Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire
Archived News from Ashton and Mossley

Three Years and £10,000

Some three years ago ladies of Lodge of Union and their friends started a sponsored walk to raise money for local charities, Tameside Breast Care and Tameside McMillan Nurses. What was to be a one off fund raising event has now become one of the highlights of the ladies calendar.

It is not just an opportunity to raise money for a good cause, but the chance to get to know new members, catch up with old ones, and have a jolly good natter along the way. The walk this year started at the Roe Cross along the top to Tintwistle reservoir with 40 ladies and children taking part. This time we had a change of venue at the end, instead of going for a pub lunch, we were invited to the Spencer Masonic Hall in Hadfield and a wonderful lunch was laid on by Valerie Rowells.

Worshipful Master Kevin Hall is a regular visitor to Hadfield Lodge, and a nice relationship has grown with a number of members of Lodge of Union from this. The total amount raised on this year’s walk was £2,500 and two cheques for this amount were presented, one for £1,500 to Christies Young Oncology Unit by Pat Hall and £1,000 to Christies Art Therapy Unit by Linda Cunliffe, to representatives of the respective charities. This is in memory of Linda’s daughter Amanda who sadly died last September. These were presented at the Lodge and Chapter barbeque which was held at Kevin and Pat’s home in Padfield, Glossop.

Teddy Goes To Germany

Three members of  Alphin Lodge 8461 visited their Masonic friends in Recklinhausen, just north of East Dusseldorf with the TLC Teddy bear appeal starter kit. WBros Barry Dickson, Darrell Elliott and Alan Stoll from Ashton and Mossley District presented their friends W. Master and newly appointed Deputy District Grand   Master for the district of Westphalia, Norbert Haaker and Secretary of the lodge WBro Harry Schroetker with one of the large bears.

There is a very interesting story to this hospital, which dates back to the end of the second world war in the years 1945/6, when the small mining village of Datteln suffered heavy damage during raids, by the British forces and sabotaged by the German forces. The mine Emscher-Lippe was then successfully repaired and re-built with the help of the British armed forces and in particular Lt. Col. Oliver who worked closely with Dr. Ing. Steiner, the general manager of the mine.

Apart from getting the mine back in working order the social welfare of the miner’s was their next priority and a workers kitchen was built to provide them with a hot meal. The houses were also repaired and with the approval of the German Coal Control it was decided to build a new settlement. Together with the Trust Company for Miner’s   Dwellings Ltd. At Essen 450 new dwellings were built.

During the winter of 1945/6 the children especially suffered great hardship, which was very harmful to their stamina, and it was decided what could be better than to make the most suitable dwelling  into a Home or Hospital for children. (reading between the lines, this dwelling was a large house that had been used by German Officials during the war).

As well as looking after the children and babies, they knew this would raise the morale of the workers. During the formal opening of the Kinder-Klinik a speech by Her Plein, the welfare officer thanked Lt. Col. Oliver for his help with the re-building and supplying of equipment.

Here we are 62 years later not as British soldiers but as Freemasons providing children with comfort by sharing the idea of the  teddy bear. Barry went on to say that the lapel pins will be used to provide the TLC bears to the  local children’s hospital and a further visit is planned later in the year.

Barry Dix

 

‘Raining On My Parade’

We reported in our Spring Edition about the work of the Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade here in Tameside and on behalf of yourselves, the District Team sponsored their Band Night back in February. As a way of thanking us, the Regimental Commander invited Bill and Jean Waite and myself and my wife Cath Douthwaite, to their Annual Regimental Cathedral Parade.

We watched the parade on Deansgate and as we entered the Cathedral we were greeted by the Regimental Commander,  Major Pam Corbishley and introduced to the other dignitaries, The Deputy Lord Lieutenant, The Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester, Mayor and her consort of Rochdale and the Dean of Manchester Cathedral. The Mayor of Rochdale told us how much she appreciated the work done by the Rochdale masons. For once Freemasons were not sat at the back but sat alongside the above honoured guests.

There was a lovely service taken by a very humorous Yorkshireman, who had the children eating out of his hands, his theme was commitment to the Brigade and to God, (not dissimilar to what we believe brethren!). Despite the rain, the children once again paraded with pride as they passed by with each Battalion Band representing Companies from all over Greater Manchester. As you can see from the picture our Assistant Provincial Grand Master was invited to take part in taking the salute.

