I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the Preston Group web site following my appointment as Group Chairman at the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on 17th May. I am extremely privileged to be invited by the Provincial Grand Master to be Chairman of the Group and trust that I am able to fulfil his confidence in selecting me.

I must at once pay tribute to my predecessor, Mike Wiggins. Mike served the Preston Group well for 14 years in the offices of Treasurer, Vice-Chairman and for the last two years as Chairman. I know from first hand experience working with Mike how conscientious he was in all he did. He received tremendous support during his final year when he took on the responsibility of acting as host Chairman for the 2004 Festival for the West Lancashire Masonic Charities Fund. I know how proud he was when he was able to announce at the Festival Banquet at Southport that over £100,000 had been raised during his year as Chairman.

Mike believes that he has retired for good, however I intend to make use of his experience in the Royal Arch and I have a specific task that I will be asking him to perform during the next Masonic season!

We welcome Peter Hadfield as a new Vice-Chairman in the Group, I know that he will be a considerable asset to the Group. Unfortunately Brian Morris, has for health reasons, retired from the office of Assistant to the Group Secretary (Charitable Matters) and I thank Brian for his contribution to the Group. It is not our intention at present to continue with this office.

At the time of writing this article, I am busy dealing with administrative matters such as organising the Attendees/ Representatives for next seasons’ Lodge and Chapter Installations and dealing with reports from Group Representatives in connection with the 2005 cycle of Provincial Honours.

I am a firm believer in the importance of communications and in this respect our successful web site contains plenty of information concerning events that take place in the Group, and I urge all to continue to notify Tom Ashcroft, the Group Communications Officer, of any particular information appertaining to your Lodge, Chapter or group of members.

Finally I would make a special request for all to give full support to Preston Masonic Hall. We have a fine building that we can all be proud of, and I know from experience that many of the visitors to the Hall from outside Preston are envious of the facilities we have, however it is essential that support is given to enable these facilities to continue to be available to us.

I intend to update this page on a monthly basis from September and will include a brief summary of my visits to Lodges and Chapters together with any information that I think will be of interest.

I sincerely hope that you all enjoy your Freemasonry.

Ian Greenwood
Chairman

 

 

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