Blackburn & Darwen District - Hosted Initiates Meeting
Wednesday 20th January 2010

The Blackburn &  Darwen District held a special Initiates Meeting on Wednesday 20th January 2010, at Blackburn Masonic Hall, which was hosted by Billinge Lodge No 4296. A magnificant attendance was recoded of 93 Masons.

The meeting was held primarily for all Brethren who have been initiated over the last three years within the District. The initiates were individually presented to the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro D N Thornhill, PSGD, within the Lodge Room. There was then a demonstration by a Provincial and District team regarding certain aspects of the first degree ceremony.

At the Festive Board the APGM asked each member of the District Team to speak for a few minutes and explain their role on the District Committee, after which an excellent buffet supper was enjoyed by all.

Blackburn and Darwen Hospice Cheque Presentation – 7th January 2010

WBro David Lightbown, PProvGSwdb, Deputy District Chairman and WBro John Rimmer, PProvSGD, District Charity Steward, presented a cheque for £2,582.00 to the Hospice. The cheque was made up of £350.00 from the Blackburn and Darwen Charity Stewards Fund for the drinks trolley and £2,232.00 from Grand Charity towards the running costs.

The picture shows the Fund raising manager of the Hospice, Sharon Crymble, holding the cheque with WBro John Rimmer while WBro David Lightbown keeps an eye on the drinks trolley!

Jack and the Beanstalk at the Thwaites Theatre, Blackburn

Once again this year the ELMC sponsorship of the annual Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, allowed the Blackburn and Darwen District a special sponsors performance at the Thwaites Theatre on Monday 21st December 2009 which was attended by 300 guests including the Provincial Grand Master, the Past Deputy and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters.

We entertained beneficiaries from ELMC and there were also present many guests from local charities and organisations that we have formed relationships with in our community over the last couple of years.  Unfortunately due to the weather conditions some groups were unable to attend but those who were able to make the trip were certainly well entertained.

The photo (above) shows the winner of the Cow designer competition, Georgina Dent from St Christopher’s High School, Blackburn, receiving a Certificate of achievement for her winning design which was chosen from more than 3000 entries from local schools.

We are most fortunate to have once again had the assistance of our Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Dr Nigel G Bramley-Haworth, PGSwdB and our very own Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Derek N Thornhill, JP, PSGD, who entertained the audience by well and truly joining in the spirit of things (as you can see from the series of photos above!!)  Everyone present, especially the children, who may not otherwise have been able to attended a Panto,  had a very enjoyable evening including free entry, free programme, and ice creams.  So many thanks must go to the ELMC grant and to Blackburn and Darwen District for their efforts to enable us to put on such an enjoyable evening.

Fidelity Chapter no. 269 Host Joint Convocation - Monday 23rd November 2009

Report to follow.

Centenary Celebration -   Ribblesdale Lodge No.3393

On Tuesday 20th October 2009, Ribblesdale Lodge No.3393 celebrated the Centenary of the lodge's foundation on 20th October 1909. To read further information please see the Blackburn Masonic Hall Website.

The DepPGM, VWBro Dr Nigel G Bramley-Haworth, PGSwdB presented the WM, WBro William Livesey, PProvJGW, with the Centenary Warrant.

Members of the Lodge with the Provincial Delegation

Members of the Lodge

345 Car Treasure Hunt

On Sunday 23rd August 2009, some of the members of Perseverance Lodge, no. 345 and friends enjoyed a Car Treasure Hunt which started at Glenfield Park in Blackburn, took in Accrington, Whalley, Billington, and Balderstone finishing with an xcellent meal and Presentation at the Myerscough.

Despite low numbers, a good time was had by all, the overall winners were Brian Hartwell and his team, Jim and Linda Fallow.
£25.00 was raised for Charity.

John Kenyon

Blackburn & Darwen District again helping the Thwaites Theatre

Thanks to a grant from the ELMC Community Fund, the Blackburn & Darwen District are once again helping the Thwaites Theatre in connection with this years pantomime Jack & the Beanstalk.

We have once again run a competition for all primary schools in the area, this year’s competition being for the design of the cow’s costume, which has received a magnificent response with over six thousand entries.

