ADC, DC and charity steward. His first Provincial rank was PPrAGDC in 1998 and he was promoted to PPrGSwdB in 2006.
Since 2004, 63-year-old Barry has been the regional charity steward for the Eccles, South Eastern and Warrington Groups. He is also vice-chairman of the 2010 Festival committee which will have responsibility for organising the special event to close the festival.
Barry has been married to Pam for almost 42 years and they have two adult children, Sarah and Andrew and two grand-daughters
Barry started his career in 1961 as an engineering technician apprentice at Ruston Diesels. He progressed through many roles in the company until in 1981 he was appointed manufacturing director. Barry served as managing director of many large companies before “retiring” from full time employment from Manesty in 2006. He now works part time, about 60 days a year, as a director and company secretary of BWI plc. Barry is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
His hobbies outside Freemasonry have included Scouting. He was a Queen’s Scout and former Scout Leader and District Scout Leader. He has been a member of the Winwick PCC and Covenants’ Secretary. He has served as a magistrate and been a member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal. He also lists theatre, fell walking, golf and watching rugby among his hobbies.
David was initiated into Foundation Lodge No 5394 in 1997 and served as Worshipful Master in 2004. He has served the lodge as secretary since 2006. He was given the acting rank of Provincial Grand Steward in 2008. Since April 2006 David has been Provincial Communications Officer for the South Eastern and Eccles and District Groups.
Married to Dorothy since 1986, they have a daughter and three grandchildren who live in France. David and Dorothy act as driver and host for Contact the Elderly. He is a very keen golfer being a member of Shrigley Hall Golf Club.
David spent the early part of his career in sales and marketing with Procter and Gamble and other fast moving consumer goods companies. He moved into the house building industry in 1984 and served as Sales and Marketing Director of Beazer Homes in the North West and Alfred McAlpine Homes in the North West and Midlands.
David became Managing Director of Westbury Homes West Midlands and a director of Westbury Homes Ltd. in Cheltenham in 1992. Five years later he joined Bovis Homes Limited and started a new Northern Region from his home in Macclesfield. When he retired in 2005 the region employed more than 100 people and occupied modern new office premises near to Wilmslow. He served as Chairman of the Home Builders’ Federation in the North West of England for five years from 2002.
After retiring David formed Daisley Durling Associates Limited and works part-time providing various services including Director coaching to the development industry.
Provincial Senior Grand Warden Barry Jameson and Provincial Junior Grand Warden David Durling.
Sunday carvery lunch
Boteler Lodge is having a Sunday Carvery Lunch on Sunday 21 June. Hopefully you will all be able to come along and enjoy yourselves with your families having good food, good company and a little light entertainment.
For the last two years the lodge has enjoyed what is becoming an annual event so it is hoped that this one is as successful.
The menu is minestrone soup, a carvery of beef, turkey and ham with seasonal vegetables followed by a selection of deserts.
Two special days for Colin and Wayne
Only a day after being invested as acting officers of the Royal Arch Province of West Lancashire two Warrington companions were on duty in their official capacity in their own Chapter.
Colin Boardman has been appointed Provincial Grand Registrar and Wayne Robinson was invested as a Provincial Grand Steward.
The day after the meeting of Provincial Grand Chapter in Preston was the installation meeting of Travellers Chapter No 4679 which was attended by the Deputy Grand Superintendent Steven Reid.
Both Colin, who is Secretary of the Warrington Group, and Wayne took part in the ceremonial part of the ceremony.
Colin said: “It was wonderful that our first duty as Provincial Grand Officers was in our own Chapter. We have both had two wonderful days.”
Deputy Grand Superintendent Steven Reid congratulates Colin Boardman on his appointment at the installation meeting of Travellers Chapter watched by, left to right: Kevin Poynton (Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies), John Hutton (Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals), Ian Boswell (Chairman of the Warrington Group of Chapters) and Provincial Grand Steward Wayne Robinson.
1,000 extra surprises for St Rocco’s
There were 1,000 extra surprises for St Rocco’s Hospice when the proceeds of a Gentlemen’s Evening organised by Warrington Freemasons was handed over.
The hospice had been expecting to receive £2,000 but instead the donation was for £3,000.
On the night of the Gentlemen’s Evening it was thought that £2,000 had been raised and the hospice’s community fundraiser Malcolm Kindon, who acted as auctioneer, took that good news back to the hospice.
However, when all bills had been paid and all proceeds received the actual amount raised was £3,000.
Organiser Vic Charlesworth said: “Some of the outgoings were not as much as we had anticipated and we received additional donations which had not been taken into account when we did the initial total.”
