Archived Stories - Sep - Dec 2008

Christmas in Rochdale

But who played Santa?

CLUES

He is a well-respected mason

He always plays Santa at the Rochdale Masonic Children’s Party

A Member of Lodge of Probity & Freedom No 367

Why of course it was:

WBro Jack Hoyle
PProvDepGSuptWks

Another freemason active in the community

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Like many Lodges Liberty look after their widows at Christmas. Liberty's method is to hand deliver Christmas hampers.
In 2007 one of the ‘delivery’ brothers noticed that one of the recipients kitchen was very  ‘tired’ so it was mentioned to the charity steward to see if anything could be done.

Without further ado money was raised from the lodge, the Grand Charity also helped and the necessary items were purchased.

Bro Nigel Cole (below) volunteered to carry all the work that was required for the project.

The kitchen and bathroom are now completed (see photo’s)

Whilst delivering this years hamper. Nigel was accompanied by the WM  Kevin Hooson who was amazed at the amount and quality of work that had taken place, the bathroom and Kitchen have been transformed beyond belief.

Congratulations and a huge thank you from the lodge to the Almoner  WBro D Geldard, the Charity Steward WBro Gordon Mason and finally but not least of all to Bro Nigel Cole for all their dedication and hard work.

MBE for Provincial Charity Steward, WBro David Geldard PProvJGW

The whole of the Rochdale district wishes to send their heartiest congratulations to the Provincial Charity Steward
WBro David H Geldard PProvJGW who has received an MBE (Member of the Most Nobel Order of the British Empire) in the New Years Honours List.

The award has been given for services “For voluntary service to people with cardiovascular disease”.

The honour is well-earned and thoroughly deserved in recognition of outstanding service.

A Beaming David with his wife Ivy

Welcome 2009!

The Rochdale District New Years’ Eve Ball heralded the start of 2009. As the 125 guests arrived, a wonderful exciting evening, was about to begin starting with a seven course banquet during which the atmosphere was electric. Flying balloons, party poppers,etc. filled the room and brought real fun to the party.

Music was by Saremma a real favourite, and a raffle raised over £600 for Charity. The mountain bike prize was won by WBro Rodney Schofield and many other prizes were on view. We had our Deputy PGM, APGM and their ladies in our midst and from the pictures it was obviously a great night.

Well done the Rochdale District Social Committee

A SINCERE THANK YOU

Every year the Rochdale District Social Committee organises a food collection by the Rochdale freenasons

The items collected consist of tinned and packet foods are then passed to the WRVS in Rochdale. The items are then made up into Christmas Hampers for distribution throughout Rochdale.
Each hamper also has a Christmas card included.

One of the recipients of our WRVS PARCEL GIFTS.was REG PELLING, aged 98 years. who sent the following message -

'Please convey to the Freemasons of Rochdale my sincere thanks for the parcel, which they sent and was delivered by the W R V S . I am most grateful'.

Just as a matter of interest, Reg's father was an Essex mason in the 1920s.

FREEMASONS ACTIVE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

The photo shows Reg, aged 98, raising his glass in thanks to the Rochdale Freemasons.

Brethren from across the water

‘When David Met Roger’ that’s how it all started, our District Charity Steward Dave Greenhalgh met Roger Matthews on holiday some years ago and discovered a mutual interest in freemasonry. Roger from Northern Ireland is a member of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down

Roger has made visits to Liberty Lodge No 5573 in Rochdale and David has also visited Northern Ireland.

In February 2008 our APGM, W Bro Harold Woodward along with The Rochdale District Chairman W Bro Eric Kirkbride, several members of the district team and a number of brethren from Liberty Lodge were invited by Roger to attend the Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down in Belfast.

Roger who is a RW Provincial Assistant Grand Master, along with the RW Provincial Grand Almoner then attended our provincial meeting on the 27th November at King George's Hall in Blackburn, where they were welcomed as distinguished guests.

Back in Rochdale, Roger and Barry were given a guided tour of the Rochdale Masonic Buildings where they commented on what a superb building it is and particularly on the magnificence of the Large Lodge Room.

Our Charity steward, Dave Greenhalgh then asked if they would like to try the masters chair for size – the photographs tell it all.