On Friday 31st July the Judging took place at the Thwaites Theatre, the judges including the APGM WBro DN Thornhill, who was accompanied by the District Chairman WBro P Aspinall, Deputy District Chairman WBro D Lightbown and District Charity Steward WBro J Rimmer, who had a very difficult task in helping to come to a decision, as can be seen!!

The winner will be announced shortly in the local press, the winner and a number of other entries will be displayed in the foyer of Radio Lancashire over the coming weeks along with video footage of the judging process. This being on the success of last years competition launch when seven hundred and fifty entries were received , so obviously there is something developing from the acorn we cast last year with connection with our community and long may it continue. 

Lodge of Perseverance Annual Bowling Competition

On Sunday the 19th July the Lodge of Perseverance No. 345 had their annual bowling competition at Blackburn subscription Bowling Club organised by Bro Geoff Kenyon who is a member of the said club. Despite the weather it was a very succesful day with a buffet provided by two of the ladies of the lodge and the fees including the raffle after deductions raised the magnificant sum of just over £350.00.

The winners of the competion were WBro Harry Eddleston partnered by Mrs Linda Fallow who were  presented with the Perseverance Bowling Trophy by the WM.John Kenyon.

The Trophy was first presented in 1944 by WBro Warton.

Victory Lodge visit to the World War One Battlefields

Victory Lodge No 3932 Blackburn, celebrated its 90th year since consecration on 19th June 1919. The lodge was formed from masons returning from the Great War of 1914-18, hence the name. It was decided that in order to commemorate this occasion, the lodge was to visit the war graves of the local soldiers of the Great War over the weekend of 18th to 22 June 2009 and lay remembrance wreaths from the Lodge and Blackburn and Darwen District Freemasons at the Menin Gate and the Accrington Pals memorial. The trip was organised by Bro. Philip Beaumont, who has had considerable experience in this field and it showed.  W. Bro. Paul Aspinall, District Chairman and W.Bro Joe Lamb, District Secretary accompanied us along with our wives.

We left Blackburn at 7.30am on the Thursday morning and arrived in Ypres, Belgium at 7pm that night. It turned out that this weekend was the Ypres internationally famous car rally.

Just before 8pm that night the group walked to the Menin Gate, which was very near our hotel. About 2000 people where gathered at the memorial including many children from Britain. Paul and myself where quickly ushered into a line on the opposite side of the road from the altar. Four Belgium firemen played the Last Post magnificently, whilst everyone around without exception stood still and quite. At the end Paul and I walked up to the altar laid our wreaths and paid our respects and returned, as did the other wreath layers. At the end Reveille was played. The feeling experienced here and at all the other places we visited on the tour is impossible to put into any words. 

The Menin gate contains vast number of names of some of those who died in the war and have no known grave, it is difficult to take in the numbers and you realise the number of countries, which came to the aid of the United Kingdom including the Chinese during this period. Ypres is a town, which was raised to the ground by German bombardment and has been rebuilt to it former glory and a credit to Belgium.

Friday morning was free to explore the museums and fine shops of Ypres, after lunch we visited Essex Farm cemetery where John McCrae wrote the immortal poem “In Flanders fields”, this was a dressing station and inconsequence contains a very large number of graves, soldiers who died of their wounds. From there we went to Langemarck, which is a German cemetery. This was in stark contrast to the allied cemeteries, very plain and to the point. After this we then drove to Tyne Cot cemetery, the largest British cemetery in the world. Again a large number of British school children were present, and at this point I must say that their behaviour on every occasion was a credit to them and their schools. The walls of the monument are full of British and Commonwealth men who again have no known grave.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the large number of smaller cemeteries, many in the middle of farmers fields across Belgium and France, all of which are in immaculate condition and treated with reverence by the people of Belgium and France with no graffiti or rubbish evident.

On Saturday we left Ypres and drove to Arras in France via Passchendale, the Lancashire Cottage cemetery, the Canadian cemetery and Vimy Ridge. We arrived in Arras early afternoon, with everyone free to explore the town and two large market squares. We visited Arras Cathedral, which again had be reduced to rumble by German guns but totally rebuilt in original form. This cathedral is magnificent and well worth a visit.

On Sunday we travelled to Perronne, Blackburn’s twin town and visited the museum in the castle (again rebuilt after the war) and well worth the visit. From there we drove to Lochnagar Carter, dating from the 1915 push by the allies. It is 300ft across and 90ft deep. The measurements mean very little until you physically see the crater. It was created by 60,000lbs of explosives and estimated that 200plus Germans died and where never found again.

