WALK THE PROVINCE NEWS

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PROVINCIAL NEWS BY AREA

CENTRAL AREA No 1 WALK THE PROVINCE

This group, including children and dogs, start off on the long walk

The walks for Central Area no 1 took place in and around Stalybridge Country Park on 10th July.  There were three walks of varying difficulty. The participants –who included the Festival Chairman, Dave Thompson - were blessed with good weather, temperatures of 17c, high broken clouds and visibility to the horizon.  29 walkers turned up including 2 daughters, 1 son, 1 granddaughter and 2 dogs.  The people had ages ranging from 5 to 71 – the dogs didn’t give their ages!
The walkers set off in high spirits and completed their walks in the expected times with no mishaps. Everybody ended up at Westholme Masonic Hall where they received a well-earned feed as they had joined 120 other people taking part in Mossley Lodge’s annual BBQ.  Mossley Lodge were delighted to be ‘hi-jacked’!
Sponsorship figures have not been finalised as this report is written but we have raised to date around £1,100 for the Festival, a figure that is expected to rise when all the sponsorship money is collected. Many thanks are extended to the walkers, helpers and Mossley Lodge for all their efforts from me, Peter Cole AFM and Stephen Blank (APGM) and Norman Clarke (APGP).  Peter Cole

EComp David Thompson, Festival Chairman and WBro Stephen Blank, APGM

Northern Area No1 (Accrington & Blackburn Districts) 'Walk the Province' event took place over the weekend 14th - 15th May in two legs.

Saturday 14th May

Clitheroe to Oswaldtwistle via Whalley, Clayton-le-Moors and Accrington

On Saturday May 14th, WBro Derek Thornhill, PSGD, APGM for Northern area No.1, started the Accrington District section for the joint weekend Walk the Province walk in for the EL2015 Festival in aid of the RMBI,  between Accrington and Blackburn Districts.
Starting at Clitheroe Masonic Rooms, WBro Thornhill formally handed the baton to WBro Roger Flitcroft PProvJGW, Chairman of the Accrington District, to begin the days fund raising efforts.
The Walk, in which approximately 40 (mostly) willing walkers participated, was a point to point walk across each Masonic Hall in the District, firstly stopping at Whalley, then Clayton Le Moors, Accrington and finally finishing the Accrington District leg at Oswaldtwistle in the mid afternoon.
Each Masonic Hall welcomed the walkers  with refreshments and fantastic support as the Brethren, wives, partners, friends and pets, made their way across the District.
WBro Chris Riding, Worshipful Master of Albert Edward Lodge No.1519, did the full journey on his mobility scooter, charging the batteries and making pit stops along the way!
The Baton was passed to WBro Paul Aspinall PAGDC, Chairman of Blackburn District on Sunday morning in Oswaldtwistle by WBro Roger Flitcroft, to start the Oswaldtwistle to Blackburn, then Darwen leg of the event.

Sunday 15th May

Oswaldtwistle to Darwen via Blackburn

On a wet and windy Sunday over 20 walkers, masons and friends set off from Oswaldtwistle Masonic Hall to walk the 8.8 miles to Darwen Masonic Hall, stopping off for lunch at Blackburn Masonic Hall. Pictured below are the walkers at the start of the leg at Oswadltwistle Masonic Hall, with WBro Duncan Holmes of Accrington District (centre), holding the baton which was carried by the walkers from the start at Clitheroe on Saturday to the finish on Sunday at Darwen.

for further information and pictures click here

ASHTON, MOSSLEY AND AUDENSHAW

     Three Degrees - 10th July 2011

1 - Around Stalybridge country park. 1 ¼ miles

2 - Start in the park, along Walker wood dam back into Millbrook ! ¾ miles

3 - Start in the park via open country to Mossley Masonic Hall. 8 mile

The walk will start at the car park in Stalybridge country park (behind The Royal Oak at Ditchcroft, Millbrook) Walk 1 Around the country park on metalled paths, no steep hills or steps. Perfect for the
less able. Distance about 3/4 mile.

Walk 2 Skirt the country park, then out of the park and along Walker Wood dam, back into Millbrook to the car park. Metalled paths and tarmac roads. Again no steep hills, some steps. Ideal for the more adventurous less able. Distance about 1 ¼ miles.

Walk 3 Skirt the country park, then out of the park and along Walker Wood dam, turn right into open country via Brushes, Lower Swineshaw and Upper Swineshaw reservoirs over the
hill into Carrbrook. Follow the contours via that ancient pack horse route to behind the Royal George, across the river, canal and railway up the hill to the main road and finish at Westholme
to enjoy a BBQ hosted by Mossley Lodge. Distance about 8 miles. Lots of ups and downs including one steep downward gradient. All paths are well defined. Only suitable for
the more competent walker.

Detailed notes will be made available to all walkers.
Date 10th July. Start time is only critical for walk 3. about 9am then the proposed finish will
coincide with the start of the BBQ.

Walkers can contact me on 07710 723100, 0161 308 3220 or: colepeter34@tiscali.co.uk

BOLTON AND BURY

Sunday July 3rd 2011

A glorious Summer's Day greeted the walkers from Bolton and Bury Districts who had chosen to walk around the three reservoirs North of Bolton. There was a choice of the Jumbles, the Wayoh or the Entwistle reservoirs or, for the more intrepid, all three. Meeting points were at the Jumbles Information Centre and the car park adjacent to the Entwistle dam. Steve Pollitt, the Area Festival Manager, and his wife Bev, led one of the teams from the Jumbles start point and managed to cover all three routes over four hours.
Bill Bruce with his wife Elaine tackled the Wayoh while Steve McDermott and his wife Joan had completed their walk on the previous day.