On a personal note, I was a member of the Brigade for 32 years, ending up as Company Commander, and as a Freemason I am privileged to be able to give back some of the good times the Brigade gave me, and I thank the members of Ashton and Mossley District for giving us the opportunity to do this in their name.

 

 

 

Church Lads and Girls Brigade Benefit From The
Ashton and Mossley District Charity Fund

In February, the Manchester Regiment of the Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade, a Church of England organisation, held a Band Night to promote local Company Bands. It has been several years since any form of band competition has been held due to the lack of sponsorship. The regiment, parents and friends were therefore delighted when the Freemasons of Ashton and Mossley offered to sponsor the event. . In total seven bands took part from all over the Greater Manchester area with the format comprising of marching displays accompanied by the music

There were three types of bands, B-Flat Bugle, Glockenspiels and Drum Percussions, and Traditional Brass and Woodwind Bands. Guest of honour was William Waite the Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Ashton and Mossley District accompanied by W.Bro Peter Douthwaite judging the musical side. With over 200 people taking part, the event was deemed a great success and as a thank you, the regiment have invited Mr Waite and Mr Douthwaite to their Annual Church Parade at Manchester Cathedral in May.

Many Freemasons were members of the Church Lads Brigade in their youth and its origins date back to 1891 and its motto is still the same “to extend the Kingdom of Christ amongst Boys and Girls”

Presenting the Main Trophy was William Waite to the All Saints and Martyrs, Middleton

Charity In Abundance

Once again Willow Wood Hospice was the recipient of a donation from The Grand Charity. Willow Wood received a cheque for £2,000 from Bill Waite and Ian Cassons on behalf of the charity.

This Masonic Season saw donations to many Masonic and non-Masonic charities from our Lodges, Chapters and Side degrees and here are some of them :-

Tame Valley Chapter donations to Prostate Cancer Support Assoc. and The Rainbow Trust; Lodge of Union donations to Multiple Sclerosis and the Fairway Project; Skelmersdale Mark donations to Willow Wood Hospice and The Rainbow Trust; Assheton the Heart Foundation; and Kershaw Lodge gave over £3100 of which £2300 went to eleven non-Masonic Charities (Cystic Fibrosis, Kids Scan, Children's Hospital Appeal Trust, 2nd & 1st Hurt Scouts, and the Uganda Appeal)

Capital Hot Rods

On 13th May Brother George Pilch and W.Bro Ian Walvin of Milton Lodge undertook another Charity Bike ride. This time they visited the 5 Capitals, London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin in a gruelling 1,250 mile ride.

The Charity Event raised £4,000 for two local Hospices, Dr Kershaw's and Willow Wood. The group also gave £560 to Castle Hawk Golf Club whose charity is Booth Hall Children's Hospital.

George said: “ It was a really worthwhile journey, very enjoyable, and also very refreshing!”

And like all good adventures, the ride was not without its wobbles. The trio had to contend with a burning carburettor on the way to London, a broken kick start spring, and of course continual rain.

Brian Hurst, appeals manager at Dr Kershaw's Hospice, said: “What the guys did was absolutely brilliant. They put a lot of work into the ride even before they went and they had to shoulder all the expenses themselves. The Hospice needs to raise £1m this year, so it's fantastic to get £2,000 from one event.”

Congratulations to the guys from all here at Ashton and Mossley District

The Ladies have Done it Again!

After last year's tremendous success, the wives and friends of Lodge of Union once again decided to do a sponsored walk. It was decided by the Worshipful Master's wife, Mrs. Brenda Lockwood the money raised would go to The Macmillan Nurses.

The walk which was about 6 miles around Torside Reservoir was organised by Pat Hall and Cath Douthwaite. Despite the wet weather everyone seemed to enjoy the day, even though some ladies had a panic attack crossing a narrow bridge. However, full marks have to go to the youngest walkers. Brother and sister, Bethan aged 6 and Joe aged 3, and Jack who is also 6, were all absolutely superb walking all the way without any tears.

Spokesman for the Freemasons of Ashton and Mossley, Peter Douthwaite said, “On the day, a total of £3,700 was raised and pledges have been made to hopefully take it up to £4,000. Last year, Tameside Breast Care Unit were the beneficiaries and the Ladies are gearing up for next year's event with a local charity already in mind. Thanks also go to the Bull's Head in Tintwistle for their marvellous hospitality on the day.”