I am delighted to present to you the details of the arrangements and booking details for the 142nd Mark Benevolent Fund Festival which will be held at The East of England Showground Atrium, Peterborough, Northamptonshire under the Chairmanship of the Provincial Grand Master for Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, R.W. Bro George Edward Bonham R.A.M.G.R.

As Festival Secretary I will be responsible for the bookings to attend and would appreciate your earliest return of the Booking Form to enable all the detail arrangements to be finalised. A cut-off date for bookings has been set at 31st March 2010. Post dated cheques to that date are welcomed, your completed form together with payment is the only method of making your reservation.

If you require accommodation for the night please find below details of Hotels in the area where block reservations have been made and prices fixed.

Coaches are being arranged to transport Brethren and their Ladies to the function between 5.30 and 6.00pm, returning between 10.30 and 11.00pm from these Hotels. To enable me to make these arrangements please indicate which Hotel you have booked on the Festival Booking Form.

The Festival Dinner is a formal occasion commencing with a reception at 6.00pm with Dinner served at 7.30pm. Both pre and after dinner drinks will be on a cash bar basis

The dress code will be:

Brethren      Short Morning Coat or dark lounge suit; Mark collars and collar jewels;
                   Mark M.B.F. and R.A.M collarettes are to be worn

Ladies          Cocktail Dress

The Menu will be:

Salmon and Broccoli Tart
Sandringham Estate Lamb Steak with a light Mushroom and Redcurrant Sauce served with local seasonal vegetables and potatoes
Fresh local Strawberries with Cornish Clotted Cream or Ice Cream
Coffee or Tea with mints

Two bottles of Red Wine and one of White wine will be served at each table.

Brian Ennever
Festival Secretary

Cherry Tree House
Walgrave Road
Old
Northants
Tel 01604 780235
Eml brianennever@hotmail.com

A number of rooms have been reserved at The Marriott, Best Western and Ramada Hotels – when booking please refer to ‘Mark Festival’ to benefit from the negotiated rates.

The Marriott –
Tel 01733 371111
Peterborough Business Park
Lynchwood
Peterborough PE2 6GS
Or use the link below
http://cwp.marriott.com/xvhpb/markfestival/
Rates are Single £99.00, Double £109 including Breakfast

Best Western
Tel 01733 391111
The Village,
Orton Longueville,
Peterborough PE2 7DN,
Rates are Single £72.50, Double £95 including Breakfast

Ramada Peterborough
Tel 01733 564240
Thorpe Meadows
Peterborough PE3 6GA
Rates are Single £72.50, Double £90 including Breakfast

Other hotels at varying prices are available in the Peterborough area and these can readily be found on the internet.  For those of a more independant disposition the East of England Showground can accomodate caravans, please contact them direct for details on 01733 234451.

The Festival Committee are looking forward to welcoming you for this very special occasion and wish you a pleasant and enjoyable evening

Brian Ennever
Festival Secretary

Cherry Tree House
Walgrave Road
Old
Northants
Tel 01604 780235
Eml brianennever@hotmail.com

Booking form for attending the Festival celebrations.

COPY OF LETTER FROM OUR RtW PGM (5th February 2010) re - MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL 17th JULY 2010

Brethren
I am anticipating that a goodly number will want to join me on this occasion when we shall be celebrating with the Pro. Grand Master and others from Mark Grand Lodge - together with brethren from other Provinces and Districts - the efforts we have all put in over the last 7 or 8 years to accumulate funds for our charity. The details of the latest grant – to the Haiti disaster can be found on the "news" page of our website do please read it.
The main purpose of this letter which is being sent to you all is to encourage you - if you have not yet done so and would like to attend - to apply for tickets as soon as possible. May I remind you that there is a concession for brethren of this Province that cheques may be post-dated to the end of March.
The reason I am asking for your co-operation in this matter is that we need to work out how much of the space in the venue we need for the function well in advance of the final closing date for ticket applications which is 30th April.
Some Lodges are arranging to bring enough for one or two tables – if yours is one of them and you have not quite finalising numbers do please let WBro Brian Ennever know.
All the details you need can be found above.
Finally brethren I really appreciate your individual giving towards this Festival (whether or not you have been or felt able to gift aid it) plus the efforts that Lodges have made at their meetings and also by arranging fund raising events. However if you are one of those members whose has not quite got round to making a contribution or you now feel able to top up what you have already contributed (to achieve the next honorific level for example and qualify for a new collarette ) it is not too late – please speak with your Lodge Charity Steward, W Bro Chris Beck the Provincial Grand Charity Steward - or even me – as you can imagine I usually have an appropriate envelope within easy grasp if so approached.
Thank you brethren - I am proud to be your Provincial Grand Master!
Yours sincerely and fraternally
George

Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons
of the Province of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire
Provincial Grand Master
RW Bro George E Bonham PGM

Printable version of PGM's letter (.pdf)

 

FESTIVAL STEWARD LAPEL BADGES NOW AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LODGE CHARITY STEWARDS (£5)

 

On the 29th April this year, St Ivo Lodge is to celebrate its Centenary at the Masonic Centre, Peterborough. The lodge is to be honoured by the presence of the RW Assistant Grand Master Benjamin Addy as well as our Provincial Grand Master, RWBro George Bonham and the lodge would be delighted if any Mark Masons could join them to help mark this historic occasion.

Any Brother wishing to attend this key meeting, please complete and return the booking form below.

St Ivo Centenary meeting application form (.pdf)