2012 Provincial Chronology

Helping HRH success with GBP 250k

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 01:10:35 GMT

A splendid afternoon was enjoyed by all who attended the West Midlands Prince’s Trust Awards, which recognises the achievements of exceptional young people in education, enterprise and in the community. Held at Aston Villa Football Club, this was one of eleven award ceremonies taking place across the UK, fully supported by the Province of Warwickshire as part of the £250,000 grant awarded by the Freemasons Grand Charity, shared across all of the Trust’s regions.

In the West Midlands last year alone, the Prince’s Trust helped nearly 5,500 disadvantaged people across the Region, offering them practical support including training, mentoring and basic financial assistance, to help them move into jobs, education and training.

The event was hosted by TV personality Nina Nannar, an Ambassador of The Prince’s Trust, and attended by many well known dignitaries. The audience was presented with details of all the nominees, after which senior representatives of the several organisations which support and help facilitate the work of the Trust then announced and presented the winners in the various categories with their awards.

Information about the Prince's Trust can be seen here

Provincial Almoner Bill Clark with Nina Nannar

MBE for MWLB

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:58:42 GMT

Our congratulations go to W Bro Martin WL Burton, PProvJGW, Past Master of Lodge of Service Above Self 9421 and Lodge of Goodwill 3899, who has been made an MBE in the New Years Honours list.

The award is for services to the Charity Sector in the West Midlands Region, Martin having for many years been lead “mover and shaker” of the Lord Mayor’s Charity activities.

Martin Burton (r) with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, W Bro Councillor John Lines

Another GBP 600k for Hospices

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:57:04 GMT

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity makes hospice grants every year for each Province to distribute locally. Warwickshire presentations for the year were arranged by the Provincial Grand Charity Steward W Bro John Hayward and made as follows:

£3216 Acorns Children’s Hospice (Selly Oak) by the Provincial Grand Master RW Bro David Macey
£3271 Marie Curie Centre, Warren Pearl Hospice (Solihull) by Assistant PGM W Bro Michael Morris
£1000 Mary Ann Evans Hospice (Nuneaton) by Assistant PGM W Bro John Emms
£5825 Myton Hospices, (Coventry/Warwick/Rugby) by Assistant PGM W Bro Trevor Sturt
£1000 Shakespeare Hospice (Stratford upon Avon) by the Deputy PGM VW Bro Alan Wellan
£4548 St Mary’s Hospice (Selly Oak) by Assistant PGM W Bro Eric Rymer
£ 500 Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice (Coventry) by Assistant PGM W Bro Trevor Sturt

The Grand Charity sets aside £500,000 each year for adult hospices, and a further £100,000 for children’s hospices.

In order to accommodate the increasing number of hospices, especially hospice at home, day care and children's hospices, a formula is used to determine the amounts allocated each year.

Put simply, a hospice receives £500 if it provides a hospice at home service and £500 if it provides a day care service. The remainder of the £500,000 set aside for adult hospices and the remainder of the separate £100,000 set aside for children's hospices is then allocated according to the number of beds in each hospice, hence the varying amounts.

Since 1984 the Freemasons’ Grand Charity has donated a total of £9.9million to hospices, and the number of hospices across England & Wales to benefit in 2012 was 239.

(l-r) David Macey, Acorns Selly Oak Manager Chris Reed,
Acorns Trustees' Chairman David Butcher, John Hayward.

Myton Chief Executive Kate Lee, Trevor Sturt

St Marys Head of Income Generation and
Marketing Claire Marshall, Eric Rymer

Laura from Zoe's Place, Trevor Sturt

New Wardens Announced

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:55:51 GMT

The Provincial Senior Grand Warden for 2013/2014 will be WBro Peter P Manning, PProvJGW, of Lodge of Unity 567 and the Provincial Junior Grand Warden will be WBro John D Harris, PProvGSuptWks, of Athol Lodge 74.

They will, of course take up their appointments when they are invested at the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge to be held at The Clarendon Suites, Edgbaston on Saturday 18th May 2013.

Our hearty congratulations and best wishes for an exciting and enjoyable year go to Peter and John.

Dick to the Rescue

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:31:32 GMT

Local children were again enthralled by the annual pantomime held at the Provincial Headquarteres in Edgbaston, organised in conjunction with TOA Taxis.

