![]() Bury District Archived News
100 Years In Freemasonry No it is not a misprint - Wednesday 1th May 2008 saw two Bury Freemasons celebrate 50 years each in Freemasonry on the same night.
Pictured from the left are Bro Brian Tunstall WM of Prince Edwin Lodge, W.Bros Norman Lowe, Philip Mountford APGM and Alan Garvey Record Number of Local Charities benefit at Charity Giving Night 18 Local charities attended a charity giving night held by the local Freemasons of Radcliffe and Bury on Tuesday 22nd April at Radcliffe Masonic Hall.
ELMC Support Elton Primary School Papyrean Lodge made a donation of £250 to Elton Primary School for their roof repair fund after vandals stole the lead off the roof which caused flooding of classrooms and the library after heavy rain. An application was made to the Community Fund of the ELMC which donated another £500 to the appeal. Pictured below are members of Papyrean Lodge presenting their donation to the Head Teacher and Phil Mountford APGM presenting the Deputy Head with the cheque from ELMC at the District Charity Giving Night.
Newly Initiated Entered Apprentice Acts As Banner Bearer Bro John Anthony who was initiated on the 14th February 2008 was selected by his lodge, the lodge of Faith to act as the banner bearer in the ceremony to dedicate the new Lodge Banner. Pictured from the left are Bro John Anthony, W.Bro Philip Mountford APGM, Bro G Layton WM and W.Bro Roy Fairhurst. From Generation to Generation a Traditional History! Monday the 3rd March 2008 saw a very special and unusual installation ceremony at Cromwell Lodge (8693) in Bury. The worshipful master W.Bro Joe Lawson (PProvAGDC) relinquished the chair so that the only remaining founder of the lodge, W.Bro. Jack F. Huddart (PJGD) could conduct the ceremony of installation. What made this ceremony special and perhaps even unique was that the Worshipful Master elect, Grant Gurnsey, is Jack's grandson! This was not the only surprise for Grant as his uncle, W.Bro. Keith Huddart (PProvJGW) Jack's son, travelled the length of the country to be present and therefore complete a triumvirate of generations from the family. The family connection with freemasonry does not go as far back as Oliver Cromwell's time but it does go back at least five generations and possibly even as far back as the 1800's. Jack knows that his great uncle George joined St. John's Lodge (325) in February 1920. He was followed by Jack's father, James Huddart and then Jack and finally Keith who was initiated, passed and raised in 1973 by Jack. Jack then became a founder member of Cromwell Lodge, which was consecrated on the 21st May 1976. When Keith was installed in the chair of King Solomon in 1980 at St John's, Jack took an active part in the installation ceremony. When Jack went into the WM's chair of St. John's for a second time, in 1987, Keith did what seemed to be tradition for this family by now and installed his father. It would appear that Grant will have to install either his Grandfather or Uncle in the not too distant future!
ELMC Community Fund Supports Fairfield Hospital - Bury The District Chairman accompanied the former District Charity Steward and members of the Lodge of Merit visited the newly re-furbished play room on the children's ward at Fairfield General Hospital . The room and all its equipment had been severely damaged by a flood earlier in the year and an appeal was launched to fund the re-equipping of the room. Bro. Gary O'Neil, Charity Steward, Lodge of Merit 934, whose daughter had been a patient on the ward, saw the appeal and approached his Lodge for help. The Lodge of Merit made a donation of £200 towards re-equipping the room. Gary , assisted by W.Bro. Nicholson then approached the ELMC for further funding and a grant of £1344 was made by ELMC. The Bury District 120 Club also donated £500 which enabled the purchase of a computer for use by the older children. By these various routes local Freemasons made a contribution of over £2000 towards equipping and refurbishing the room. The room is now in use and enjoyed daily by children on the ward and the attached photos show some of the equipment and toys which the donations have helped to purchase.
Pictured in the photograph are staff from the Fairfield Hospital Children's Ward and Bro Gary O'Neill and W.Bro Fred
50 years in Egerton Lodge No 1392 W.Bro Roger Crompton PAGSwdB, celebrated 50 years in Freemasonry on 24th January 2008. The Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Philip Mountford attended the celebrations at Bury Masonic Hall, along with over 80 other local Freemasons. W.Bro Crompton was also presented with a birthday cake at the social board to celebrate this milestone. Pictured below are from the left: W.Bro Howard Berry – District Chairman, W.Bro Philip Mountford APGM, W.Bro Roger Crompton PAGSwdB, The Lodge of Faith at Radcliffe has waited nearly 194 years for its latest acquisition a - Lodge Banner With the Lodge bicentenary approaching in 2014, members felt something special should be provided to mark the occasion. No sooner was the idea of the banner mooted than the Lodge Ladies Committee promised to provide one. It was handed over to the Lodge at the carol dinner in December and was on show for the first time at the installation in January. Provision of the £2,000 banner is only the latest example of support by the ladies since it was formed over 60 years ago. As well as providing the lodge with its first Master's Chain, over the last 10 years they have regularly raised £1,000 a year to support the lodges charity giving. The banner will be / was officially dedicated by a Provincial team at the regular lodge meeting in March.
