The Masonic Province of Yorkshire
 North & East Ridings
Craft Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters

Tel: +44 1904 898644

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YORK MASON GOES “OPERATIVE”

Steve Coupland, a “banker mason”, has been awarded certificates for completion of the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme at an awards event evening at the Tower of London

Steve, a holder of London Grand Rank, is a member of Mitre Lodge of York No.7321

 He said: “I started going to evening classes about nine or ten years ago at York College. I got more and more interested in it and learned more and more about the craft.

The bursary was created to enhance the number of skilled workmen in the heritage sector. It is largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is being run in partnership with English Heritage, The National Trust, the National Heritage Training Group and Construction Skills.

Dr Jo Reilly, head of Participation and Learning at the Heritage Lottery Fund, presented certificates to the 25 people who had been awarded the bursary, worth £1.2 million.

The bursary enabled Steve, 55, to take six months sebatical from his job with William Birch and Sons to gain experience at York Minster Stone Yard.  

Steve has been working on the stone-work of the Great East Front of York Minster, as part of the five-year repair and restoration programme included in “York Minster Revealed”.

Upon completion of his level 2 NVQ, Steve gained York College’s Marazion Prize for ‘Dedication in Stonemasonry Studies’.

His six month placement at York Minster’s Stoneyard ended on Christmas Eve and will contribute to his completion of a level 3 NVQ.

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Volunteer in the Community

At one of the meetings at Ayton Lodge, Jeff Hillyer, a trustee for Cleveland Clevearc Alzheimer’s asked for volunteer relief drivers for the Alzheimer’s Day Care Centre at Guisborough.

I volunteered and after a few test-drives this became a permanent one-day a week job. starting at 8 am by go along with a carer called Ang, and picking up the day patients (up to13 of them) and taking them to the care centre.

At 3 pm I go back and take them home.

They reside in East Cleveland from Normanby, Eston, Redcar, Marske, New Marske, Saltburn, Skelton and Guisborough.

The mileage for the two journeys is just over sixty  miles. But it takes more than 2 hours morning and 2 hours afternoon

The patients have various degrees of the illness and the care centres  encourages them into activities and also give them a good lunch

This also gives their loved ones a little respite.from a very demanding role as carers

During the drive and when Ang is escorting them to and from the bus I try to engage them in conversation.

They respond particularly well to this and show me the greatest appreciation.

I do enjoy  it and look forward to Tuesdays (my driving day !!!!!)

David Burke
Ayton Lodge No 9595

Scarborough Opens It’s Historic Doors

The Masonic Hall on St Nicholas Cliff in Scarborough opened its doors to the Public on the 13th September 2008.

Organised jointly by Scarborough and District Civic Society, Scarborough Archaeological and Historical Society and Scarborough Council the event was aimed at raising the Publics awareness of the town’s architectural, historical and cultural heritage.

The Masonic Hall is believed to have been owned jointly with the then interconnected Stewart Hotel by a Doctor who used one of the two buildings as his Surgery and eventually started its life as a Masonic Hall in October 1884.

Along with the Masonic Hall other buildings which would not normally be opened to the Public or would usually charge an admission fee were also open for viewing, these included the Town Hall, Opera House Casino, Scarborough Cricket Club, Scarborough Castle, the Art Gallery, Rotunda and Woodend Museums and Dean road Council Depot with is home to Dean road Jail still preserved in its former glory

The Event was spread over 4 days from the 11th Sept with the Masonic Hall open on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. A signing in book was provided by the Civic Society to monitor how many Visitors/Locals had attended each venue. The Lodge had well over 180 signatures but we believe that we had more like 250 visitors as many failed to sign in.

Although not a Masonic Event we had quite a number of visitors who came to look up old school friends, neighbours and Family members amongst our Honours Boards.

In fact one lady presented us with a briefcase full of Masonic Regalia and Ritual books which had belonged to her Grandfather and another presented a picture of Robert Burns in full Masonic Dress.

As well as the Public influx the day was also well supported by all our local and surrounding Lodges and was attended by a number of Provincial Grand Lodge members.

In the main entrance we had a Display Stand provided by W.Bro Chris Thomas promoting Masonic Charity promoting the TLC appeal and a list of famous Masons.

The interest in this display was amazing and I would recommend any Lodge planning such an event to consider using this display.

The local Press came along to make a report which can be found on news@pgl-york.org.

Their parting comments were,” that they would like to return to the lodge to learn more about Freemasonry and what we do” and we are hoping to arrange such a visit at some point in the future.