The show – Dick Whittington - got off to a great start with the children soon booing wicked pirate Captain “smelly socks” Bogey and roaring with laughter at the antics of idle Jack, pretty Sarah the cook and wealthy merchant Fiztwarren’s daughter Alice. After rescuing the giant cat, which Dick named Elvis, the children were soon singing and clapping along with them to an appearance of Cluck the chicken. The Queen of Maldavia later arrived and after Elvis had cleared her palace of rats made Dick rich enough to marry Alice and see off the pirate for good!

There were two performances, the morning one catering mainly for children with learning and physical disabilities, and the afternoon one being aimed at children who might perhaps never have been to a live theatre show. Over 600 children attended, together with more than 100 carers, all being introduced to Santa as they left, and being given a Christmas gift before they departed.

The Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Macey introduced the show in the morning, during which he welcomed the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor John Lines and the Lady Mayoress Kathleen Lines, presenting the Lord Mayor with a cheque for £500 towards his charities. He thanked everyone who had taken part in organising the event, in particular TOA Taxis for arranging all of the transport; West Midlands Police for liaising with local schools, and ensuring the traffic flows; “Office Christmas” for providing the magnificent room decorations; the Staff and helpers from the Clarendon Suites and the schools attending; Father Christmas and his helpers, and the Birmingham South West Group Residents Association.

In addition to the show, magician Peter Pocelli/Astfalck entertained the children (and adults!) before and after the performances, keeping the merriment going throughout the day.

The show was produced by professional theatre company Chaplins, who went on to appear the following day at a similarly successful event organised by Coventry Freemasons at the Standard Triumph Club, where over 450 children plus carers attended the morning and afternoon performances.

The Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and PGM David Macey with members of the cast.

Santa with some of his not so little helpers - Graham Humphries (l) and Jack Chetwynd (r)

Fun and Enjoyment

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:47:20 GMT

The Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Jonathan Spence, was guest speaker at the Warwickshire Installed Masters' Lodge 4538, as reported on their website (see here).

A synopsis of his talk, in which he emphasised the importance of humour, will appear in the next Provincial Newsletter.

Season's Greetings

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:32:13 GMT

The Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Macey, has forwarded his Christmas message to all Warwickshire Lodges. It can be seen here

Last Post

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:47:18 GMT

The annual Remembrance Service held at Stirling Road was attended by nearly 200 freemasons, their families and friends, including several past and present members of the armed forces, the Scouts, and members of the Royal Arch Lodge Representatives' group who were meeting in the building that morning.

This moving service, which included messages of remembrance from five different faiths, was led by the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Macey, and conducted by the Provincial Grand Chaplain W Bro John Cowan and Provincial Assistant Grand Chaplain W Bro Paul Wheeler. The Last Post was bugled at exactly 11.00am by W Bro Norman Blackburn of Concord Lodge 3239, followed by two minutes silence and Reveille.

Wreaths and tributes were placed by the PGM, the Deputy and all of the Assistant PGMs, as well as leaders of different orders and several other members of the congregation, including our own ex-servicemen.

(l-r) Ken Wilkinson, Rory & Ian McCloskey, Capt. Patrick Wood, John Cowan,
David Macey, SAC(T) Adam Wills, Norman Blackburn, Phil Worton.

In Atherstone, the Master of Athelstan Lodge 1333 W Bro Robert Evans, with a number of other brethren, marched with representatives of other Atherstone-based organisations to the Memorial Hall where a service was held.

Details can be seen here

Telling the World

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 07:01:26 GMT

On Saturday 1^st December 2012 a presentation and workshop will take place at the Masonic Hall, Alderson House, 23 High Street, Warwick CV34 4AX. The content will include:

Guidance for Lodges which don’t have a website on how to create one
Tips for Lodges which do already have a website on how to keep it right up to scratch
A lively presentation about taking better photos, and how to use them effectively
How to successfully engage with the local community via traditional media (local radio and newspapers)
Q&A, plus feedback.

The event will commence at 10.30am, with tea/coffee being available from 10.00am, and is open to all members who have an interest in the content outlined. It will finish around 12.30pm, with the opportunity of further informal discussions with members of the Provincial Information Team.

Full details can be seen here

Those wishing to attend should contact Bro Ivan Smart, email: ivan_smart@hotmail.com or W Bro Ron Parker email: ron.parker@blueyonder.co.uk tel: 0121 684 2399 stating their Lodge name and number.

Lodge Information Officers have also been advised, and asked for their thoughts prior to a forthcoming regional PIO workshop hosted by the Grand Secretary, whose aim is to explore and share ideas and experiences on how to excite, engage and educate people about Freemasonry before putting these into action.