The top picture shows, left to right, Steve Pollitt with his wife Bev, John Hood with his partner Faye, Graham Hoyle
and Peter Faulkner with his wife Sandra.

On the bottom left is Bill Bruce with his wife Elaine, and on the right a view of walkers at the Entwisle Reservoir

Steve Pollitt would like to thank all who took part with a special thanks to Ruth Keely and the Information Centre Staff who kindly opened up early. Steve reports that everyone enjoyed the walk, especially the ice creams at the end, but after four hours he did feel like a man in his nineties trying to get out of his car when he got home

BURNLEY, PENDLE AND ROSSENDALE

Rossendale  District Walk - Walk the Province

All proceeds in aid of the East Lancashire RMBI 2015 Festival
The walk took place on Sunday 10 July 2011, commencing at 10.30am
The walk started off from Wellsprings Farm, Grane Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, BB4 5TR, the home of Steve Barton the Deputy District Chairman.

SEE THE REPORT AND PICTURES ON ROSSENDALE NEWS PAGE

SALFORD

Salford Masons - Walk the Province

Saturday 15th October was the sort of day that one could only hope for in Autumn, not only was the weather dry after a week of rain but the sun was shining.

Salford Masons, their families and friends turned out in high spirits for a gentle ramble around Clifton Country Park followed by a well earned pub lunch.

Salford Masons ready for the off

Hi ho, Hi ho it's off for a walk we go

We walked and talked and laughed the whole way round
Some of us solved the world's problems (but can't remember which ones!)

A well earned Pub lunch rounded off the walk

The walk raised the fantastic sum of £930

Well Done and Thanks to Everyone

MANCHESTER

Manchester Masons - Walk the Province
in aid of the EL 2015 Festival
Sunday 31st July

Manchester Masons with Families and Friends ready to Walk the Province

On an overcast but warm Sunday morning over 30 Masons accompanied by family, grandchildren and friends set off from Freemasons’ Hall, Bridge Street to walk at a leisurely pace 7.5 km around some of the historic sites of Manchester City centre.  However, before starting the walk, refreshments were available, sponsored by St. Thomas Lodge No. 992 and provided by Marks with Splendour Catering. 

On leaving FMH we made our way across a very quiet Deansgate and Piccadilly Gardens to Piccadilly Railway Station upon picking up the Rochdale canal making our way to the Castlefield Basin. 

The astonishing complex of the basin is the heart of the Roman remains, the pioneering Bridgewater canal and the famous Liverpool to Manchester Railway, with Liverpool Road Railway Station being the first passenger Station opened in September 1830 by the Duke of Wellington.  Heading down Liverpool Road and turning into Water Street, passing Granada TV, home to Coronation Street and then proceeding into the new financial centre of Manchester, Spinningfields before arriving back at Freemasons’ Hall, for further refreshments before departing for home.

A special thank you must be given to WBro Peter Harding who as well as organising the walk provided an excellent local quiz to keep everyone on their toes.  Peter was supported by his fellow District Festival Representatives for Manchester, Worshipful Brothers, Jack Levene, Paul Clark and Andrew Jenkins.

Thank you to all those who found the time to join what was a very enjoyable and interesting morning. 

A hearty breakfast required before the start

Elaine Bermitz with her twin grandchildren, Tzvi and Haddasah

Len and Pauline Hayes with their grandchildren, Jake and Isobel

A quiet Sunday morning on Deansgate

The walkers make their way towards Piccadilly along Mosley Street

Piccadilly Gardens

Starting the Rochdale Canal stretch of the walk at Piccadilly Railway Station

Rejoining the Rochdale Canal at Princess Street

The Worlds first passenger railway station, Liverpool Road

Len Hayes, Brian Durkin, Elaine Hudson, Pauline Hayes, Jake and Isobel in Spinningfields

More Pictures from the Manchester Masons Walk

OLDHAM AND ROCHDALE

Walk the Province – 18th September 2011-09-18
Hollingworth Lake – A Circular Walk

On Sunday 18th September the Freemasons from the Districts of Oldham and Rochdale gathered with their families and friends at The Hollingworth Lake Visitor’s Centre for their leisurely Sponsored Walk around Hollingworth Lake. In Victorian times Hollingworth Lake was known as the "The Weighvers' Seaport". Spanning 118 acres with the dramatic backdrop of Blackstone Edge, the lake provides one of the most popular days out in the area.

Registration of some 50 Masons with around 100 family members and 40, or so, dogs took place amidst glorious sunshine. The early starters were able to complete the 2.5 mile course without encountering any weather problems whatsoever but the slightly later starters had to contend with one or two showers.

APGM, WBro Alex McLaren was well equipped with walking boots, anorak and rucksack and supported by the two District Chairmen, WBro Philip Price and WBro Peter Hewitt who spread amongst the members in their endeavours.

The event was organised by the respective District Festival Representatives, WBro David Dunn of Oldham and WBro Reg Foster of Rochdale with the support of their wife’s, Janice and Valerie, who performed a sterling roles in organising the registration, first aid and general marshalling arrangements.

Thanks go to all those, including our four legged friends, that supported this event and whilst the final proceeds have not yet been finally determined, the figure raised should exceed £2,000. All proceeds for this event will go to the EL 2015 Festival.