Report by W. Bro. Karl Ward (Scarbrough Lodge 7147)

Life Membership for Life Saver

Bill Burnett Provincial Deputy Director of Ceremonies of Humber Lodge No.57 attended at the Guildhall, City of London, on Saturday the 4th of October, 2008 to receive Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Life Saving Society for 35yrs of continuous service to the Community. 

This Award was for delivering Life Saving skills such as Infant life Support and Water safety courses to Schools and organisations in our Community.

Bill`s Colleague, Bob Clarkson, who is a Past Master of Humber Lodge and current Z of Humber Chapter was presented with a Medal to recognise 50 yrs of unbroken service delivering Life Saving Skills to the Community. 

The Awards were presented by the Lord Norrie, who stepped in at short notice and deputised for HRH, The Duke of Kent, who was called away to represent Her Majesty the Queen.

Photograph of Lord Norrie, Bob Clarkson and Bill Burnett

St. CUTHBERTS LODGE SUPPORTS LOCAL CRICKET TEAM

Before their recent match against Drax at the Ashes playing field,

Howden Cricket club who play in the Snaith & District Evening League were presented with a cheque towards the purchase of new kit by St Cuthberts Lodge No.630 who meet in Howden

Pictured are the Worshipful Master Dennis Clayton and Charity Steward Brian Gould, Howden Cricket Club captain James Smith with the cheque

Birdies in the Sunshine

After last years wet and dismal day we were blessed with sunshine but breezy conditions for the Provincial Annual Golf Competition at Catterick Golf Club on 10 June 2008

Winners of the Zetland Trophy with a score of 82 points were Sykes Lodge No.1040. who had travelled up from Driffield.

Gordon Heathcote playing for Vulcan Lodge No.4510, off a handicap of 5, won the John Naylor Trophy for the second successive year for the best individual score of 38 points

FULL RESULTS

Lodge Team members Points Sykes. D.Gilliat, D.Knowles, N.Woodward  82 Huntcliffe Chapter. G. Atkinson, A.Cook, B.Cook 79 Middlesborough Vulcan D.Pinder, G. Heathcote, P.Ingledew 75 Ferrum K.Quinn, B.Hill, E.Levie 73 Ridings Tablers No.1 H.Wilson, A.Pittaway, A.Pendleton 70 Lennox M.Clayson, S.Garget, B.Marshall 69 Ridings Tablers No.2 B.Eyre, I.Hughes, D.Tunstall 68 Coatham D.W.Baines, R.Beeforth, R.Peacock 65 Last 9 Thornborough No.2 T.Alsop, P.Baker, D.Grey 65 Thornborough No.1 P.Busfield, R.Williamson, J.McRoberts 63 Lofthouse J.Taylor, D.Clements, C.Gorman 60 Falcon C.Caswell, A.Hopwood 58 Frances Drake of York A.Elcock, P.Barham, B.Redshaw 57

We had a Dream

Keith Anderson; the Thonborough Lodge’s current Master has always had a great approach and commitment to masonry. Recently, Keith was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

How best could the lodge support Keith and his wife Janet coping with MND?

We hit on the idea of arranging a Classic Vehicle Show and Sunday 3rd August 2008 was selected for the event.

The goals of the event were to:

• show support for Keith and Janet in their time of need,
• increase public awareness of MND and
• raise funds for the MND Association (Yorkshire Dales Branch).

Eighty-six (86) tractors, motorcycles, and cars pre-booked for the show and they came from as far south as Solihull and as far east as Bridlington. They came from Timperley in Cheshire and Blyth in Northumberland

Taking advantage of the good weather, more than one hundred thirty (130) vehicles were ultimately displayed.

When all the moneys have come in the net total for the event will be about £2,000.

A day to be remembered

A dream made reality for Keith and Janet.

13,385 Good Reasons to Celebrate.

£13,385 was presented to Representatives from 24 invited Charities, who together with their partners and colleagues attended the seventh Annual Middlesbrough Charity Presentation evening held on Thursday 15th May 2008, at the Masonic Hall, Roman Road, Middlesbrough.

Money had been raised locally during the last twelve months from Freemasons, their wives/partners, families and friends at events such as social evenings, sponsored walks etc.

The total handed over since this event was started has now reached £80,000.

There were short presentations by the Daisy Chain Charity and also by Nurses from the Accident and Emergency Department of the James Cook Hospital on success of the ‘Teddies for Loving Care’ initiative.Cheques and a Lap Top Computer were presented to representatives of the various charities in attendance.

