Author Archives: Peter Maguire

Double Diamond really hits the spot for Cheshire

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On Saturday, July 6th, the Mark Province of Cheshire held their Festival Banquet at the Concorde Suite, Manchester Airport, marking the culmination of 7 years of fundraising for the Mark Benevolent Fund. Over 460 guests enjoyed the event, which took place under the iconic Concorde Alpha Charlie, once the flagship of British Airways, making it a memorable evening in the province’s history.

The Provincial Grand Master was pleasantly surprised to hear that the province had raised enough funds for every Mark Lodge and each of Cheshire’s Royal Ark Mariners lodges to achieve Diamond Patron status, making it a “Double Diamond” Province – the first in the Constitution. The Provincial Grand Master was presented with the respective collarettes to mark this achievement.

During the event, a festival jewel dating back to 1934, worn by George VI before he became King when he was a Provincial Grand Master, was presented to the Current Festival President. This jewel was transferred to the Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of Oxfordshire at the end of the Festive board, as they enter the final year of their festival culminating in July 2025.

The evening’s biggest surprise was the announcement of the total funds raised over the 7 years of fundraising, which amounted to a staggering £1,158,150. This amount exceeded the expectations of the Festival Team and left the Provincial Grand Master stunned. He expressed his gratitude to the team members for their efforts in achieving this magnificent total.

As the Province of Cheshire passes on the collarette to the Province of Oxfordshire, they take some time to reflect on a job well done and look forward to supporting the Cheshire Craft 2027 Festival.

A special additional meeting at Rivacre Mark Lodge 1106

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On Saturday the 29th June- Rivacre Lodge of Mark Master Masons, working in conjunction with the Mark Province of Cheshire, held an additional meeting for the purpose of advancing four new members, which was followed by an additional meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge.
The meeting was held at Wallasey Masonic Hall- which had the space and availability, as opposed to Rivacre’s normal meeting place at Whitby, near Ellesmere Port.
As the meeting was held “out of season” and on a Saturday, a number of members couldn’t attend, so some of the officers comprised of the Cheshire Cats support team, who all played their part in Advancing Tony Kellett, Richard Kellett, Geoff Balshaw and Derek Harvey into the friendly degree, in a well-conducted ceremony that was witnessed by some 58 brethren.
Following a splendid light lunch, a special meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was held, for the purpose of presenting further collarettes and honorifics, which with the 2024 MBF festival now coming to a conclusion, there has been a great increase in the numbers now qualifying for the various awards.
Indeed, with the Provincial meeting being called off, temporarily, our Provincial Grand Master was pleased to present honorifics to none Mark Masons invited along for that purpose, including Ms Rowen Daly, Mrs Lorrainne Kellett, and Mr Ray Cramer and Mr Mike Tombs (although the latter will be joining Altrincham Mark in October).
The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to present letters of appreciation to the members of the recently completed Van Van challenge team, our final major Festival event- which had raised over £11,000.00 towards the festival.
With the meeting called back on, he completed the presentations of the collarettes and other honorifics to those present, and closed a well-attended additional Provincial Meeting at around 3.30pm
All in all a great day for both Rivacre Mark, who with a further joining member and two still to advance have increased their membership significantly, and the Province which, with some late donations alongside monies raised on the day, raised a further £1,396.00, which will be sent to Mark Masons Hall as quickly as possible so it may be included in the final Festival Total figure.

VanVan taking the high roads, or low roads- but they’ll definitely be in the Highlands.

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An early start saw #teamVanVan past Carlisle, over the border and on to Gretna, Lockerbie and Moffat, where a slight “detour” found them testing their bikes on a glorious road, and after a lunch break carried on to Falkirk where they were met by a member of the Lodge of Dunblane, Ronnie McPhee on his bike. A short history lesson ensued on Bannockburn, then Ronnie took them on to Dunblane, where two further stalwarts of Scottish Masonry, Paul Allen and George Patterson greeted the.
A good night’s sleep, then it’ll be onwards towards Inverness tomorrow.

It’s that Van Van again!

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Van van day 2.
With our kit dried overnight( following the day 1 deluge), and an early breakfast, the team set off at around 7.20am for the longest distance day, a planned 222 miles to Tewkesbury.
However the vagaries of the several hills on the A30 meant that the team became spread out, to the point that two of the lads missed our 10am rendezous with the PGM of the Mark Province of Devonshire, RWBro David Purdie, accompanied by his Deputy, VWBro John Clendenning. Both were pleased to meet the team, and present our APGM, with a very generous cheque towards the 2024 festival. They also brought some Devonshire scones, for comparison with those brought by Cornwall, and we have to say we took a vote but couldn’t decide which was best! Nevertheless, we did enjoy the welcome, and they were both pleased to receive an official ride shirt.
Setting off from Devon, as soon the Team crossed the border into Somerset, the British weather again gave the team a good soaking, to the effect that apart from fuel stops and with no other appointments arranged, they rode on in mostly torrential conditions to their stop over point at Tewkesbury, to once again dry off their riding gear, before tomorrow’s shorter ride back into Cheshire via the A49.

Cheshire Mark Masons in London

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On 11th June, 25 Cheshire Mark Masons attended the Grand Lodge meeting to see 5 Cheshire brethren receive their first appointments to Grand Rank, with Dave Berry, Colin Lewis, Walter Grundy, Steve Roberts and Geoff Lloyd all receving the rank of PAGDC.
It was especially great to see several brother mark master masons from Claughton, De Tabley, Deeside and Cornwall Legh Lodges attending to show their support and joining in the celebrations.