Investiture and Installation for APGMs

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 02:16:46 GMT

The last meeting of Warwickshire Installed Masters’ Lodge 4538 saw a busy programme, with one Assistant Provincial Grand Master being Invested into Office and another being Installed as Master of the Lodge.

The outgoing Master, RW Bro David Macey, Provincial Grand Master, thanked the members for accommodating the needs of the Province, explaining that any abbreviated workings were entirely for that reason, and would certainly not traduce the Lodge traditions and customs. In his capacity as Provincial Grand Master he then invested W Bro Trevor H Sturt as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master (Trevor’s profile can be seen here as a pdf document or here as a web page) in a relaxed yet dignified manner, following which he announced the appointment of W Bro David Holloway as Provincial Grand Registrar and W Bro Garry Malpas as Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary, thanking W Bro Andy Hardy for all his support in that capacity.

In an almost seamless switch back to being Master the PGM then welcomed seven joining members into the Lodge, after which W Bro Nigel Bister, AsstPGM, presented W Bro John Emms, AsstPGM, Master Elect, who the PGM Installed as Master in a likewise dignified manner.

After appointing his Officers, presenting the Immediate Past Masters’ Jewel and receiving the unique Master’s Collarette (the envy of many other Provinces) originally gifted by brethren from the Irish Constitution the new Master then addressed the brethren.

His theme was “Back to the Future” and he expressed the need to look carefully at our outlook as our tercentenary celebrations approach. Freemasonry was now more open than ever, especially due to the Internet, but it was important for members to understand the fundamental principles and objectives of our Lodge activity, which would only be achieved through ongoing research and instruction.

The programme for the forthcoming year continues to provide this for all members and guests, with the Deputy Grand Master addressing the Lodge in November, a further catechetical Lecture being delivered next March and a progress report on Prostate Cancer given by Professor Colin Cooper next June.

W Bro John concluded by emphasising the importance of education via enjoyment and encouragement, now embraced under the umbrella of mentoring, and the need to take into account individual circumstances. Gone were the days of stentorian Past Masters and Preceptors!

The PGM thanked W Bro John for his positive and stimulating address, and expressed his delight that the Lodge would be taken forward in such a fine manner.

John Emms (l) and Trevor Sturt

Catching the Smile

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:26:58 GMT

The weather was kind once again when the Warwickshire Branch of the Masonic Trout & Salmon Fishing Charity hosted ten children from Round Oak School, Warwick, at Heathcote Lakes near Leamington Spa. The day was for children with special needs to enjoy a day’s trout fishing in the countryside.

It was a difficult day for fishing, as proved by the experienced fishermen – both masons and non-masons, who were helping each child to cast – not many fish were caught! Our thanks go to those who helped out on the day. Heathcote Lakes have been very kind to the MTSFC over the years and have specially stocked the lake the day before our trips. It didn’t seem to help this year!

Nevertheless, all the children – and their teachers – had a great deal of fun and they all said they enjoyed the day tremendously. They had a great time fishing and also really enjoyed the splendid lunch, laid on by Julia and Bob Croxall. As the MTSFC’s motto says – they all “Caught the Smile”.

The MTSFC is a nationwide scheme, funded by Freemasons. Any Lodge Almoners looking for a worthy cause, please send donations via the Provincial Office to Assistant Provincial Grand Master Eric Rymer, who is the regional representative. The Warwickshire organiser is Provincial Grand Tyler Ian Hart, and he would be delighted to hear from anyone who is able to assist as a caster.

In 2013, for the first time, the MTSFC will be organising a coarse fishing day as well as 2 fly fishing days. Any coarse anglers – or fly fishermen – who would like to help, please contact Ian, email: ianahart@btinternet.com.

The next day out will be in April 2013, hosted by the Warwickshire Fly Fishers in Wolvey. The exact date will be published once arrangements have been finalised.

For more information on the fishing charity, see the web site at www.mtsfc.org.uk

Look, Listen and Learn

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:22:56 GMT

The Provincial Grand Tyler for Warwickshire, W Bro Ian Hart has arranged another of his highly informative and enjoyable seminars, open not only to Lodge Tylers but to all masons who would like to enhance their knowledge of this important aspect of our ceremonial and practical activities.

This will be held on Saturday 3rd November at The Clarendon Suites, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9SB. Tea and Coffee will be available from 9.30am for a 10.00am start, finishing by 12noon.

For further information contact Ian, email (preferred method): ianahart@btinternet.com tel: 0121 550 0098

50 years To The Day

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 02:17:13 GMT

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VW Bro Alan Wellan had the pleasure of presenting a 50 Years Service to Freemasonry certificate to W Bro Keith Shaw, PProvSGW.