A cheque was also presented to the APGM, Worshipful Brother Alan Brundall for the P.G. M.’s appeal for the Air Ambulance’s.

Worshipful Brother Alan Brundall thanked everyone for attending and hoped they had learnt a little more about the work of Freemasons.

He expressed his gratitude to Worshipful Brother Jim Skelton who had organised the evening on behalf of the Middlesbrough Lodges.

Guests were then invited to tour the building and discuss with the masons present about various aspects of Freemasonry.

Charities supported Leonard Cheshire Homes Butterwick House South Cleveland Heart Fund Positive Strokes 1st New Marske Girls Brigade Air Ambulances 25th Teesside Boys Brigade National Society of Epilepsy Motor Nuerone Disease Multiple Sclerosis Society Zoe's Place Baby Hospice Daisy Chain Appeal George Hardwick Foundation Headway Teesside Palliative Care Team Cleveland Unit Fund Holistic Cancer Care Centre Look Ahead Breathe Easy Ward 21 James Cook Hospital Oesophagel Cancer The Breakaway Children Marie Curie Cancer Care Stamp Revisited Picture shows;- Jennifer Hardwick and Ingrid Brough-Williams of the George Hardwick Foundation receiving a cheque from W.Bro Don MILLER of Ashbrooke Lodge.

 

Teddy Bears picnic in York

Emergency staff at York District Hospital gathered to celebrate the success of the “TLC Teddy Bear Scheme”.

2 year old Wayne Hobbs arrived in A & E with his Mum and was presented with a Teddy by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V.W.Bro Jeffrey Gillyon and this soon helped to calm his nerves.

The scheme has been running successfully at York and is much appreciated by the staff.

The picture shows Wayne with his mother Fiona and nurse practitioner Kate Ruddock whilst the DPGM (right of picture) and York Area Co-ordinator, Robert Thompson, hold Giant Teddies which had been donated to the hospital to raise funds for the Department .

John Hemy, Provincial Co-ordinator of the scheme is second from the right in the picture.

Yarm Lodge No 9544 supports Cardiology Unit

In February this year, Yarm Lodge, in conjunction with Vulcan Lodge, held a ladies’ Dinner Dance at the Tall Trees Hotel in Yarm. Thanks to the generosity of the guests, a total sum of £660 was raised for charity. This sum was split equally between Yarm and Vulcan Lodges for presentation to a charity of their choice. Bro John Taylor, Master of Yarm Lodge is pictured presenting a cheque for £330 to Consultant Cardiologist Dr Janet McComb at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

HOLDERNESS LODGE SUPPORTS THE LIFEBOAT

At its Meeting on Monday 18th February 2008, the Holderness Lodge hosted the crew of the Withernsea Lifeboat at its Festive Board. Afterwards, Martin Woodhouse the Operations Manager gave a very informative talk, explaining how the RNLI, and in particular the Withernsea Lifeboat Station, operates. Bro Dieter Ellwood, Master of the Lodge, then presented Martin with a cheque for £500.00. The money, which had been raised at recent meetings will be used in Withernsea to provide equipment for use at the Lifeboat Station.

Martin Woodhouse invited all members of the Lodge and their partners to visit the Lifeboat Station in the near future for a guided tour and this is something members look forward to.

The Master expressed his hope that, despite the Holderness Lodge relocating to the Masonic Hall, Beverley Road, Hull , it would maintain its links with Withernsea and continue to support not only the Lifeboat Station, but also other Withernsea good causes.

The Master, Dieter Ellwood and other members of the Holderness Lodge with Martin Woodhouse, Operations Manager of Withernsea Lifeboat Station.

‘Bear’ necessities pay off

What a difference a year has made to young patients visiting the accident and emergency department.

Hundreds of children attending casualty in The James Cook University Hospital over the last 12 months have gone home with their own teddy bear.

The bears are generously provided by Yorkshire, North and East Ridings Freemasons as part of their TLC ‘Teddies for Loving Care’ Appeal for medical staff to hand out – at their discretion – to children who are in distress.

Since the appeal was launched, more than 400,000 of the children’s favourites have been distributed to accident and emergency departments nationwide and in Middlesbrough hundreds have gone to good homes.

Accident and emergency sister Sue Murphy said: “They’ve been a great distraction for some children in helping to take away the trauma of coming into the department.

“The kids think they’re great, give them names and in some cases bring them back if they have to return to hospital to get further treatment or a plaster cast removed. Staff really like them as well as it’s great to make a child smile!”