The England World Cup and Manchester United star Nobby Stiles was the big attraction at the evening which was organised by the Warrington Group of Masonic Lodges.
The £3,000 is being used to pay for an additional treatment couch in the hospice’s new Day Care Unit. Building work on the new unit is now complete but further accommodation is taking shape which will provide office and storage space along with rooms for Macmillan Nurses. The Day Care Unit has cost £3.3million and has doubled the number of patients the hospice can accommodate each day in addition to the 10 in-patient beds.
This latest donation means that Warrington Freemasons have donated a total of £49,000 to the hospice in the last eight years.
Malcolm Kindon said: “I would like to say a very sincere thank you to Warrington Freemason not only for this latest donation but for all the tremendous support over many years.”
Warrington Freemasons’ Gentlemen’s Evening organiser Vic Charlesworth tries out the treatment couch which is being paid for with the £3,000 proceeds from event watched by Caroline Kay, Day Unit Sister, and Malcolm Kindon.
Louis misses his big night
Illness forced Albert Louis Lunn to miss what should have been one of the highlights of his time as a Royal Arch Freemason.
Although he now lives in Yorkshire he is an honorary member of the Gilbert Greenall Chapter No 1250 in Warrington and a special meeting was arranged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his exaltation.
Unfortunately only a short time before the meeting was due to be held Louis had to say that he was not fit enough to make the journey.
John Hutton, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, decided that the special meeting should still go ahead so that he could pay tribute in Chapter to a man with a “remarkable track record”.
The commemorative certificate signed by the Provincial Grand Superintendent which should have been presented to Louis was given for safe keeping to Chris Gleave, First Principal of Gilbert Greenall Chapter. Arrangements will be made to present the certificate to Louis in Yorkshire.
Louis was
born in 1916, in Rothwell, which is part of Leeds. In
1927 he won a scholarship to the City of Leeds School and matriculated in 1932
with distinctions in French and German and went on to obtain a scholarship to
attend Leeds University to read Modem Languages. Unfortunately after his
father’s death in 1932, Louis’s mother insisted he obtained work to support the
family and he obtained work as an apprentice salesman with Montague Burton the
Tailors in a Leeds. That was the start of a career which saw Louis later open
his own shop and expand the business into several towns after moving to
Warrington.
His tailoring was interrupted by the Second World War, when he was called up for
the army. Louis’s army service began in 1940 with the King's Own Royal Regiment
and he was quickly promoted to Lance Corporal and embarked on his five year
grand tour of the North African Deserts. His organisational skills were quickly
recognised and he gained promotion rapidly. From Lance Corporal, Sergeant,
Lieutenant, Captain to eventuallyto Major. Along the way he served as the
Adjutant of the Ethiopian Training Centre before returning to England for
de-mob. He was awarded Certificate of Meritorious Service.
Along the way he learnt to speak several languages including Amharic (Ethiopian).
Returning to Civvy Street in July 1946 he resumed again as manager at Montague Burton's branch in Warrington. Shortly after in December 1946 he left Montague Burton to open his own tailor's shop in Warrington. Business grew and in January 1951 Louis formed "Lunn the Tailor Ltd." and began building a small group of tailors and outfitters shops – two in Warrington and others in Northwich, Chester, St Helens, Widnes and Kirby.
In the
space of 10 days Louis’s family was struck by tragedy. One week after he and his
wife Mary celebrated their golden wedding anniversary she died of a heart attack
Three days later Louis’s son Peter was found dead in bed, also of a heart
attack.
After retiring to Hunmanby, Yorkshire he married his late brother James's widow Evelyn - his first wife's best friend. Sadly in October of 2000 Evelyn died of leukaemia.
John Hutton told the meeting of Louis’s work in the community which he said was “truly a Masonic spirit and an example to us all”.
Following his initiation into Widnes Lodge No 2819 in 1958 Louis has been actively involved in several lodges and has served as Master, secretary and DC in some of them including Widnes Lodge, Gilbert Greenall Lodge. Warrington Temple Lodge No 6420, Settania Lodge of Installed Masters and Lathom Provincial Officers’ Lodge
His service to the Province was marked in June 1976 by elevation into Provincial Grand Lodge as Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon and in 1986 began lecturing on Craft history.
In the Province of Yorkshire North and East Ridings Louis is a member of Portus Felix Lodge No 6712, Inquirimus Lodge of Installed Masters No 8132 and Royal Lodge No 643. In 1995 he was appointed Past Provincial Grand Registrar and this was followed in 2000 with promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
In 2005 Louis was awarded the Provincial Grand Master's Certificate of Service to Masonry at Provincial Grand Lodge. This is the highest honour that can be awarded in this Province of 4,000 Masons. Only 11 masons have received this Certificate in the past 20 years.