RW Bro Roger Matthews Provincial Assistant Grand Master Provincial Grand Lodge of Down - Northern Ireland	RW Bro Barry Brewster Provincial Grand Almoner Provincial Grand Lodge of Down - Northern Ireland

The Freemsaons’ Grand Charity Hospice Grants

The Freemsaons’ Grand Charity has made donations to Hospices throughout the UK since 1864, and this year The Province of East Lancashire has received grants to the nine hospices in the area
The Rochdale Springhill Hospice has this year received a grant of £3,324 this is in addition to the donations made from individual masons, chapters, lodges and the Rochdale Masonic Social Committee.
The grants are to help the hospices to continue providing free physical, emotional and spiritual care to patients and their families.
The total amount given to hospices through The Freemasons’ Grand Charity Hospice Programme over the past 24 years since 1984 is now over £7.5 million.
The nine hospices in The Province of East Lancashire have received £324,744 during this period.
Hospices play a vital role in helping individuals and families affected by terminal and life limiting illnesses. The grant from the Freemasons’ Grand  Charity will, in addition  to funds raised by local masons help to run these excellent  local services that rely on voluntary and charitable support to fund their work.
The Rochdale District also provide festive hampers for day patients at the hospice who will be alone at Christmas, these were sent to the hospice on the day of the presentation of the Grand Charity cheque.
Members of the district team then proceeded to distribute the hampers to the patients after the presentation.

Deputy District Chairman  WBro Peter Hewitt presenting the cheque for £3324 from The Freemasons Grand Charity to the hospice	District Charity Steward WBro David Greenhalgh and Deputy District Chairman WBro Peter Hewitt with hospice staff pictured with the hampers donated by freemasons to hospice patients who will be alone at Christmas

Rochdale District Carol Service

Held at the Church of St  Mary’s in the Baum, Rochdale - Sunday 7th December

Over 140 masons, their wives and friends attended the District Carol Service and were pleased to extend a warm welcome to the organisations supported by the Rochdale District throughout the year but especially at Christmas.

The Salvation Army, The  WRVS, The Rochdale Springhill Hospice and the Rochdale Moorland Children’s Home were all represented in the congregation.

Several ex members of the congregation of St Edmund’s church, Fallinge, which was closed last year were also welcomed. The vicar of St Mary’s the Rev Ian Kay conducted the service, and he was assisted by the Rev Harry Edwards who is a member of St Chad’s lodge.

The nine lessons were read by freemasons with the Rev Harry Edwards reading the ninth and final lesson, the vicar the Rev Ian Kay commented on the excellent delivery of the readings. A selection of the gifts collected by the freemasons of Rochdale were taken to the alter to receive a blessing. After the service a glass of wine and mince pies were available.

In the words of the Rochdale District Chairman W Bro Eric Kirkbride - It was a reet good do !

The gifts of food for the WRVS hampers will be delivered in time to give Christmas cheer and the toys will be distributed by the Salvation Army. Members of the Rochdale District Team will also deliver hampers supplied by the freemasons to Rochdale Springhill Hospice day patients who will be alone at Christmas.

Some of the toys collected at Richard Street were placed by the christmas tree in the church during the service.

Roch Valley Lodge No 5120 Installation - Wednesday 26th November 2008

This was an Installation with a most memorable ceremony in that the incoming WM WBro Peter G Hewitt was placed in the Chair of King Solomon by his son-in-law WBro John C Binns. Peter’s route to the chair was standing in as senior warden later to be informed - ’you do realise that this means you will be going through the chair again’.

The representative of the PGM was the Dep PGM, VWBro Dr Nigel Bramley-Haworth. Peter had struck a successful working relationship with the Dep PGM when he had served as the Provincial Junior Warden in 2006/7.

The APGM, the APGP and the Rochdale District Chairman and the District Team were present to support Peter who is the Deputy Rochdale District Chairman. The installation ceremony was most enjoyable and a credit to all those who participated. The Festival of St John was a treat to behold with a superb banquet for which the Rochdale Masonic Buildings are famous.

In replying to the toasts, the Dep PGM The VWBro Dr Nigel Bramley- Haworth gave a heart-warming and memorable speech which resulted in a standing ovation. In his toast to the WM, the IPM contrasted some of the disastrous events of 1984 when the WM was previously in the chair to some of the disastrous events of 2008 and declared the WM -  ‘A JINX ‘.

The song to the Worshipful Master was given by WBro John Ashworth and was followed by an excellent response by the WM.

Responses from the visitors were given by WBro Nigel Love on behalf of the WM’s personal guests, by the WM of Hope Lodge No 54, WBro Graham Adamsom on behalf of the Rochdale WM’s circuit. Finally, from WBro Mike Ward of Greta Lodge No 1074  who meet in Keswick, who after his response also entertained all present with a couple of Lakeland songs
whilst playing his guitar.

This Installation was a most memorable occasion that will never be forgotten

The DepPGM VWBro Dr Nigel Bramley-Howarth, pictured with the WM Wbro Peter Hewitt.

Rochdale Freemasons Deliver

TARGET REACHED for the Rochdale Moorland Children’s Home

In 2007, Freemasons in the Rochdale District gave a promise to the then Mayor of Rochdale that we would support his nominated Charity. The recipient would be the Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home where there was a need to provide a new hot water system for the children to enjoy a hot shower at the end of each day. The Mayor, Peter Evans is a member of Royds Lodge No 816.