Making it ‘bearable' Three months after the launch of Teddies for Loving and Caring (TLC) in the Bury & Radcliffe District I went to Fairfield General to see how the scheme was working. I talked to Sister Julie Whittle who is the specialist children's nurse based in the A& E Department at the hospital. She told me that ‘the teddies are going down fantastic and bringing a smile to the face of many children despite the distress of being in hospital and having unpleasant things done to them'. Sister Whittle told me about one child who had breathing difficulties where the teddy helped distract her from the distress and helped her to relax and thus ease her breathing. With another child it helped his mum to distract him whilst the nurses inserted needles to obtain a specimen of blood, making the experience that much more ‘bearable' (forgive the pun) for both the child and the mother. The children, parents and the staff all think the teddies are marvellous and are really appreciated. A lot of children attend the A&E department at Fairfield and, according to Sister Whittle, numbers seem to have increased since the A&E Department at Burnley became a walk in centre because of children living in Rossendale coming to Bury. The red teddies were particularly popular, I thought it was because the kids were all Man United supporters but apparently not, as Sister Whittle pointed out to me it was nearly Christmas! Since the scheme began in late August almost 800 teddies have been given to children in the A&E department at Fairfield. This averages about 50 each week which means we are going to have to work hard to sell the lapel badges that pay for the teddies at the hospital, one lapel badge sold for £2 supplies two teddies. Many Lodges, individual Brethren (and their wives) have been extremely supportive in selling the badges, one Lodge made a donation of £250 and the wife of one member donated her share of their winter fuel allowance. However, Brethren if we are to ensure the continuation of the scheme we need to keep selling the lapel badges. We are only committed to the scheme for one year, but I don't want to be the one to have to tell the staff that we can't sustain it next year. I am confident that with your support this will not happen. But have you bought a lapel badge? Have you sold them to all your relatives, friends and colleagues? Has every member of your Lodge bought one? Why not buy five, keep one for yourself and sell the other four? If you can sell larger quantities contact me and I will supply them. As the comments from Sister Whittle illustrate, Teddies (T) do make a difference to the loving (L) and caring (C) that the children in our local A&E department receive. Please support TLC, it really does take the principles of Freemasonry into our local community. For further information or to obtain lapel badges ask you Lodge Charity Steward or contact me, Ian Hargreaves on 0161 788 8810 or casian@ntlworld.com
Click here to see "Bury Grammar School Foundation Stone Ceremony" Click here to see "Relocation of the Lancashire Fusiliers Collection" Click here to see Donations Report for 2006
Victoria Lodge No 5504 Sponsor ‘Marauders FC' Football Kit Many sons and grandchildren of Masons play for local football teams. Matt Clare (currently 17 years old) whose Dad is a member of Victoria Lodge 5504 has played for the Marauders Football Club from an Under Fives team to the present Under 18's.
Matt and several of his team mates recently received commemorative statuettes from their team for 13 years constant service. In Matt's team is Greg Cichy, whose Dad is in Merit Lodge.
The Lodge of Merit & Bury Freemasons Help the Childrens' Unit at Fairfield Hospital The District Chairman accompanied the former District Charity Steward and members of the Lodge of Merit visited the newly re-furbished play room on the Childrens' Ward at Fairfield General Hospital , Bury. The room and all its equipment had been severely damaged by a flood earlier in the year and an appeal was launched to fund the re-equipping of the room. Bro Gary O'Neil, Charity Steward, Lodge of Merit 934, whose daughter had been a patient on the ward, saw the appeal and approached his Lodge for help. The Lodge of Merit made a donation of £200 towards re-equipping the room. Gary , assisted by WBro Nicholson then approached the ELMC for further funding and a grant of £1,344 was made by ELMC. The Bury District 120 Club also donated £500 which enabled the purchase of a computer for use by the older children. By these various routes local Freemasons made a contribution of over £2,000 towards equipping and refurbishing the room. The room is now in use and enjoyed daily by children on the ward and the attached photos show some of the equipment and toys which the donations have helped to purchase.
