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Western Area Walk the Province - September 2012 HERE

Kitchener Lodge Burns Night - Poster Here

Kitchener Lodge Presentation to Salford Royal Hospital

On the occasion of W Bro John Whitfield's 50th year in freemasonry the members and ladies of Kitchener lodge donated £300 to the Salford Royal Hospital as a heart felt thanks for WBro Whitfield's treatment and  the care given by the consultantsurgeon Mr David Shakley
W Bro Whitfield presented the donation to Mr. Shakley on 24th April
We all will be thinking about W Bro Whitfield on the 8th of May as he will be in the Salford Royal for a check up

Bolton Celebrates with WBro Derek Walsh.

The Provincial Grand Master was there. He brought with him two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, a Past Provincial Grand Master and a full Provincial Deputation. Why were they there? To help WBro Derek Walsh celebrate his 50th Anniversary in Freemasonry. The deputation was admitted to The Royal Marines’ March and RWBro Sir David Trippier, the PGM, occupied the Chair of King Solomon and after introducing the Provincial Deputation, W Bro Walsh was placed in the centre of the lodge.

WBro Walsh with the PGM, the Deputation and the Brethen of the Lodge

The Provincial Grand Master with the Brethren of the Lodge

Derek James Walsh was initiated into St John’s Lodge No 348 on 20th December 1962 and WBro Peter Wills read the minutes of the meeting for that date.

WBro Roy Woodcock then read a tribute to WBro Walsh. He outlined his early life and detailed his masonic career. He described Derek as being suave and sophisticated using these attributes to persuade his wife Pamela to marry him. This was a long courtship, which survived Derek spraying Pamela’s white blouse with tomato ketchup when they were on a date in a restaurant. Eventually they married at St George’s Road Congregational Church and set up home in what is still their family home at ‘Newholme’ on Chorley New Road.

W Bro Norman Curwood, a past master of St John’s Lodge, his father-in-law, proposed WBro Walsh into freemasonry and that started his rise to the top. He worked hard over the years for St John’s Lodge, Bolton Masonic Hall and Freemasonry in East Lancashire.
Derek is a member of what is now Concord Deane Chapter No 37 being exalted into Concord Chapter on 18th November 1974. Such was his pre-eminence that he was appointed Assistant to the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent in 1989.

Many honours have been bestowed on Derek over the years, culminating in 1990, when James Dunsford Hemsley was invested as Provincial Grand Master appointed him as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, a position he held for 10 years.
Many brethren achieve and receive much deserved acclamation when they attain 50 years in Freemasonry but none more so than WBro Derek James Walsh. Very few have or ever will emulate his achievements or the service given to our splendid organisation.
In conclusion W Bro Woodcock paid tribute to Pamela for enduring 50 years of Masonic functions and supporting Derek through his journey of masonic enlightenment and service.

Sir David presents WBro Derek Walsh with his certificate

Following this graphic depiction the PGM asked the Provincial Grand Secretary to read the Illuminated Certificate, which he then presented to WBro Walsh and also offered him his personal congratulations. WBro Walsh was then presented to the assembled lodge and received their acclamation.
WBro Norman Cope, a successor of WBro Walsh, presented him with a commemorative lapel pin denoting 50 years in freemasonry. He also paid tribute to Derek’s work as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master.

The PGM and the Worshipful Master with WBro Walsh

The evening was a fitting tribute too    

John Whitfield Celebrates.

It was the coldest winter of the last century. It was so cold that the ground which was harder than the Arctic Tundra was frozen until Easter. We are talking about the winter of 1963. This did not deter the hardy John Whitfield who was initiated into Kitchener Lodge No 3788 on the 11th February 1963, at the depth of the great freeze.

On 18th February 2013, John was joined at Kitchener Lodge, to celebrate his 50th Anniversary celebrations by the brethren, his colleagues and friends from around East Lancashire led by Assistant Provincial Grand Master W Bro Martin Caller accompanied by a District Delegation led the celebrations.

W Bro Alan Standen read the minutes of the meeting held on 11th February 1963 at which John was initiated. Included in the minutes was the fact that the bill for the catering was £18.6s 0d and that to the Hall Management Committee £9.0s 0d. The Worshipful Master Bro Robert Diggle initiated Mr Whitfield and during the meeting a proposition to donate £25.0s 0d to ELMBI was passed and W Bro Bill Howarth, Assistant Provincial Grand Master was elected an Honorary Member of the Lodge.

Bro John Whitfield was installed as Worshipful Master in October 1977 following which he became Director of Ceremonies a position that he held for 17 years. John who is also a member of Kitchener Chapter, holding Grand Rank, currently holds the Provincial Grand Rank of PPrJGW, having received his first promotion in 1992.

