I am writing this article following my return from Australia where Gwynneth and I spent a month over Christmas and New Year visiting our son and family. On the Sunday prior to leaving the Group Carol Service was held at St Mary’s Church, Penwortham and this once again proved to be a most enjoyable occasion. Unfortunately our musical director, W.Bro.Fred Parker advised me before the service, that after 13 years organising the choir and arranging the music for the service, he had decided to retire. On behalf of my predecessors and my own behalf I would like to place on record our most sincere thanks to Fred for his services to the Group over that time. The main reason Fred decided to retire, was due to the increasing difficulty he had in recruiting Brethren or their ladies to join the choir, and having to rely on support from outside the Craft. This difficulty could result in the Group being unable to continue to organise future carol services.

I knew that I would be away on the occasion of the Installation of Peace and Unity Lodge on 10th January, when the Right Worshipful Provincial was to attend, and had personally tendered my apologies to him and also to the Lodge. I was distressed on my return to learn that at the Installation banquet that evening, W.Bro.Ivor Whalley had been taken suddenly ill and had passed away. It must have been a great shock for the Brethren who attended to Ivor at the time and my thanks must go to them for their assistance. The esteem, in which Ivor was held, not only by his many Masonic colleagues, but also through his involvement with many other organisations, was fully evident by the large attendance at his funeral service that was held at St John’s Church, Broughton. He will be sadly missed.

February promises to be a busy month with the Group Representatives meeting to held on the 18th. At this meeting I anticipate being able to announce the name of the Brother who has been appointed as Group Charity Steward. This follows on from the previous appointments of Provincial and Regional Charity Stewards. The aim of these appointments is to help the co-ordination and harmonisation of giving to non-masonic charities, to co-ordinate our fund raising generally and to provide a stable and effective structure when the time comes for our next Festival for one of the National Charities. On the 22nd February, we will be holding the Group Dinner, when the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Very Worshipful Thomas Blackburn will be the special guest. On the 24th the Amalgamation Ceremony of Fraternity Lodge will be held, following the Lodge’s amalgamation with Vanguard and Broughton Lodges. It is anticipated that in early February, the Province will announce the appointments and promotions in Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter. My subsequent congratulations go to all who will be honoured for their past and future service to the Craft and Holy Royal Arch.

Ian Greenwood
Chairman

 

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