Howard, Fred & Gary with Emma & Lydia Staff of the Unit- (L to R): - Yvonne Tunstall, Senior Clinical Nurse Paediatrics, Anne-Marie Smith, Divisional Manager for Children's Services, Angela O'Neill, Play Specialist and Sue Bradbury, Ward Manager Teddies For Loving Care Appeal Launched In Bury District Tuesday 21st August 2007 saw the launch of the Teddies for Loving Care Appeal at Fairfield Hospital by the Bury and Radcliffe District Freemasons. The first delivery of teddies to the A and E Department was made by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master Phil Mountford, District Chairman Howard Berry, Ian Hargreaves the organiser of the appeal in the District and Harry Rogers who has co-ordinated the appeal in the Province. The teddies were received by Sister Julie Whittle on behalf of Fairfield Hospital A and E.
120 Club Donation to the Children's Ward, at Fairfield General Hospital, Bury Fred Nicholson, recently retired District Charity Steward, Gary O'Neill and Ian Hargeaves presented a cheque for £500, on behalf of the Bury & Radcliffe 120 Club to Anne-Marie Smith, Divisional Manager for Children's Services at Fairfield General Hospital.
The monies are to be used to help re-equip the play room on the Children's ward following a recent flood in which all the furniture and equipment was destroyed. She was very appreciative of the donation and told us that the money will be used to purchase a replacement computer which the children will be able to use for games and educational programmes. Play is an important part of the medical care provided to children and teenagers. The play room provides the opportunity to play in a safe, supervised environment, which allows them to acknowledge and deal with their illness and treatment through play. Play is also at the very centre of a healthy child's life. From the earliest age playing helps children to learn, to relate to other people and to have fun. When children or teenagers are admitted to hospital, they are at their most vulnerable. They are not only ill, but are also separated from their friends and familiar surroundings. Play can really make a difference. Fred Nicholson explained that the money had been raised by local Freemasons, and we were delighted that the money would be put to good use in helping the local community, and in particular children at such a vulnerable time. Two Freemasons Receive Maundy Money at Manchester Cathedral Two local Bury and Radcliffe Freemasons were honoured by the Queen and received Maundy Money at the annual service, this year held at Manchester Cathedral on Thursday 5 th April ‘07. John Sarginson of Lodge of Relief No.42, Bury and Norman Holland of Radcliffe Lodge No.2701. Both John and Norman have been involved in their local church communities for many years and this is why they were nominated to be recipients of the Maundy Money. The Maundy Money is awarded to an equal number of men and women and in proportion to the age of the Monarch. This year 81 men and 81 women received the money which is presented in two small leather bags, one white and one red. The white bag contained coins to the value of the Queen's age. There were eight 1p, 2p, 3p, 4p coins and an extra 1p coin making a total of 81 pence all specially minted for the occasion. The red bag contained 2 coins, a silver £5 coin minted specially for the Diamond Wedding of the Queen and Prince Philip, and a 50 pence coin celebrating 100 years of the Scouting movement. Bury and Radcliffe District Charity Night The annual Bury District charity night was held on Saturday 19th May at Bury Masonic Hall. Over 60 masons were in attendance for the presentation of cheques to local non Masonic charities.
Pictured above are the District Chairman Howard Berry and District Charity Steward Fred Nicholson along with representatives of the receiving Charities. Local Freemasons Marshal for Hurdles If you went down to the woods today you would have been sure of a big surprise! More precisely had you been at the Burrs Activity Centre in Bury on Saturday 5th May you would have found a group of Freemasons, their partners and friends acting as Marshals at a Teddy Bear Hunt.
Shown in the photograph are Geraldine Green, John Griffin, Deputy Chairman, Cllr Jack F Walton Mayor of Bury and the Mayoress The Mayoress of Bury had supported the event on behalf of Hurdles, a voluntary organisation created and run by parents, relatives and friends of children with special needs. Hurdles runs on a "shoe-string" of funding and lives by the philosophy, according to Geraldine Greene their leader, ‘That there are good people about and something usually turns up.' The Mayor of Bury, Jack F. Walton, was present and he received, on behalf of Hurdles, a donation from the East Lancashire Community Fund for £1,000. John Griffin (Bury District Deputy Chairman) was pleased to be able to present the cheque to such a deserving cause and the Hurdles volunteers were effusive in their response both for this and for the time and commitment of those who had gone along to help. It also gave an opportunity to explain the role of Freemasonry in supporting needy causes and explaining their commitment to become involved in local community activities. Bury Masons Support The Bolton Lads And Girls Club The Bury District have been great supporters of the initiative to provide mentors for the Bolton Lads and Girls Club. The club has also been well supported with donations from the Bury District to assist with the costs of training mentors. If anyone else is interested in training as a mentor or finding out more information about the scheme contact the Bolton Charity Steward Terry Kakoullis. Victoria Lodge 5504 Produce Night Victoria Lodge No.5504 held their Annual Produce Night on 3rd April 2007 at Radcliffe Masonic Hall. The event was as usual very well supported and raised £900 which will be distributed to local charities. There was also a presentation of another cheque for £500 to Bury Hospice. Congratulations and thanks must go to all the members, visitors and organisers of the event which annually donates thousands of pounds to local charity. Further Information Received on James Thornley Regarding the article below, Roger Price has found some details written by his late father about James Thornley. He was proposed in 1896 by James Bradshaw and Inducted in 1896. He was "raised" into Faith Lodge 344 Province of East Lancs in 1897. He was Master in 1909 and Provincial Assistant Grand Standard Bearer in 1920. He was also a Warden (?) Grand Charity supports Bury Hospice – Again Bury Hospice are again grateful to Freemasonry. The Hospice has received over three thousand pounds every year from Freemasonry since it was opened and a donation of over sixteen hundred pounds from Grand Charity has again guaranteed that this year will continue the tradition.