In his address W Bro Caller, a keen Manchester United supporter, informed the meeting that on the year when John was initiated, a season ticket for the club was £9 10s 0d. It was the year when Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for the first time. It was also the year of the first kidney transplant. 1963 was an eventful year with Profumo Affair taking many column inches and television hours. It also saw the birth of the Beatles in public popularity.

W Bro Caller presented W Bro John Whitfield with an Illuminated Certificate and personal letter on behalf of RW Provincial Grand Master whilst the District Chairman W Bro Peter Faulkner presented John with a lapel pin to mark his achievement.

W Bro Roger Howarth in his tribute described John Whitfield as a man, freemason, brother, friend to many. A brother whose middle name should be dedicated. He informed the meeting of the time when John was on holiday in Florida and telephoned just to find out what was happening in the lodge. John was described as man and brother who lights up a room and attracts people to him.

A well known local musician, John has been known to leave a festive board early in order to go and play at Bolton Palais. He described himself as the smartest bandsman in the R.A.F. Squadron Dance band.

In 2007, John was diagnosed with Cancer and had to have a kidney removed. He was treated at Salford Royal Hospital (Hope Hospital) and the lodge donated £150.00 to the hospital as a mark of the gratitude for what had been done for John's welfare. In 2012 after being given the all clear, John said, "I'M GLAD I MADE IT."

WE ARE GLAD THAT HE MADE IT.

WBro John Whitfield with members of Kitchener Lodge.

WBro John Whitfield with WBro Martin Caller and Bro John Yates WM of Kitchener Lodge.

WBro John Whitfield being presented with Illuminated certificate by APGM WBro Martin Caller.

The Provincial Grand Master Visits Darley Lodge No 6531 at Farnworth

On taking up his appointment as Provincial Grand Master, Sir David Trippier expressed an intention to visit all the Masonic Halls in the Province. On Monday 11th February 2013, as part of this mission he visited Farnworth Masonic Hall, for the first time, at a meeting hosted by Darley Lodge No 6531.

Sir David headed a Provincial Deputation and when he was handed the gavel by Bro Peter Barron, the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, he readily accepted it. During his occupation of the Master’s Chair W Bro Colin Rigby OBE, the Lodge Director of Ceremonies, gave an explanation of the 3 Chairs in use in the Lodge Room at Farnworth, which are the property of The Lodge of Charity No 350.

Read about The Three Chairs HERE 

The Three Chairs

Sir David with the Provincial Deputation, Members of Darley Lodge and their Visitors

Sir David with the Worshipful Master, Bro Peter Barron, and WBro Colin Rigby, OBE, the Director of Ceremonies

At the festive board Sir David outlined in part his vision of the future but emphasised his commitment to the 2015 Festival including his sponsored weight loss campaign which has already raised about £3,000.00.

It is hoped that Sir David will visit the Hall again where he can learn even more about the history of Farnworth Freemasonry.

50 years a Royal Arch Mason.

William ‘Bill’ Devlin celebrated his half century as a member of St John’s Chapter No 348 on 20th November 2012. The Chapter which meets at Bolton met on the anniversary of his exaltation. This magnificent achievement was recorded in the Chapter Minutes for that meeting. Bill was an active member of the Chapter until poor health restricted his attendances.

Bill is now a resident in a nursing home in Blackpool, where shortly after the anniversary date E Comp David Thornton, APGP for the Western Area, along with E Comp Keith Doyle, the DORA for Bolton District, visited him.

During the visit David presented Bill with an Illuminated Certificate and Congratulatory Letter on behalf of the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Sir David Trippier.

In February 2013, E Comp Thornton will be attending the Installation Ceremony of St John’s Chapter as the Direct Representative of the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent when he will present copies to the Chapter of the Certificate and Letter for inclusion in the Chapter Minute Book as a permanent record of Bill’s achievements in Royal Arch Masonry and St John’s Chapter in particular.

All concerned with St John’s Chapter No 348 and Bolton District send congratulations to Bill Devlin to mark his remarkable achievement.  

Grand Charity Cheque for Bolton Hospice

On Monday December 10th Bolton District Deputy Chairman, WBro Terry Kakoulis, accompanied by District Charity Steward, WBro Peter Jones, had pleasure in presenting a Grand Charity cheque for £2,987 to Bolton Hospice.
The cheque was received on behalf of the Hospice by Mrs Alice Atkinson, the Hospice Fundraising Manager. WBro Kakoulis pointed out that since 1984 the Grand Charity has donated a staggering £9.9 million to Hospices throughout the country, with no less than £600,000 being donated this year.

WBro Terry Kakoulis presents the cheque to Mrs Alice Atkinson in the presence of Mrs Leigh Vallance, the CEO of Bolton Hospice and WBro Peter Jones

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WBro Stewart Potter, District Communications Officer for Bolton District.

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