Category Archives: 2024 Festival

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.

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!

Mark Masons Step in as Blood Bike is stolen and vandalised and purchase a New Bike.

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Mark Masons Step in as Blood Bike is stolen and vandalised and purchase a New Bike.

The Mark Benevolent Fund has agreed to fund the purchase of a New Blood Bike at a cost of £18,801.

One of the Manchester Blood Bikes was stolen from a volunteer’s house and vandalised. The bike has been able to be repaired to such an extent to allow it to get back on the road. The bike however has over 85,000 miles on the clock and is at such a point in its working life that they would be looking to retire it.

So Mark Masons from Cheshire and Lancashire are purchasing a New Blood Bike for them at £18,801

Treasure Hunt on Sunday 21st August

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We are holding a Treasure Hunt on Sunday 21st August supporting the 2024 Festival.

Starting in Waverton and finishing at Whitby Club, Ellesmere Port this is sure to be a great and fun event, so make sure you book in early.

Nicks’ Wild 2024 Challenge

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Nicks’ Wild 2024 Challenge

Our Provincial Grand Charity Steward Nick Wild is planning to walk a total of 2024 miles in support of the Cheshire 2024 festival.

Nick will be walking the hills in England and Wales and the mountains and glens of Scotland, and you’re invited to support him by sponsoring him on his fantastic challenge

www.justgiving.com/2024walk

 

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Cheshire Freemason Mike Ross and Mark APGM John Miller were pleased to visit Neo Community who hearing about the humanitarian aid planned and organised by Mike Ross, wished to assist by donating essential food and supplies for the Ukrainian orphanage that is being supported.

The Team, which sets off in a few days, were further boosted by a generous donation of £50​ towards the Mark Benevolent fund, who have already donated £10,000 to buy the mini bus, by a member of the public Tom Hobbs,​ who was visiting Neo Community, and heard of the endeavour, and wished to support it.