Howard Berry, the Bury District Chairman attended, at the Hospice to present the cheque to Sister Marjorie Gee and was accompanied by Maurice Birch, Worshipful Master of Lodge of Relief 42 who presented a cheque for £400 from the Lodge. A Day patient and Mervyn Reeves, the fund raising manager for the Hospice were also present. Bro Alfred Sugar - 100 Years Young
Pictured from left to right. Phil Mountford, Joan Sugar, Alfred Sugar, Don Peacock On 6 th November 2006, Bro Alfred Sugar, a member of Sedgley Lodge No 4361 which meets at Radcliffe, reached the grand old age of 100 years. He celebrated his birthday at home with his wife Joan and members of his family. He was visited by APGM Phil Mountford, together with District Chairman Howard Berry and members of Sedgley Lodge. A Birthday card with a personal message from the RW PGM Paul Rink (which had been written before leaving for America ) was presented to Bro Sugar along with other cards and gifts. A bottle of champagne was presented and duly opened to toast Alfred's health. The Lodge Secretary, Don Peacock presented a bottle of malt whisky together with a “specially modified” summons to Alfred, which he read in detail with great interest. The summons read:- Dear Honourable Member. By command of the Worshipful Master I have his permission to excuse you from further meetings as he has heard that you have been drinking until the grand old age of 100, and he is most upset that he does not know your formula, or the brand of “naughty water” that has stimulated you through the years. This is a milestone for you Alfred, and the Lodge members wish you and your wife a happy celebration to commemorate this occasion. Many happy returns of the day Alfred and we all look forward to the next one. On behalf of all the members of Sedgley Lodge we remain:- Faithfully and fraternally yours D Peacock PProvJGW Secretary Bro Sugar, who was initiated in 1960, is still in good health although by his own admission “he is not too good on his legs!” He has very clear memories of his first attendance for interview after a Lodge meeting where he heard what he thought was a strong male voice choir singing the closing hymn, and every Brother came out and firmly shook his hand. He still completes the crossword daily and regularly beats his wife at scrabble. He was also visited by Julie Ward and Susan O'Neill who presented him with a floral display (which can be seen on the window sill in the picture) from ELMC and all the staff at Bridge St . Other members of the Lodge also visited Alfred thoughout the week. Seeking Information on James Thornley
Prince Edwin's Chapter No 128 - Bicentenary Celebrations The Prince Edwin's Chapter celebrated its two hundredth birthday on Wednesday 31 st May 2006. The Chapter which meets at the Masonic Hall at Parsons Lane , Bury was consecrated on 14 th May 1806 and originally met at the Bridge Inn Bury.
Over one hundred and fifty companions attended the celebration which was an amazing sight in the chapter room. The Prince Edwin Chapter presented a cheque to the Grand Superintendent for £5,000 to be donated to the ELMC, a magnificent sum which will help both Masonic and non Masonic charities in East Lancashire . Copies of the Prince Edwin's Chapter can be obtained from the Chapter Scribe E Arthur Walker who was promoted at the celebration by the Grand Superintendent to the rank of P. Prov G Scribe N for all his effort and hard work in the preparation for the bicentenary celebration. BURY AND RADCLIFFE DISTRICT CHARITY NIGHT The Bury district held a very successful charity presentation night at Radcliffe masonic hall on Saturday 20th May 2006. The event attended by 100 local masons and their partners presented cheques to four local charities – Bury Hospice, Abbeyfields, Bolton Lads and Girls Club and Bury Cancer Care. Each charity received a cheque for £400.
Pictured from left: Simon Archer |