From there we drove to Thiepval Cemetery and visitors centre (which was opened by our current Grand Master HRH The Duke of Kent in1995). Again the monument is inscribed with thousands of names of men with no known grave.

In the evening we went into Arras centre and the town was alive with young people enjoying themselves which two dedicated stages put up by the local council in the town squares, for musicians to play. The town squares were completely full; an impromptu drum band started marching up and down the street linking the two stages. This went of hours and everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves without any trouble.

From there we went to the final intended visit, the Accrington Pals memorial at Railway Wood near Selle, on route we pasted the Ulster and Newfoundland monuments. At the Accrington Pals monument there are several small cemeteries containing soldiers who came from Lancashire and Yorkshire. Paul Aspinall and myself laid our final remembrance wreath at the monument and paid our final respects before leaving.

This article is a resume of our pilgrimage to where the birth of our lodge eminated but as I said no words can describe the sense and feeling you have when you actual visit these places. The camaraderie of everyone on the trip was excellent and many new friendships were formed. I felt very proud and privileged to have made this trip, and to have laid the wreaths of remembrance on the behalf of Victory Lodge as Master of the Lodge and I know our District Chairman and every member of the party feels the same.

Colouring Competition Winner

The colouring competition that the Blackburn & Darwen District ran last year in conjunction with the Thwaites Theatre and the Lancashire Telegraph was won by Gabrielle Faulkner from St Peters RC Primary School Blackburn.

Gabrielle won a £1000 prize for her school, this money being used to help establish new gardens at the school, the photo shows Gabrielle adjacent to a new oak tree complete with a plaque that marks the event.

Gabrielle was accompanied by her father, school headmaster Mr. Duxbury, Thwaites Theatre Executive Harriet Roberts along with the APGM Derek Thornhill, Deputy District Chairman David Lightbown and District Charity Steward John Rimmer.

David Lightbown

Las Vegas event raises £3100

The Blackburn & Darwen District Charity Event held at the Thwaites Empire Theatre Blackburn on Friday 20th March 2009 was again a successful event, with all three hundred and twenty tickets being snapped up.

The show was based on the Las Vegas Theme with some very talented and enjoyable artists, including some young students from a local dance group.

The event managed to raise over £3,100 on the night for the District Charity Stewards Fund. The District Charity Steward David Lightbown thanked all those present for once again their wonderful support and and called upon both the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Dr Nigel Graham Bramley-Haworth and the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Derek N Thornhill, to assist with the raffle and programme draw. The prizes included an LCD Television set and a mini hi-fi system. The pictures, below, show the District team getting in the spirit of the event. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master really enjoyed himself!

More Teddies Delivered

The Area number one representative for the TLC appeal David Lightbown , attended the Royal Blackburn Hospital A&E Department on Saturday 21st February to deliver the latest batch of teddies.

The photo shows play leader Kelly Smith along with nine year old James Holt in the playroom with a number of the teddies.

Later in the day Granada Telivision were visiting the A&E Department in connection with a documentary programme that is being filmed for Granada Reports , and if the opportunity arises the TLC Appeal will get a mention.

The appeal in this area is now in its fourth year thanks to the wonderful support of Brethren within the Blackburn with Darwen and Accrington Districts, and long may it continue.

Grand Charity and Local District Hospice Donation

Acrrington, Blackburn and Darwen District Officers visited the East Lancashire Hospice to present the annual donation from the Grand Charity. The total amount was supplemented with £350 towards the drinks trolley. This trolley is used to give the patients at the hospice a drink of their choice prior to their dinner. The Districts have been funding the trolley for the past 4 years and hopefully will continue as long as possible.

ELMC sponsored panto at at the Thwaites Theatre, Blackburn on 13th December 2008

The ELMC sponsorship of the Dick Whittington pantomime included a special presentation performance at the Thwaites Theatre on Sat 13th Dec 2008 and was attended by 320 guests including the deputy and assistant Provincial Grand Masters.

We entertained beneficiaries from ELMC and residents from Hewlett Court Residential Home. There were also present many guests from local charities and organisations that we have formed relationships with in our community over the last couple of years, primarily through our ELMC Community Fund Grants.