Yorkshire, North and East Ridings organiser for the Freemasons John Hemy added: “We’re delighted the appeal has been so successful and we’re hoping to build on that success and keep it going.”

A little bit of TLC: (left to right) John Hemy and Sue Murray with department clerk Rachel Forster and new Teesside co-ordinator for the Freemasons Edmund Levie

Remembrance Day

On Sunday, 11th November 2007 wreaths were laid on behalf of the Freemasons of Middlesbrough at Remembrance Day Services held at the Cenotaph, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough and St. Cuthberts Church, Ormesby.

Each year a different Middlesbrough Lodge provides volunteers to take part in these ceremonies. Ceremonies that honour all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Should you require any further information please contact Barry Hill on 01287 632854.

DAREDEVIL PENSIONER

Bro Bill Fothergill of the Old Guisborian Lodge No 7793 completed a death defying 10,000ft parachute jump on his 80th birthday to raise money for a Breast Cancer Charity. Bill's 'Highjump' raised £2,240 and shows you are never to old to take extraordinary steps to help those in need. Members of the local lodges in his area contributed by sponsoring Bill, being delighted, as Freemasons, to have the opportunity to promote and support him and others like him, who take the time and make the effort to raise funds for Charity.

THE EAST YORKSHIRE SHOW AT DRIFFIELD

Despite the number of shows that have been cancelled due to flooding and foot and mouth, the 132nd Driffield Show managed to go ahead. The Show which now markets itself as the East Yorkshire Show is the biggest one day show in the UK and attracts in the region of 20,000 visitors. This year for the first time, lodges from Hull and East Yorkshire funded and co-hosted a stand with the focus being on Freemasonry in the Community. Visitors were able to see what Freemasons in general and individual lodges have done across the UK as well as locally.

Visitors to the stand included the Mayor of Driffield, Councillor John Pougher and Mayoress Councillor Wendy Oliver. Bro Trevor Black was interviewed 'live' on Radio Humberside at the Show to explain the reasons behind the stand and to encourage people to visit and ask questions.

The Provincial Grand Master Richard Anderson and his Deputy Jeff Gillyon were also in attendance and the day was considered to be hugely successful.

Trevor Black (Sykes); David Taylor (Wyke Millenium); John Wheeldon (St Michael); Coun John Pougher (Mayor); Coun Wendy Oliver (Mayoress); Richard Anderson (PGM); Ken Eyre(Sykes); John Bridges (Wilberforce).

Not in the photograph, but also extremely active on the day were Alan Wilson(Kingston);Dave Tunstall (Ridings Tablers); Ian Garmston (Constitutional).

The centre piece of the stand was a locator board, designed by John Bridges to show the public the names of the lodges and where they meet across East Yorkshire and Hull.

TEDDIES ARRIVE IN SCARBOROUGH

On Tuesday 7th August 2007 at Scarborough A&E Department, a Scheme called 'Teddies for Loving Care' was launched by Jeff Gillyon, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master.

The Scheme has a simple objective, namely to provide teddies or soft toys to A&E units. These are supplied for the medical staff to give, at their discretion, to children who are in distress, where the staff feel that a teddy to cuddle will help alleviate that distress and assist them in their urgent work. The children take the teddies home with them.

This initiative has already been launched by the Province at the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough and the Hull Royal Infirmary and the York District Hospital is expected to follow Scarborough shortly. This is an ongoing project and the Province will continue to support the A&E Departments in these hospitals for many years to come. Should you require any further information please call 01262 678299 or 07785994931.

Nurse Flaire Tuliao in a play house with a young man who is taking care of some bears. (incidentally, the play house was also donated by local masons)

You are never too old.

Brother Maurice Smith, a member of the Dundas Lodge in Middlesbrough is 76 years of age. He is proving that you are ‘never too old’ by attempting to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End. 

The ride will be done in stages and he has just completed the first stage, which was from John O’Groats to Aberdeen, a distance of 320 miles. The remaining stages are to undertaken in subsequent years, which Maurice says will give him the will to live!

Doing the ride has been a lifetime ambition. To ensure someone else benefits from his efforts he is raising money for a fund called a ‘Time to Talk’ which is seeking to raise £14,000 to purchase a special computer for Owen McGarry, an 11 year old boy who is a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Owen is unable to communicate with others, but the computer will enable him to do so. £955 was raised from sponsorship and a further £500 was donated by members of his own Lodge, making a total of £1,455.

Maurice said of the ride: - “At times it was rather challenging, but most enjoyable. I had the opportunity to see some fantastic scenery at leisure and meet some of the most eccentric and unforgettable characters along the way.” Apparently certain compulsory stops were made at one or two famous Whisky Distilleries for interest and sustenance.