Keith has been an incredibly loyal member of The Aston Manor Lodge 6323 since his Initiation exactly 50 years prior to the presentation, and is still the devoted Almoner of the Lodge.

Lodge members and other friends were there to support him on what was a most convivial evening under the Mastership of W Bro Kevin Hughes. Gifts for Keith and his wife were presented as was a bouquet. He in turn gave grateful thanks to all, and everyone present went home with a plant or with flowers from him. Gifts all round in fact!

A beautifully prepared copy of the Proclamation was handed to Keith by the Deputy PGM's DC, W Bro Avtar Panesar.

Senior Appointment for Stoneleigh Senior

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 22:43:24 GMT

The Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Macey was accompanied by the Provincial Senior Grand Warden W Bro Stephen Townsend, the Provincial Junior Grand Warden W Bro Graham Venn and the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies W Bro David Stanford on a visit to Stoneleigh Lodge 725 meeting at Leamington Spa.

The Master, W Bro Dip Lall welcomed the distinguished visitors to this happy occasion where the PGM promoted the Lodge Chaplain, 96 year old W Bro Bob Wale to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden. Also present to help celebrate was fellow Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden W Bro Peter Turnbull, aged 97.

(l-r standing) David Macey, Stephen Townsend, David Stanford, Graham Venn, Dip Lall
(l-r seated) Bob Wale, Peter Turnbull

Freemasonry Cares

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:42:16 GMT

On Saturday 13th October 2012 the Province will launch the Freemasonry Cares initiative.

This will not involve any fundraising, and has been held back until after the conclusion of the 2012 Festival.

It is a Grand Lodge initiative which seeks to explain how freemasons can use one point of contact to avail themselves, their families and dependants of the support from any of the four great Masonic Charities. It is also an educational initiative which many Provinces have already ‘rolled out’ and who report that it has been a great success.

Held at the Clarendon Suites, Edgbaston, Birmingham, coffee and tea will be available from 10.30am with the presentation commencing at 11.00am. The Provincial Grand Master would like each Lodge to put this date into their diaries so that their Almoner and Charity Steward can attend the launch. If neither are available, please may other Lodge members be nominated.

A detailed explanation of the scheme will be provided, together with publicity materials for every member and their families. This is an exciting scheme aimed at giving all members a greater understanding of the four main Masonic Charities and how they can gain access to them. It has the full support of the Provincial Grand Master, who would like every Warwickshire Lodge to embrace the initiative with enthusiasm.

GBP 3,159,870 and the Band Played On

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:26:48 GMT

A quite astonishing celebration saw the even more astonishing (and still rising) figure of £3,159,870 presented at the 2012 Festival Banquet held at The Clarendon Suites in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The celebration was the culmination of seven years hard work and fun by Warwickshire freemasons in raising funds for the Masonic Samaritan Fund (MSF).

The Banquet was an absolutely splendid affair, the beautifully decorated ballroom being filled to capacity with round tables of happy groups of “Last Night of the Proms Festival" goers. Patriotic bunting and Union flags surrounded the room, with ample supplies of hand waving flags forming the centre-piece to each table, which were used frantically later on in the festivities. The event was initially oversubscribed, but cancellations ultimately allowed everyone who applied to attend.

Distinguished guests included the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, the Assistant Grand Master and his wife, together with the President and the Chief Executive of the MSF. After an excellent meal, the speakers heaped praise upon the Brethren of Warwickshire for having achieved such a magnificent result in economic circumstances which had become increasingly difficult since the launch of the appeal in 2005.

Responding to the plaudits with his usual infectious enthusiasm, the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Macey, announced how totally astounded and amazed he was at the figure the Festival had achieved. He had hoped that the £3 million mark would be reached, but to exceed it so well was beyond his wildest dreams. He gave a long list of thanks to all those who had been involved in achieving such a remarkable result, to the work of the MSF, to the distinguished guests present and especially to W Bro Eric Rymer and his wife Jane, and W Bro Peter Wellings for their work in managing the Festival Banquet.

The PGM left the stage to rapturous applause, and baritone W Bro Cliff Bull took charge of the proceedings, leading everyone into singing their hearts out to many well known traditional “proms” type songs, with video footage of the recent Olympic achievements being shown on giant screens situated around the room. There was hardly a dry eye in the house, or anyone left seated at the end.

Finally, the President and his accompanying guests left the banquet, whilst the rest of those present danced in the aisles and sang the night away until well after midnight to the entertainers “The Full Sha Bang”.

