Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire
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Archived Manchester News

Sportsman's Dinner at Freemasons Hall, Bridge Street

On 8th November 2007, the Manchester Masons held their annual Sportsman's Dinner at Freemasons Hall, Bridge Street, Manchester. Over 150 Manchester Masons and their Guests attended, and were treated to an exceptional meal and fabulous entertainment provided by the Main Speaker, Mike Watkinson, and Comedian, the ex Haughton Weaver, Norman Prince. Both were exceptional entertainers.

The function, supported by the Manchester APGM's , is organised to raise funds for the Manchester Masons Widows, in the form of a ‘Broken Column Dinner'. A success it was, and although, at the time of writing, final figures are not in, it is estimated that about £3200 to £3300 was raised through raffle and Auction Prizes. A massive thank you to all who attended and participated. The next Sportsman's Dinner will be on 13th Nov 2008, with the Main Speaker being advised shortly.

Once Again, thanks for your fabulous support – But we have another function shortly, named :-
‘NOT ANOTHER SPORTSMAN'S DINNER – BUT COMEDIANS ONLY'
The Evening will be on THURSDAY 10TH APRIL 2008, at Bridge Street, Manchester. Again proceeds are towards our Widows ‘Broken Column Dinner'.
The evening will be hosted by JAMES H. REEVE, the Radio Personality, Ably assisted by Comedians AUSTIN KNIGHT and BERNARD WRIGLEY (THE BOLTON BULLFROG)
The Cost of the Evening will be £29.50, a small cost for a big night of entertainment. For further details please contact Brian Durkin on 01925 766655 or Len Hayes on 0161 643 3152

Broken Column evening - 21st May 2007

Manchester Masons held their annual Broken Column evening for the widows of Manchester Lodges on Monday 21 May at Bridge Street.  Pictured are W.Bro Warwick Davenport with two widows from his Lodge, King Edward the Seventh.  To the right of Warwick is Mrs Vera Muir, accompanied by her nephew, and to his right Mrs Irene Wardley. The evening commenced with a reception in the Gouldborn Lodge Room followed by dinner in the adjacent dining room.  Entertainment was provided by a string trio who played later in the evening. Invitations to the dinner were accepted by over 80 ladies and along with their escorts and Masons the room was filled.  Naturally many of the ladies recounted happy experiences in the building from earlier days and I am sure for some the evening was inevitably tinged with sadness as they remembered lost merit.

The Ladies Of Bridge Street

The Ladies Of Bridge Street wanted to raise money for the ELMC, having seen at first hand the tremendous support that the ELMC gives to its Beneficiaries, Young People and the help and assistance that is given to both Masonic and non-Masonic charities. In May 2006, Susan and Julie, together with Maria Wood, the afternoon receptionist at Bridge Street and their mutual friend, Alison Lyon, they started their own walking group. They entered themselves in this year's Manchester Great Run which took place on Sunday, 20th May 2007 and covered a distance of 10K through the streets and surrounding area of Manchester.

The four athletes completed the run in great style and their official recorded time was :
1 hour 28 minutes and 41 seconds!

Many congratulations to the ladies and now, the best news of all, thanks to many, many offers of sponsorship the Monies pledged so far exceeds £8,000.00

Alison Lyn, Maria Wood, Julie Ward and Susan O'Neill