The photo shows the winning competitor of the cat designer competition, Gabrielle Faulkner from St Peters Primary School Blackburn, along with  teacher Miss Dixon receiving a cheque from deputy chairman Paul Aspinall and District Charity Steward David Lightbown for £1000. Her winning entry being brought to life by Peppermint, also pictured alongside.

Reference to must be  made to our Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Dr Nigel G Bramley-Haworth, PGSwdB and our very own Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Derek N Thornhill, JP, PSGD, who entertained the audience by well and truly joining in the spirit of things. All present, especially the children, who may not otherwise have attended Christmas panto had a very enjoyable evening including free programme, drinks and ice creams and all went home happy , all thanks to the ELMC grant and Blackburn and Darwen District efforts.

Click here to view a photo montage

Highway named after our Past Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Paul JE Rink, OBE

By CATHERINE PYE - Lancashire Telegraph Reporter
This article was recently featured in the Lancashire Telegraph

A busy road in Darwen has been renamed in honour of our Past Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Paul JE Rink, OBE dedicated to putting the environment on the industrial and public agenda. Eccleshill Road will now be known as Paul Rink Way in recognition of the contribution Mr Rink has made to the town. He helped set up Blackburn Groundwork Trust in 1989 and was its chairman for over a decade.

"This has been very rewarding and to cap it all the council renames a road. What an honour!" PAUL RINK

Earlier this year, ill health forced him to cut down on many of his commitments. Mr Rink was awarded an OBE for his service to the environment and the community in 1985 and the Trust, now known as Groundwork Pennine Lancashire Trust, is still involved in a wide variety of environmental projects in the borough.
The council agreed to the renaming following the request from Groundwork Pennine Lancashire Trust. The new road sign was put in place this week.

Mr Rink said: “I owe a great deal to Blackburn with Darwen Council. “In 1988 they helped to make it possible for my company to move from Bolton to Darwen. When we started our Groundwork Trust, they were again supportive and made a major financial contribution to our Environmental Centre at Nova Scotia Wharf. “They literally made it possible. Over my whole time as chairman of the trust, and to this day, they have encouraged and supported our work. This has been a very rewarding experience and to cap it all the council decides to rename a road. What an honour!”
“But perhaps it should have been called Groundwork Way to acknowledge all the wonderful work done over nearly 20 years by dedicated and delightful people.”
Peter Neil, executive director of Groundwork Pennine Lancashire Trust, said: “Paul Rink was the founder of Groundwork in Blackburn and has always been a strong ambassador for the town.” Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration and environment, said: “This a fitting tribute to a man who has contributed a great deal to the borough of Blackburn with Darwen and its residents. The council works very closely with Groundwork in helping to tackle environmental issues, many of which have helped make a difference to the quality of life of our residents.”
The council said the road had been chosen because it was busy but did not have many houses or businesses
which made the change of name less complicated.

34 Local Charities share the £40,092 donated by the Freemasons of Blackburn and Darwen at the 10th Annual Masonic Giving to Non-Masonic Charities Evening at the Darwen Masonic Hall on Wednesday 14th May 2008

The Charities included :- The Mayor's Charity Fund of Blackburn with Darwen, Derian House Childrens Hospice, The Make a Wish Foundation, Newfield Special School, C.R.Y. (Cardiac Risk in the Young) , The Royal Blackburn Hospital A & E Dept, The Lifeboat Institution, N.S.P.C.C., Cancer Research, East Lancashire Hospice, Nightsafe, Diabetic U.K., Samaritans, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, St John Ambulance, St Stephens Church (Roof Fund), British Heart Foundation, St Cuthbert's Church, St Cuthbert's School Project, Neo Natal Clinic (Royal Blackburn Hospital), MacMillan Nurses, Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Disabled Access Group, Pancreatic Cancer Research, Bowley Scout Camp, The Thwaites Theatre Trust, and many others.

This is an annual event in the Masonic calendar for the Freemasons of Blackburn and Darwen, it is an event which in simple terms, concludes the charitable generosity of the brethren, in the Masonic Craft Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters for another year.

This particular event started in this Masonic District, some nine years ago, in 1999, as an experiment to bring together the Local Charities to whom the brethren have proposed as being worthy of the financial support being offered for their individual projects and to assist the work being done in the local community by that Charity with benevolent donations from the Freemasons.