What an evening – the words amazing, astounding, achievement, proud, incredible, massive, fantastic, and thank you were used over and over again, and with due cause. A truly magnificent way in which to celebrate the “Last Night of the Proms Festival".

Copies of photographs taken at the event may be purchased from the splendid gallery kindly produced by W Bro Charles Davis, which can be seen online by going to www.professionalphotography.me.uk/p147988877.

The Souvenir Menu and Programme can be seen here, the Results List here and the songsheet here.

Anyone requiring further information can contact either W Bro Trevor Sturt, Festival Director trevor.sturt@virgin.net W Bro John Hayward, Provincial Charity Steward john.hayward@yahoo.co.uk or W Bro Peter Wellings, Provincial Information Officer peter@wellings.me.uk.

Mendelssohn Organ Replaced

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 01:33:45 GMT

Mrs Sheila Price, the widow of the late W Bro David Price, organist to Athol Lodge 74, is pictured presenting her husband's electric organ to Severn Street Masonic Hall in Birmingham's city centre to replace the old wind organ that had finally “given up the ghost” in playing terms. Receiving this extremely generous donation on behalf of Brethren of all the resident Lodges at Severn Street is W Bro John Harris and W Bro Mike Betts who were with Mrs Price at the presentation.

David was one of the very few organists who managed to tease a tune out of the old John Banfield wind organ before its demise last year. It was condemned to be mothballed because of a lack of funds to repair and refurbish it to its former glory when the composer Felix Mendelssohn allegedly played on it in the early 19^th century during his many visits to Birmingham.

Inspiration for Masters and Wardens

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:30:24 GMT

Over 220 brethren attended the annual Masters' and Wardens' Dinner at The Clarendon Suites, Edgbaston, following which the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro David Macey wished the incoming Master/Warden teams all good fortune for their forthcoming year.

He outlined their responsibilities and gave a variety of tips and hints to help ensure they had a thoroughly enjoyable and successful time in office, and pointed out that several Lodges were sucessfully promoting themselves via their websites. Also, that Master Masons were now able to visit the quarterly meetings of Grand Lodge in London, and encouraging support for the 60th Ladies' Gift Fund Christmas Fayre at The Clarendon Suites on 17th November which was to be opened by the Assistant Grand Master, RW Bro David Williamson and his wife.

The Provincial Information Officer, W Bro Peter Wellings reported on the Lodge Information Officer programme, forthcoming website training seminars and the ongoing need for news articles and advertising in the newsletter. He also announced that Bro Ian Slesser had established Twitter and Facebook media networking for Warwickshire Freemasonry, following which W Bro David Leask gave a brief outline of "social media" and invited volunteers to help with our own activities.

An entirely spontaneous question and answer session was conducted by the PGM, during which he emphasised the strength of the Province, the need to keep up with modern times without jeopardising our traditions and principles, and the importance of energy, honesty, enthusiasm and commitment. A new core booklet Freemasonry - what's it all about? produced by Grand Lodge gives several examples of how this may be achieved. Copies of the booklet have been distributed to all Lodge Information Officers for onward distribution to their members, and printed copies are available from the Provincial Office. It can also be downloaded from the Provincial and UGLE websites.

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VW Bro Alan Wellan thanked the PGM for his inspirational presentation, for reminding everyone of so many important elements of Freemasonry, and for sharing his vision and thoughts for the future.

Provincial Information Team members David Leask (l) and Ian Slesser

Spring is almost here

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:47:03 GMT

Time is running out for booking places at the 2012 festival ‘Spring Harmony’ concert.

Please click here to see the events page for further details of the concert and booking information

All Hands on Deck

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:46:09 GMT

The Open Day held at The Clarendon Suites, Edgbaston (which was part of the national Heritage Open Days programme) generated considerable interest from the general public, with around 130 visitors given tours of the Building, Library and Museum during the course of the day.

At busy times all members present were called on to conduct the tours, including the Provincial Charity Steward W Bro John Hayward who was grateful for the presence of Bro Niall Murphy to man the Masonic Charity display as well as the SSAFA one whilst John showed visitors round.

Assistant Provincial Grand Master W Bro John Emms gave a running commentary on several of the fascinating publications in the Library and answered many questions relating to them and freemasonry, with the other members present doing likewise regarding the Museum and Lodge rooms.

It is hoped the event, which was advertised in local papers and on Bro Ed Doolan’s show on BBC Radio WM, will be repeated next year.

(l-r) Provincial Junior Warden Graham Venn, Niall Murphy, John Hayward