Louis was exalted in Equity Chapter No 1384 at Widnes but most of his Royal Arch masonry has been confined to Warrington and Gilbert Greenall Chapter and Travellers Chapter No 4679 where he was a founding Scribe Ezra. He was first principal of 1250 in 1973 before serving as Scribe E for 12 years.
He was appointed Past Principal Grand Sojourner in 1981 and this was followed with promotion to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 1984.
He began lecturing in Royal Arch Masonry in 1986 and was elected as Honorary Member of 1250 in 1995
Joined Royal Chapter 643 in Filey Yorkshire in 1989 and quickly progressed to Scribe Ezra, and was appointed Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 1995. He is presently Almoner of Royal Chapter.
John Hutton presents Louis Lunn’s commemorative certificate to First Principal of Gilbert Greenall Chapter Chris Gleave watched by Warrington Group Chairman Ian Boswell.
Bill is ‘one of the old school’
Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd paid tribute to “one of the old school” who has done so much to keep his lodge going.
He was speaking at the special meeting of Newton Lodge No 6288 to celebrate the golden jubilee of the initiation of William Cartridge.
He said: “In recent years there has been a lot said by the Provincial Grand Masters, Deputy Provincial Grand Masters and my colleague Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, past and present, of the worrying decline in the number of suitable young men we are able to attract into Freemasonry. Your Lodge, Worshipful Master has suffered more than most lodges in that candidates have been few and far between. Fortunately there appears to be a slight increase in the number of initiations over the last year or two so let us hope that this agreeable trend will continue and that in the near future, this the Newton Lodge will be able to attract men of the right quality. Just as an aside Brethren, but I am confident that this will not apply to this Lodge which has amongst its members Brethren of vast experience, I sometimes worry that some Lodges show their desperation at the lack of candidates by agreeing to admit into Freemasonry someone who in healthier times might not have been able to pass the initial interview with the Lodge committee. However, once we are fortunate enough to have a suitable candidate who we proceed to initiate, then the next task is to retain him. This is where the Mentoring Programme should come into its own by looking after our new members and making them feel welcome amongst us. They are the life blood of the future of Freemasonry. They are the future Masters of our Lodges, future secretaries, future DCs, future Provincial Grand Officers, future Grand Officers, and, yes future Assistant Provincial, Deputy and even Provincial Grand Masters of this Province
“You might well wonder Brethren why I have chosen to mention this particular point on this particular occasion. The answer is simple. We are here this evening to pause and to put aside any concerns which this lodge may have about the future in order to pay tribute and to honour one of the old school who has done so much to keep this Lodge going in recent years and devoted so much more to Freemasonry in general than he ever thought he would, in return, receive from it. But Brethren, I hasten to suggest, that the Brother we are here to honour tonight did not give a moments thought of that concept for the simple reason that he has enjoyed every moment of his membership without wondering what honours might come his way.”
Born in Golborne, Bill Cartridge was described by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master as a man who is “certainly wearing well for someone looking forward to his 90th birthday in less than six months time”.
He obtained a Higher National Certificate in engineering at Newton Technical College which lead to an apprenticeship with Naylor Brothers Construction Engineers. He then spent the next 30 years with Macdonald General Engineers in Haydock until this firm went into receivership. The receivers, however, retained his services for a further 18 months, on the completion of which he returned to Naylor Brothers taking on the role of plant manager. When the site was taken over by Unit Pallets he took the job of stock controller retiring from there at the age of 66 in 1985.
Bill served as a voluntary member of the Home Guard and wascalled up for service at the beginning of the Second World War and posted to Davenport Dockyard. Almost as soon he arrived he was sent back on the grounds that he was in a reserved occupation and was transferred to the Cammell Lairds Shipbuidling Yards at Birkenhead.
On 12 June Bill and his wife Freda will be celebrating the 66th anniversary of their marriage with daughter Eileen, grandchildren and two great-granddaughters
Bill was initiated into Freemasonry exactly 50 years ago to the day of the celebration. He was WM in 1971. As Immediate Past Master he immediately accepted office as Almoner.
He has served the lodge as ADC, DC and Chaplain. Only last month yet again he was appointed Chaplain for the 25th time.
His first Provincial rank was that of PPrJGD and he was further rewarded in 1991 by with promotion to his present rank of PPrJGW. He is also a member of other Masonic orders.
