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The Graduate Sunday September 11th - Bolton Little Theatre
On Sunday September 11th some 80 Masons and guests enjoyed a pre-theatre buffet supper prior to entering the auditorium of Bolton Little Theatre to watch a performance of The Graduate. This was the stage version of the famous film that starred Dustin Hoffman as Ben, the graduate who had returned home to find a party being given by his parents for their friends to celebrate his graduation. When Ben remained up in his room, not wanting anything to do with the celebration downstairs, Mrs Robinson, the wife of his father's best friend comes to his room to find him.....
The standard of performance and staging by this amateur theatre company was excellent and judging by the comments in the bar in the interval and afterwards the evening was enjoyed by all present. The songs of Simon and Garfunkel, from the film version, brought back memories as they were cleverly utilised in scene changes
The evening, which had been organised by WBro Gerry Russell, Charity Steward and Festival Rep for Concord Lodge 1534 in Bury District, greatly assisted by WBro Steve Pollitt, Area Festival Manager, raised a sum of £630 for the EL2015 Festival.
Thanks to all who attended, those who donated raffle prizes and special thanks to Carol Butler of Bolton Little Theatre who organised everything for us.
The Mayor Runs for his Lunch
Before he could open the Charity Buffet Lunch held at Farnworth Masonic Hall, Francis Street, held in aid of Bolton Prostrate Cancer Support Group,
The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor John Byrne, competed in The Great Manchester Run, clocking up the time of 62 minutes. The Mayoress, Councillor Mrs Lynda Byrne, accompanied him, not in the race, but at the Lunch.
In opening the Lunch, he thanked all those present saying that “All Charities are worthy”. He further thanked everybody for their help with his named Charities which he had nominated at the start of his Mayoral year. He had already presented cheques to the recipient charities as his year in office had now come to an end.
The event, which had been organised by W Bro Bill Haycock, was attended mainly by non-masons, most of whom had a connection with Prostrate Cancer, and raised the sum of £1,152.00. This made a total of just over £3,000.00 in the last 3 years.
This event, apart from raising money, brought together both masons and non-masons. in the name of a worthy cause
The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor John Byrne, with the Mayoress, Councillor Mrs Lynda Byrne
BOLTON AND FARNWORTH GIVING EVENING.
The annual Bolton and Farnworth ‘Giving Evening’ took place at Freemasons’ Hall, Bolton on Tuesday, 26th April 2011 with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton once again being in attendance. As in the past it was well attended with 30 groups receiving approximately £11,000.00 from local Masonic Lodges. Much of the giving centred around children’s and cancer charities but each donation was given with a warmth and affection known to all participants.
The proceedings for the evening were opened by The Bolton District Chairman, W Bro Peter Faulkner who welcomed everybody including the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton for their attendance. W Bro Faulkner informed everybody that the focus of the ‘Giving Evening' was to local charities. He also thanked the ladies for providing invaluable support throughout the year.
At the conclusion of the evening The Mayor spoke of his personal charities for the year and he was presented with a cheque for £250.00 as donation from the District for his charities. W Bro Philip Mountford, APGM for the Bolton and Bury Districts, presented The Lady Mayoress with a bouquet of flowers to acknowledge her presence at the evening and all who attended were thanked for making the evening so successful.
A VISIT TO THE PALACE FOR COLIN.
Freemasons are used to receiving honours but on 30th March 2011, that well known Freemason in Farnworth and Bolton, WBro Colin Rigby, had an even more important honour. He went to Buckingham Palace to be made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) at the hands of Her Royal Highness, ‘The Princess Royal’. The Princess was extremely well briefed and very considerate towards Colin, no doubt helping to calm his nerves.
The citation stated, ‘For service to local government’
Colin is a former leader of Blackburn with Darwin Unitary Authority and has served for 21years as a local councillor.
This is a well deserved honour, of which Colin should be extremely proud. We all know how demanding Freemasonry can be; so if you combine that with the life of a local councillor, especially ‘The Council Leader’, it doesn’t leave much time for anything else.
Every congratulations to Colin and hope that he can look on this as a just reward for all those long hours sat in council chambers or committee rooms.