From the small beginnings, eight years ago, the event being attended by only eight Charities, today in 2008, 36 Local Charities have shared the fantastic and most generous total of £40,092 all raised within the Lodges and Chaptersin this Masonic District of Blackburn and Darwen.

The evening was attended again by over 140 people mainly from the Charities receiving the donations large and small. The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Maureen McGarvey, accompanied by the Mayoress Mrs Anne Law-Riding, praised the generosity of all Freemasons, when speaking on behalf of all the Charities attending.

The Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master W/Bro Harry Hesmondhalgh, who addressed the meeting stated “this is a true Masonic initiative, it is a humanitarian gesture with every kindness intended towards the bond between the Communities and Freemasonry and congratulated all the representatives of the Local Charities for their individual and combined endeavours “. He also explained that this money is generously given by the Freemasons themselves and not by collecting from the public. Some of the extra donations came from the East Lancashire Masonic Charity (Community Fund).

By the pure nature of this evening's activity Freemasonry will raise the level of public awareness to the generous contribution once again being made to the local community by Freemasonry and hopefully lead to a greater understanding of the principles on which Freemasonry is founded.

Click here to see the story of the redevelopment of Darwen Masonic Hall

The 2,500th  T.L.C. Teddy-Bear Presentation

This special occasion is to mark the delivery of the 2,500th …’Teddy with Loving Care’, having been donated to the Accident and Emergency Unit at this hospital, by the Freemasons, was held on :- Wednesday 30th January 2008, in the Upper Reception Area, at The Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, commencing at 10 a.m.

The first of the ‘Teddies with Loving Care’, was a pilot scheme in this area of Lancashire, and began at The A & E Unit at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, on the 20th April 2006, since then the nursing and play assistant staff, in the A & E Unit at The Royal Blackburn Hospital, have reported back that these small … 15 “ Teddy-bears … are the most valuable piece of equipment, they have, to overcome the trauma of an injured child needing treatment.

The Freemasons in England and Wales, have distributed in excess of 2 million ‘T.L.C. Bears’, and this is another successful community project that the Freemasons in :- The Masonic Province of East Lancashire, have undertaken in the past 3 years.

In attendance at this special presentation, was, from;  The East Lancashire N.H.S. Trust, M/s Samantha Nichol, Divisional Director of Medicine, M/s Susan Bowden, The N.H.S. Trust Communications Manager, and M/s Vicki Allen, Accident and Emergency Department Assistant Play Leader. 

The Mayors and Mayoresses or Consorts, of the Municipal Boroughs, of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle District, Clitheroe, and the Ribble Valley, which are all served by this N.H.S. Trust.

The A. P. G. M., W/Bro. Philip G. Mountford, along with the local Masonic District Officers, of Northern Area No 1.    

W/Bro. Ian S. Ashton,  Blackburn and Darwen District Communications Officer, welcomed and introduced the civic guests, then, The  A.P.G.M. W/Bro P.G. Mountford,  gave explained the purpose, of this Masonic Project, and reported on the response from the project Nationally.
On behalf of The N.H.S. Trust, M/s Samantha Nichol, thanked W/Bro P.G. Mountford and all the Freemasons, for their generosity, as these ‘Little Bears’, do a healing job, that no doctor in the hospital can do, that is to :- ‘Remove the fear, of a frightened child, in strange surroundings.’, and then to have more confidence in the procedures, that the Doctor and Nurses, sometimes demonstrate on the T.L.C. Bear first !!
The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Maureen Mc Garvey, congratulated the Freemasons, by having introduced the initiative into this hospital, and how a 15 inches high soft Bear, can have such a loving effect, on being received by a distraught child.
Then she added, that if she presented a tantrum, would she get a T.L.C.Bear ??

At this point in the proceedings, The District Charity Steward, W/Bro. David Lightbown, handed out memento T.L.C. Bears to all the distinguished guests.

Then followed a very nice Buffet, for all attending, where questions were asked and answered.

Photographs show … The Mayors and Masons, with in the foreground, Charity Stewards David Lightbown and Raymond Tattersall, alongside M/s  Samantha Nichol, holding T.L.C. Bears

If you have any new stories you would like to see published here, please contact

WBro Ian S Ashton, District Communications Officer for Blackburn & Darwen. Tel 01254 703666