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The Chadwick Weekend 2012

The first major event for the East Ribble District has taken place at the Chadwick Hotel St Anne's. The annual weekend to St Anne's enjoyed for many years by Blackburn District was amalgamated with the Accrington District Grand Winter Draw. The event was a huge success and as usual grateful thanks must go to the organisers of the weekend WBro Joe and Mrs Doris Lamb, who put many hours unseen work making the event into the success it undoubtedly is. Over £2000 was raised from the weekned that will be going to Masonic Charities.

WBro Tony and Mrs Pam Frost, Fancy Dress winners

The theme of the weekend this year was ABBA and brethern and their wifes' dressed up in their best 1970's gear for a boogie around the disco floor. WBro Tony and Mrs Pam Frost were the worthy winners of this years Fancy Dress Prize. There were a galaxy of prizes in the raffle with the star prize a flat screen TV. Mrs Dorothy Price was with us for the weekend and was highly amused when she won the last prize of the draw, Scuba Diving Lessons!

Lancashire Scouting Lodge of Allegience

The Lancashire Scouting Lodge of Allegience was the venue for the first hosted meeting of East Ribble District. It was the first opportunity for the District Officers of the newly formed East Ribble District to visit as a delegation to a lodge in their district.

The Delegations, led by the DPGM with Grand Officers, District Officers and Acting Officers of the year

The meeting was a special one for several reasons. Firstly as already mentioned it was the first outing of the new District team. Secondly the meeting was attended by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Martin Roche and also the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge, WBro Derek Thornhill, who has been a member of the lodge for several years. Thirdly this was no normal craft meeting as the business was to receive a Royal Arch delegation for a lecture on the Royal Arch.

After the lodge was opened, two delegations were received. Firstly the District Officers and acting provincial officers of the year entered, followed by a second delegation of the Grand Lodge Officers and Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge. Once greetings were given and the short lodge business was transacted the Lodge was "Called Off" to recieve a Royal Arch Delegation from the Salford District who gave a presentation entitled "Something Completely Different". This was organised by WBro Anthony Costello the Provincial Grand Mentor and WBro Ken Olive the Salford District DORA.

The Royal Arch Presentation Team

The Royal Arch Presentation team entered the Lodge carrying the Royal Arch banners and placed them in the appropriate position. The officers, seated as they would be in a Chapter meeting then described their position and duties of their office. After the presentation there was a short question and answer session led be WBro Costello.

The "top brass" WBro Harry Hesmondhalgh, PAPGM, WBro Paul Aspinall, District Chairman, WBro Michael Landriau, APGP,
WBro Martin Roche, APGM, WBro Derek Thornhill, DPGM, WBro David Thornton, WM and APGP

After the meeting the 70 members present retired to the social board where a splendid occasion was had by all.

The APGM, DPGM, and WM

The festive board

East Lancashire Hospice Presentations

East Ribble District Freemasons formally presented a cheque for £350 to East Lancashire Hospice Drinks Trolley. The half yearly donation, presented by WBro John Rimmer and WBro David Lightbown, funds the patients drinks trolley, continuing the many years of support given by Freemasons in the local Districts, old and new. 
WBro John Rimmer, the past District Charity Steward for the Blackburn and Darwen District, reserved funds from the former District for this donation, ensuring that this important tradition was properly financed before the two former Districts of Accrington and Blackburn came together as East Ribble. 

A Cheque for £2420 from Freemasons Grand Charity, was presented to East Lancashire Hospice.  Grants are made, on an annual basis, towards the operating costs of hospice services for adults and/or children. The donation total from Grand Charity was over £600,000, taking the total donated to over £9.3 million since 1984. The cheques are sent to ELMC on an annual basis fro distribution throughout the Province. 
Hospice Fundraising manager, Sharon Crymble was delighted with the donation, and thanked us for our continued and invaluable support, stating that they do not take these donations for granted. The Hospice has to raise over £2.8 million per year just to sustain their current level of service. 

WBro David Lightbown, Deputy District Chairman and Almoner, along with WBro Roger Flitcroft, Honorary Secretary of the ELMC
present the cheque to Sharon Crymble, Hospice Fundraising manager. 

Billinge Lodge Closure

The brethren of Billinge Lodge with WBro Martin Roche, APGM

Wednesday 21st December 2011 was the 90th Anniversary of the consecration of Billinge Lodge No 4296, it was also the last meeting of the Lodge. There were over 50 brethren present to witness the sombre meeting, including WBro Martin Roche, PSGD, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master and a District Delegation.

The lodge being opened the WM, Bro Chrostopher Coster offered WBro Roche, APGM the gavel of the Lodge, which WBro Roche declined by saying that the WM should enjoy every minute he had left in the chair of the lodge. After a short meeting to finalise the business of the lodge, where £250 was donated to the 2015 festival in memory of our late RW Provincial Grand Master Bro Jack Price, a brief history of the lodge was delivered by WBro Ashley Hughes.

Then in a very emotional and dignified manner the Worshipful Master finally presented WBro Roche with the Warrant of the Lodge, charging him to deliver it up to the Grand Secretary. The lodge was then closed for the final time in a solemn manner with decorum and dignity.

At the festive board WBro Roche, APGM, in response to the toast to his health, charged the members of Billinge Lodge to look to the future, saying that they had exepriences to give to the brethren of the lodges that they would become joining members of and to share those experiences with those brethren. He also said that those lodges would very quickly find out the excellent quality of the members that they had gained in the closure of Billinge Lodge.

East Ribble Archives Navigation: 2011

Blackburn Archives Navigation: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 & earlier

Accrington Archives Navigation: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 & earlier

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

WBro Paul Smillie, District Communications Officer for East Ribble District. Tel: 0777 939 5566

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