WBro Colin Rigby receives his OBE from the Princess Royal
The Goulburn Lodge No 3478 (Consecrated 11th January 1911).
CENTENARY ANNIVERSARY
James Benjamin Goulburn was initiated into St George’s Lodge No 1723 in 1882. By 1902 he was promoted to Deputy Provincial Grand Master a position he held until 1919.
James Benjamin Goulburn was committed to the life and prosperity of Bolton and its surrounding districts, being in turn clerk to both the Turton and Little Lever Boards, later to be known as Urban Districts. He was keen on amateur operatics and was also active as a prominent member of Mawdsley Street Congregational Church. He described his first love however as Freemasonry and in particular the promotion and development of the craft within the Bolton District. He said on numerous occasions “It is quality that we want not quantity - never introduce a man to your lodge whom you would be afraid to introduce to your family circle”. Words no less true today than they were 100 years ago.
He was a ruler in the craft in various orders of Freemasonry
On 22nd January 1908 it is recorded in the minutes of St George’s Lodge No 1723 that W Bro Goulburn had commended the need for a new Lodge in Bolton. A month later the Worshipful Master and brethren of St John’s Lodge No 211 had signed a petition for the consecration of a new lodge in Bolton. This lead to the eventual consecration of Goulburn Lodge No 3478 on 11th January 1911 in the Parish Church Schools in Silverwell Street by the RW Provincial Grand Master, The Right Honourable, The Earl of Derby.
VW Bro Goulburn then installed the first Worshipful Master, W Bro James Cecil Broadbent. Goulburn himself was never Worshipful Master of the Lodge but was the Director of Ceremonies until 1917. The founders came from 2 lodges, St John’s 211 and St George’s 1723, with one exception and he came from Supra Moras Lodge no 3326, which had been consecrated shortly before Goulburn Lodge. The ‘new’ lodge had 17 initiates within the first year and 41 in the first 3 years. A remarkable feature of freemasonry at that time but not unique.
There was an unprecedented event in 2010 when Gerald ‘from Tonge Moor’ Boothman was installed in the chair of the lodge for the third time. This also coincided with his Golden Anniversary of membership of the lodge. How fitting that he was still in the Chair of King Solomon at the Centenary Anniversary. The RW Provincial Grand Master took this as an opportunity to promote Gerry to PPrJGW. A fitting and worthy reward for his years of dedication to freemasonry in Bolton and East Lancashire.
An outstanding history of the lodge has been written and prepared by the lodge secretary, W Bro Peter Watson Prov G Reg. If you can get a copy, which is recommended that you do, you will find it full of fascinating facts which build into a complete history of the lodge.
The life of Goulburn Lodge has been filled with both highs and lows but it still manages to thrive, which the Master and Brethren of the lodge hope will continue for some time.
The R W Provincial Grand Master presented a Centenary Warrant to W Bro Boothman PPrJGW.
In his address to the 96 (ninety six) members and visiting brethren assembled, The Provincial Grand Master Jack Price reminded everybody that we should, “Think about the future of our Lodges. Do not make a virtue out of failure”. He encouraged everybody to think of the moment and asked that he be invited to the bi-centenary celebrations.
On behalf of the Lodge, The Worshipful Master presented the Provincial Grand Master with a cheque for £1,750 as a donation to the 2015 festival.
Support the Marathon Runners.
Last year Phil Collier, the Bolton District Secretary, and his wife Sue took part in the Great North Run. They both finished and raised much needed money for a local Cheadle based charity, ‘The Together Trust.’
Phil and Sue are the parents of Edward who is aged 18 but who has profound learning difficulties.
‘The Together Trust’ have a house on Pocket Nook Road, Lostock where Edward is lovingly cared for.
In order to help the Charity Phil and Sue have together pledged to raise £3,000.00. Phil will donate 10% (or up to 15%, depending on the total amount raised) of all Masonic donations to the Festival!
If any lodges do run a competition Phil will be happy to donate a prize such as a bottle of wine.
