Provincial News
- Written by: Rob Taylor
The brethren of Cytringan Lodge 4048 in Kettering made sure seventy local under privileged children received a Christmas Day out after the Lodge agreed to fund the coach transportation costs for their trip.
Pictured are Worshipful Master, WBro Keith Riddle presenting the cheque to Youth Works leader Cindy Whiting.
- Written by: Rob Taylor
WBro Batton presented a cheque for £1500.00 to the Arthritis Reasearch UK charity from money raised during his year in the chair. WBro Joe Batton was Worshipful Master of Sothius Lodge No 8774 in 2012. WBro Batton says he chose this charity because most of us will at sometime in our life suffer from this awful disease, and he has witnessed personally the benefits that can be gained from this research.
- Written by: Rob Taylor
The Northants & Hunts Branch held five events this season: - April: Ringstead Grange fly fishing, - May Earith Lakes fly fishing, - June Ringstead Island coarse fishing, - July Earith Lakes coarse fishing, - September Ringstead Island coarse fishing.
The participants for these events came from Corby Business Academy, Wren Spinney School, Mather Franks Care Group, Samuel Pepys School, Landowne Care Centre, East Hunsbury Primary School, Olympus Care Services and Ashgrove Outreach. They were supported by our dedicated team of casters, and helpers, who set up camp and prepared refreshments throughout the day.
We were grateful for the support from Provincial Office with the presence of WBros Norman Pope, Brian Silsby, Ged Dempsey, Trevor Boswell and Tim Arnold who each spent a day at one of the events, and we received a surprise visit by our PGM RWBro Max Bayes at our last event of the year. The other distinguished visitors were Dr Ahmed Mukhtar, High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, and WBro Barry Rogers, Charity Steward of the Lodge of Perseverance and a trustee of The Margaret Giffin Charitable Trust.
We were pleased to receive donations from these, also from the Douglas Compton James Charitable Trust, the Piscator Lodge and Chapter. Their donations enabled the purchase of two new ‘pop up’ marquees, which we look forward to using during 2016.
I am pleased to report that our new box trailer, sign written ‘Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire Branch’ over the MTSFC logo, proved to be very beneficial this year for the storing and movement of all our equipment from event to event.
During February David Houghton, after consultation with the local Environmental Health Office responsible for food preparation, health and safety, produced an operation manual for our events. Adam French, a Senior Health officer, made an inspection at our event on the 23rd April and was pleased to advise that we had achieved a FIVE STAR RATING for food safety under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
Finally, I am pleased to report that all the Special Needs participants were seen to ‘Catch the Smile.’
- Written by: Rob Taylor
At the Annual Convocation of Provincial Grand Chapter on 25th June 2015, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, Excellent Companion Wayne Williams awarded Excellent Companion Brian Thompson with his Certificate of Merit to much acclaim from the Companions.
This well deserved award made for a rare `double` because in 2007, Worshipful Brother Brian had also been awarded the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master`s Certificate of Merit for services in the Craft.
Worshipful Brother Brian Thompson is a Kettering Group Officer, a Past Master of St Crispin Lodge 5627, & both a founder & Past Master of Trinity Lodge 9165. He is also a Past First Principal of St Crispin Chapter 5627 & a member of Cytringan Chapter 4048, together with many other orders.
A member of both the Northants & Hunts Lodge of Installed Masters L3422 & Chapter of First Principals C3422, he holds the ranks of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden & Past Provincial Grand Scribe N.
Commenting, W Bro Brian said, ` I am very honoured to have been recognised in this way. I am most grateful because throughout my Masonic career over 36 years, I have made such wonderful friendships & have thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of both Craft & Royal Arch Freemasonry, & indeed other orders".