Our District Charity Steward David Greenhalgh agreed to be the Mayor’s Fund Raising Organiser and many functions involving the Rochdale Freemasons took place in the year.

Freemasonry donations were from Royds Lodge, No. 816 who gave £1500, Liberty Lodge. No. 5573 who gave £750, The Rochdale District Social Committee who gave £2050, and the Mayor's Fund, in which the Rochdale District Freemasons have been heavily involved, gave £29,000!!!

In his response Bro Peter Evans said that he would always remember and cherish the work put in to his year by the Freemasons of the Rochdale District.The District are pleased to acknowledge other donations to Home which came from The Round Table £4250 and Style Magazine £3500.

This is a tremendous achievement and congratulations are due to the Freemasons of the Rochdale District and the brethren of Royds Lodge 816 who meet in Todmorden.

Rochdale District Charity Steward, WBro. DL Greenhalgh, and the Rochdale District Chairman,
WBro. EJ Kirkbride, present cheques to the Chair of the Rochdale Childrens' Moorland Home

Tyler Does 50 Years!

A remarkable achievement indeed but not quite what you might think.The Lodge of Benevolence celebrated WBro Arthur T Tyler’s 50 years membership of the Craft on Tuesday 28th October 2008.
Living in Berkshire proved no obstacle for this sprightly mason who came to enjoy an evening of Masonic fellowship in the presence of our APGM, Harold Woodward, and the Rochdale District team - including Provincial Officers of the Year.
Our District Chairman engaged the brethren by setting the scene of the year 1958. Bro Jack Hallam read the Lodge minutes of the Initiation meeting and WBro Lionel Taylor gave a glowing tribute to the birthday boy, both to the delight of all present.
The Festive board was a jolly affair, impeccably directed by WBro Martin Roche ProvDepGDC. In a special moment, the Brethren from Charity Lodge, No. 3342, dining in the adjoining room, came in to toast WBro Tyler. WBro Jeffrey Rhodes had the pleasure of proposing the toast to Arthur and making a presentation from the Brethren of the Lodge.

A memorable evening for a special Brother!

APGM presenting Arthur with certificate recording his 50 years in the Craft

The APGM with WBro Arthur T Tyler, the 'acting' Provincial Officers and members of the District Team

Rochdale Chairman has a secret admirer

I never cease to be amazed that people think of us as special.
Are we Heck!

That said I received an unsolicited telephone call on Tuesday evening just as I was about to leave for the Albert Chapter meeting. The phone caller said she was called Jenny and that we had won a competition.

I thought I will listen but be prepared to put the phone down on a scam caller.

Eric J Kirkbride

Any Diet has now been abandoned  

By heck Barbara luv, what we go’in to do wi all these chocolate goodies

The Rochdale District Hosted Meeting - Wednesday 8th October 2008

This years meeting was hosted by Hope Lodge No 54, which was consecrated in 1814 and one of the older lodge in Rochdale. Each lodge in the Rochdale District was represented and there were almost 100 brethren in the lodge room.

The lodge was opened in due form and after the minutes had been read and approved, the APGM for the district W Bro Harold Woodward accompanied by the District APGP, the Rochdale District Chairman, the Acting Provincial Officers and the District Team were received.

The Master of Hope Lodge W Bro Graham Adamson offered the gavel to the APGM who on this occasion accepted.

The APGM made a short address and then introduced the members of his delegation.

The APGM WBro Harold Woodward with the Acting Provincial Officers and the District Team

The next item of business was to receive a presentation by W Bro Martin Roche a Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies who was assisted by junior brethren from Rochdale lodges and was entitled

The junior brethren taking part in the presentation were - Bros David Duxbury, Mark Brazil, David Ashworth, Matthew Wood and Christopher Hajikakou, they then proceeded to set up the room and after taking their places the Lodge room lights were extinguished and the presentation was delivered by candlelight. The whole of the brethren present were then transported back to the year 1740.

This being an inaugural presentation it was enthusiastically received by the brethren and followed by spontaneous rapturous applause.

The APGM then called off the lodge whilst a photograph of the brethren was taken.
The APGM, his delegation and the cast of the presentation then retired before the lodge was closed in due form.
The festive board took the form of round tables with members of the delegation spread around the brethren. The meal was, as always in Rochdale delightful and the chef Martin was congratulated on his culinary skills, and his team for their superb service

W Bro Martin Roche Prov Dep GDC with the five junior brethren	After the Festive Board the APGM addressed the assembled brethren

Another fantastic and memorable night of Masonic delight  in Rochdale

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