Van Van A Go Go ! Day 1:

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An eventful day 1of the Van Van challenge, saw our intrepid riders set off from Middlewich at 4.40am, setting off early to avoid the Birmingham traffic. This allowed them a chance to stop near Gloucester for a hearty breakfast under favourable skies, before the turn off the M5 onto the A30, where the June-uary weather conspired against them gradually, until, when they finally arrived at lands end at circa 1.30pm to unload, the incessant rain was at the angle equal to the fourth part of a circle.
They were however, heartened to be welcomed by the Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Province of Cornwall, RWBro Peter Furness, and the Prov G Sec Simon Trevans, who not only welcomed them, but presented the Team with a cheque towards the 2024 festival, and a plate of cornish scones, with the jam first, to “show off their fine Cornish cream” which was enjoyed by the team, before they set off on the short but rain swept trip, which tested our waterproofs (sadly they leaked) to Hayle, before a long day 2 ride to Tewkesbury, a mere 222 miles away.
A “soft” day but Mark ingenuity was on hand to dry everything out!

The Salmon Lunch Returns to Stockport

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The Salmon Lunch Returns to Stockport
On Sunday 2nd of June, and after a break in 2023 due to the clash with the Sesquicentenary, Cheshire Mark held its annual Salmon Lunch at the Guildhall Stockport, under the organisation of Keith Goulden, and Howard Waddell, with a lot of help from Steve Flood.
The event was a great success, with 74 Guests attending, and enjoying the meal, whilst being entertained by the excellent Table Magician Dean Lahan.
The raffle to which many of the members had donated prizes, raised the magnificent sum of £875.00 towards our 2024 MBF Festival.
( NB: It should be worth noting that the unusually bent forks were part of Dean’s Magic show, and nothing to do with the food- which was excellently prepared as usual!)

THE CHESHIRE CATS ARE RECRUITING

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Would you like to get more of a chance to work your ritual, and visit Mark and RAM lodges across the Province of Cheshire- then why not join the Cheshire Cats?
Formed in 2022, and led by Derek Scott, the Cheshire Cats offer support to our Lodges by providing-on request a number of volunteer officers who will assist with a ceremony when available.
To find out more, please email membership@cheshiremarkmasons.co.uk, and we will provide further information on how to get involved.

Team Visit to The Benjamin Addy RAM Lodge and Ashton District Mark Lodge

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On the warm summer evening of July 23, 2024, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master (APGM) of the Mark Province of Cheshire presided over the ceremony at The Benjamin Addy Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No. 1107 to assist in elevating Bro Simon Truswell. The Provincial Grand Master (PGM) and the Provincial Team were also present, and it was an excellent ceremony that will surely be remembered by the newly elevated Brother.

Following that, the ASHTON DISTRICT LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS T.I. opened and welcomed the Provincial Grand Master, the APGM, and the Provincial team to the ancient Mark lodge. The Worshipful Master invited W.Bro Major Matthew Christmas PPrGSW (Oxon) to give a lecture titled “The Travelling Mark Lodge of Ashton Under Lyne: 1830-1900,” which was wonderfully received.

W.Bro Norman Haigh’s 30-year anniversary in Mark Masonry and as a member of the lodge was a significant milestone and a cause for celebration. The festive board was a great success, with 54 Masons enjoying a wonderful dining experience.

The Mark Province of Cheshire held their AGM on Saturday 16th of March – APGM John Miller

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The Mark Province of Cheshire held their Annual General Meeting on Saturday 16th of March, within a reversal of approach (brought on by reasons out of their control) a Morning Brunch meeting held at the Whitby Club, prior to the AGM itself at Ellesmere Port Civic Centre, just a few minutes “down the road”, instead of the more normal “meeting then Lunch” approach.
Although this was a one off, it was very successful, and those who dined were treated to an excellent breakfast, in which the Local Widows Sons chapter presented a generous Cheque of £500, and the Local Cheshire Freemasons Luncheon club also donated £250 towards the 2024 Cheshire Festival.

Despite our PGM not liking surprises, the DPGM and APGM risked being reappointed by celebrating his 70th Birthday (which occurred the day beforehand) and having a cake presented by Sue Horstman and Diane Miller, who assisted on the day with the selling of raffle tickets etc, to Mark him becoming a septuagenarian.
We then proceeded to the Ellesmere Port Civic Centre for the main meeting, which included an “in regalia” procession by our Companion Orders, a separate procession of all our Distinguished Guests, and of course the ever colourful RAM delegation, all present in time for the 1 pm meeting.
When Introducing the many distinguished guests, our PGM was very pleased to be presented with a further donation of £7,000.00 to our 2024 Festival from the PGM RWBro Keith Beardmore from our neighbouring province of West Lancashire, which was very gratefully received.
During the meeting, the Festival Chairman Steve Simpson was pleased to present several honorific collarettes to various brethren, and, whilst the Lodge was called off for a short while, to present three of our Cheshire Ladies with their Grand Patron Gold broaches, in recognition of their contributions made.
Whilst appointing and promoting provincial officers, our PGM also included three non-collared appointments of Stone Bearer to Bros, Simon Wall, Simon Porter, and Graham Knowles in recognition of their work in support of the order.

Just before closing the Lodge, he conducted the draw for the signed bottles of single malt, the one signed by the Grand Master being won by RWBro J Trevor Bolton (PGM of West Yorkshire), and the second (signed by the High Rulers) by our own Past APGM WBro Bob McMillan.
The meeting was a great success and concluded at 3 pm – albeit next year we will return to the more normal format of holding the Dinner after the meeting.