Dennis Rudd said: “Bro Bill, you have led a full and active life with your family, in your business life, your work within the community with your church and in your Freemasonry and you are a wonderful example to us all. I am sure I speak on behalf of all those present this evening and indeed on behalf of those many friends, work colleagues, fellow church goers and Masonic brethren whose lives you have touched in so many ways and for so many years, when I say thank you and express the sincere wish that you will continue to do so for many years to come.”
The Assistant Provincial Grand Master then presented Bill with a commemorative certificate signed by the Provincial Grand Master.
Bill Cartridge is presented with his commemorative certificate by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd watched by Warrington Group Chairman Ian Boswell and Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Higham.
The toast to Bill’s health at the festive board was proposed by David Whitmore who also presented him with a bottle of whisky watched by the WM of Newton Lodge, Geoff Bond.
Grant helps Bobby’s fight for sight
The West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity acted promptly as soon as it learned of the plight of a four-week-old boy who needs an urgent operation in a bid to prevent him being blind for the rest of his life.
Bobby Brown has Peters’ Anomally which is an extremely rare disorder of the cornea. It has left him blind in both eyes.
Bobby’s only hope is to undergo a pioneering artificial cornea transplant in America but even this is not guaranteed to give him sight.
Wes and Cath Brown desperately needed to raise the £50,000 needed to take Bobby to America. The operation is carried out by Professor James Aquavella of New York University’s Rochester Eye Institute.
Making everything even more complicated was that Professor Aquavella will only operate when a baby is less than two months old because after that time the brain is too old to learn to see and the transplant is useless.
Vic Charlesworth, the Care Officer for the Warrington Group of Masonic Lodges, was shown a letter by his grand-daughter which had gone to her school asking for help for Bobby who lives in Warrington. Vic immediately swung into action and with group chairman Ian Boswell contacted other officers. Within hours Colin Rowling, one of the charity’s grant executives, had agreed to make a donation of £1,000 from the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity.
Ian said: “I am delighted that we have been able to act so speedily and hope that the target can be reached so that Bobby can receive the treatment he needs.”
Bobby has been booked into the American clinic to undergo operations at the end of April with the hope being that the £50,000 will have been raised.
The campaign to raise the cash was being spearheaded by the town’s newspaper, the Warrington Guardian. In space of less than one week the £50,000 was raised. Additional money raised will go towards Bobby’s aftercare as weekly check ups will probably take place in either London or Dublin. Anyone who wants to donate to the appeal can make a cheque payable to The Bobby Brown Fund and post it to the fund at Warrington Guardian, The Academy, 138 Bridge Street, Warrington, WA1 2RU.
Baby Bobby Brown who needs an urgent operation in a bid to give him sight.
Bobby Brown with his parents, Wes and Cath Brown. Photographs courtesy of the Warrington Guardian.
A ‘wealth of Masonic knowledge’
More than 240 Freemasons crowded into Warrington Masonic Hall to take part in a series of seminars run by the Provinces leading experts.
Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd who was responsible for organising the evening said it had been a massive success with “a wealth of Masonic knowledge being given to help everyone in their lodges and chapters”.
The Provincial Seminar welcomed Freemasons from the Warrington, Widnes, Woolton, Wigan, Leigh and St Helens and Prescot Groups.
In his opening remarks Dennis said that at one stage there had been such a poor response that he was thinking of cancelling the seminars but then replies flooded in with the concern then being if Warrington Masonic Hall would be able to cope.
All three lodge rooms at the hall, a committee room and two of the dining rooms had to be used to accommodate the seminars. Best attended was the seminar for lodge directors of ceremonies.
Leading the seminars were Provincial Grand Secretary/Scribe E Geoffrey Lee; Provincial Grand Treasurer David Potts; Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies for craft Mark Dimelow; Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies for chapter Norman Thomas; Provincial Grand Almoner Roy Price and Barry Jameson (representing the Provincial Grand Charity Steward).
The seminars had been aimed at brethren holding offices in lodges and chapters and those aspiring to hold acting office. It was a unique opportunity to take advantage of the advice and experience of the Provincial Officers who were prepared to discuss all aspects of their respective offices.
The seminars were followed by a buffet.
Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd (centre) with, left to right: Mark Dimelow, Geoffrey Lee, Norman Thomas, Barry Jameson, Roy Price and David Potts.
It was standing room only in Warrington Masonic Hall when more than 240 Freemasons attended the series of Provincial Seminars.
Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Mark Dimelow and Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Jon Clipsham in the seminar for directors of ceremonies.
Royal Arch Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Norman Thomas passes on tips to DCs of chapters.
Provincial Grand Secretary Geoffrey Lee leads the seminar for lodger and chapter secretaries.
Tips for treasurers from David Potts