BURLINGTON CHAPTER REACTS TO HULL FLOODING

On a visit to a Hull Lodge, a member of Burlington Chapter heard an urgent appeal for assistance. Electrical white goods are desperately needed for flood victims as there is an acute shortage of kitchen equipment throughout the flooded area.

Although the Chapter is presently in its Summer recess, arrangements were nevertheless quickly made to fund the purchase of two new electric cookers and these were subsequently delivered to the Hull Council Relief Team.

THE POWER OF SPEECH

At a family lunch arranged by the Roseberry Installed Masters' Lodge, and a presentation was made by Malcolm Burton to a senior speech therapist at the NHS South Tees Trust.

The equipment which has been provided is an auditory feedback device that fits in the ear, rather like a hearing aid. It is a speech fluency device which tricks the brain into thinking that the person is talking along with someone else, thereby unblocking the impediment. The device, called 'SpeechEasy', is fairly new to the UK although several thousand have been sold in the United States and on the Continent. It is now available locally at a cost of £3,050 inclusive of consultation, fitting and insurance and the money allowing the purchase was provided by De Brus Lodge, Roseberry Chapter and the Provincial Grand Charity.

At the presentation, a further £300 was donated to the speech therapy unit by the Roseberry Lodge and the Redcar Chapter, towards the purchase of a video projector and replacement of an old overhead projector. Malcolm Burton (Lodge Information Officer), together with Richard Anderson (Provincial Grand Master) and Philip Stewart (Chairman of the Freemasons' Provincial Grand Charity) make the presentation.

HELP FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

Freemasons in the North & East Ridings of Yorkshire intend to make an immediate donation of £5,000 to the British Red Cross appeal for those affected by the floods in Hull and surrounding area.

This will be matched by a further £5,000 donated by the Freemasons’ Grand Charity based in London which has set aside an initial £35,000 for allocation to different affected areas.

The British Red Cross are reported to be at the forefront of relief efforts and it is hoped that these donations will help to maintain their refuge services and the start of the clean-up process.

YORK MINSTER AND THE ST WILLIAM WINDOW

In 1996 the Province started a Millennium project to raise a substantial contribution towards the refurbishment of the St William Window in York Minster. Freemasonry has many connections with the Minster, beginning with the stone masons who built it and over the years major contributions have been made to maintain the Minster in good condition.

Under the patronage of the late RW Bro Gerald Coles, then the Provincial Grand Master, a sum which ultimately totalled £440,000 was raised towards the substantial cost of repairing the lead and damaged glass. Lodges were able to subscribe for one or more panes and those who did, have a “quarry” placed in the refurbished window to mark their contribution.

On 8th June 2007 the Minster opened its doors to a special Evensong when several hundred Freemasons and their families joined the congregation to give thanks for the project and for the Dean of York Minster to dedicate the window afresh. The Provincial Grand Master read a lesson and he and his fellow Rulers were very pleased to see a large contingent of Brethren supporting them.

After the service some 230 gathered at York Race Course to enjoy a buffet supper. The Dean and Precentor of the Minster were invited as our guests at what turned out to be a very happy and special occasion in the life of the Province.

NORTH YORKSHIRE SCOUTING ON THE MOVE!

At a ceremony at Ripon Trailers, Ripon, on 1st June, North Yorkshire Scouts took possession of a mobile display unit which will be used to promote scouting at a range of venues throughout the county.

The unit has been largely funded by a grant of £3500 from the Freemasons of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire and sponsored by the Lodge of St Hilda which meets at the Masonic Hall, Roman Road, Middlesbrough. Display panels inside the trailer have been produced by John Davey Ltd. (John Davey is a member of the Lodge of St.Hilda). Other donations from Skipton Building Society, Shepherds Building Group, McCains Foods, William Birch & Sons, Selby Rotary and NYCC – Selby Area Committee have also helped with the purchase and fitting out of the unit. The North Yorkshire Scouts’ Events Team are putting the finishing touches to the unit, which will be used extensively throughout North Yorkshire.

At the hand over ceremony, Deputy County Commissioner David Southall and representatives of North Yorkshire Scouting’s Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Young Leaders and Leaders received the trailer on behalf of North Yorkshire Scouts. The Freemasons were represented by Phil Stewart (Chairman of the Provincial Charity), Roy Terry (Lodge of St Hilda) and David Lawrance (Vulcan Lodge). Colin Sigsworth represented John Davey Ltd.