They of course would like donations from YOU. But these need not take the form of direct giving but could form part of lodge activities. E.g. GUESS THE FINISHING TIME.
This may be wishful thinking but if the money can be collected as soon as possible after the race it could be donated at the Bolton Giving Evening on 26th April 2011.
The run is on Sunday 17th April 2011.
You can support Phil and Sue on Just Giving at http://www.justgiving.com/PhilandSueCollier Please record your Lodge number in any donations made through Just Giving.
Phil and Sue after finishing the Great North Run 2010
Bolton Hospice Receives a Cheque from The Grand Charity
Bolton District Chairman, W Bro Peter Faulkner; Deputy Chairman, W Bro Terry Kakoulis; Charity Steward, W Bro Peter Jones and Deputy Charity Steward, W Bro William Earnshaw all visited Bolton Hospice to present a cheque for £3,100 to the Hospice on behalf of the Grand Charity.
Prior to the presentation Peter Faulkner gave a brief outline of the Grand Charity, explaining that the Province of East Lancashire receives a total of £23,725 for distribution between the nine Hospices in the Province. It was also noted that Bolton Hospice receives individual donations from the Lodges in the District especially on the annual ‘Giving Evening’.
On behalf of the Hospice, Miss Margaret Evans, the Chief Executive Officer, expressed thanks and explained some of the work the donation will support.
The 14 bed Hospice currently has an annual operating cost of £2.2 million of which around £1.4 million has to be raised by the Hospice’s Fund Raising Team. As well as the two in-patient wards in the Hospice there is a Day Therapy Unit and an Outpatients Service for those who are not in need of the in-patient service. A more recent addition to the Hospice facilities is a ‘Hospice at Home’ service where patients not wishing to enter the Hospice can be cared for in their own homes by nursing staff from the Hospice.
An invitation to tour the facilities was extended to Masons in the District; anyone wishing to do so should contact the District Chairman
The Picture shows Alice Edmunds, the Fund Raising Manager of the Hospice, receiving the cheque from Terry Kakoulis, Deputy Chairman.
In the Picture are Back Row, Left to Right: W Bro Peter Jones, W Bro Peter Faulkner, W Bro William Earnshaw
Front Row: Jill Entwistle, Clinical Nurse Manager, W Bro Terry Kakoulis, Alice Edmunds, Margaret Evans, C.E.O.
Two Birthdays in One Year
Most people only get one birthday every year, some who are unlucky only have one every four years but E Comp Fred Evans of The Chapter of Meribah No 350 managed to celebrate two Masonic birthdays in 2010.
Having already celebrated his 50th Anniversary as a craft mason earlier in the year. In December he celebrated a similar anniversary as a Royal Arch Mason. The celebration was held at Farnworth Masonic Hall and was attended by The Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, E Comp David Thornton accompanied by members of a Provincial Team supported by a Bolton and Farnworth District Delegation.
1960 was an eventful year. Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali) won an Olympic gold medal in Rome whilst Anita Lonsborough won a swimming gold medal. Prince Andrew was born and Fred Evans was exalted into The Chapter of Meribah.
David Thornton’s predecessor as APGM, Trevor Thomas, gave a tribute to Fred whom he had known for many years and informed the assembled companions that the late Bill Tarbuck invited Fred to become a founder member of Darley Chapter. Over the years Fred had become a Master of Ritual especially where it related to the Royal Arch. Trevor described him as a legend in his own lifetime, an excellent Freemason and a gentle man.
Present on the night was E Comp Rev Jack Thompson Past Provincial 3rd Grand Principal who had the great fortune to have Fred as a member of his Church when he was the minister at Albert Road URC. Fred had been a life long member of this Church attending when it was Albert Road Congregational Church.
Following this oration from Trevor Thomas, David Thornton read a letter from the Most Excellent Provincial Grand Superintendent, Jack Price and then presented him with an illuminated certificate as well as a lapel badge from Bolton District.
At the celebratory festive board E Comp Derek T Bell made a presentation on behalf of the chapter of 2 whisky glasses to complement the decanter he received at his earlier Craft Celebration.
Archives Navigation: Latest News | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 & earlier