MARK & ROYAL ARK MARINER EVENTS

LATEST

- MORE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

- INFORMATION ON THE 144th Mark Benevolent Fund Festival - PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX

- ANNUAL PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF ROYAL ARK MARINERS - 3RD DECEMBER 2012

- 2012 MARK LADIES FESTIVAL WEEKEND (20th to 22nd April 2012)

- ANNUAL MEETING OF MARK PGL - Saturday 25th June 2011

- REPORT ON 2011 LADIES FESTIVAL WEEKEND

- GRAND HOG ROAST - ENGINE FARM -SUNDAY 26th June 2011

- ANNUAL ASSEMBLY RAM 4th DECEMBER 2010

- 142nd MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL -PHOTOS & RESULT

-DOWNLOADABLE FILE OF 2010 FESTIVAL PHOTOS

NORTHANTS & HUNTS MARK PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE EVENTS

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

ANNUAL PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF ROYAL ARK MARINERS

On Saturday 3rd December, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons held the Annual Assembly of Royal Ark Mariners, at The Masonic Hall, Corby, when the Provincial Grand Master was pleased to invest those Brethren he had appointed to Provincial RAM Grand rank, following which the PGM addressed the Brethren.

During the meeting, the Ladies were invited to an audience with WBro David E. A. Adams, Grand Organist for "Getting to know You ........ Name that Musical?"

The Assembly was followed, as usual, by a luncheon to which the Ladies were invited. The event proved to yet another very enjoyable occasion.

A list of the Brethren receiving Provincial RAM Grand Appointments can be downloaded here

ANNUAL MEETING OF PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS

On Saturday 25th June, the brethren of the province assembled at Freemasons Hall Northampton for the annual meeting of Mark Provincial Grand Lodge. After welcoming the large number of visiting PGM's, DPGM's, Heads of Orders and other distinguished brethren and having completed the usual labours of PGL, the PGM requested the PrGSec, WBro Peter Dawson to read the patent granted to WBro Brian Ennever, following which he was pleased to appoint and install WBro Brian Ennever as his new Deputy.

Our PGM, RWBro George Bonham and his newly appointed Deputy - WBro Brian Ennever

The PGM was then pleased to invest those brethren on whom he had conferred first appointments and promotions to both acting and past Provincial rank.
In presenting his annual address to the assembled brethren, the PGM warmly thanked VWBro Richard Turpin OBE PGJO, who was retiring as DPGM after giving 5 years of dedicated and learned support to both himself and the province and presented Bro Richard with a PDPGM's collarette. The PGM then instructed the PrGDC, WBro John Clarke to bring WBro Arthur Piggins to him. The PGM requested VWBro Simon A Mighall DepGSec, PGJO to read the certificate marking his 50 year anniversary to the assembled brethren before he presented it to Bro Arthur. Following this the PGM explained that the Assistant Grand Master, RWBro Michael Herbert, a close family friend of Bro Arthur, had hoped to be present at the meeting to make the presentation himself, but having left hospital only 3 days previously following his recent hip replacement, he was unable to attend. The PGM then continued by saying that as the Grand Master, MWBr His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, KCVO, had been pleased to promote WBro Arthur Piggins to the rank of PGJO, RWBro Herbert had obviously hoped to be present to perform this duty also, but instead, our PGM had been charged with the responsibility of carrying out that very pleasant task, on a very surprised - and now VWBro Arthur Piggins. Bro Arthur was congratulated warmly by all of the brethren present.
VWBro Simon A Mighall DepGSec, PGJO then read the contents of a patent extension which the Grand Master had been pleased to grant to our PGM - and jokingly said that this was a task he had only consented to carry out, because he had been our PGM's proposer into the Mark degree - a few years before.
The meeting of PGL was then closed and the brethren retired to a very enjoyable and convivial festive board

WBro Brian Ennever DPGM, RWBro George Bonham PGM and VWBro Simon Mighall DepGSec PGJO, congratulate VWBro Arthur Piggins following his being presented with a certificate to celebrate his 50 years in the Mark and his promotion to PGJO

A list of the Brethren receiving Mark Provincial Grand Appointments & Promotions can be downloaded here

THE 2012 MARK LADIES FESTIVAL WEEKEND

Friday 20 April to Sunday 22 April

The 2012 Mark Ladies Festival Weekend will be held in the comfort of a Four Star Hotel in the glorious Cotswolds!
The carefully selected Cheltenham Chase Hotel offers best value for money, comfort and location and is part of the QHotel Group, the same group as Stratford Manor that was much enjoyed for the 2011 Ladies Weekend.
The Cheltenham Chase Hotel has recently undergone a £5 million refurbishment. It has 122 bedrooms, free WiFi throughout for all guests, parking for 200 cars, a leisure centre with pool and fitness facilities and is situated in 15 acres of grounds midway between Cheltenham and Gloucester.
With bus stops just outside, and a 25 minute ride every 10 mins to either, it is the perfect place to explore Cheltenham, with the Montpellier Quarter for shopping, or Gloucester with its Cathedral, historic docks and waterway museums. Sudeley Castle and Blenheim Palace are also in the area. Cirencester is 20 mins away and beautiful Cotswold Villages are right on the doorstep.
For those who wish to bring their clubs, please refer to

http://www.englishgolf-courses.co.uk/gloucestershire/index.html for nearby golf courses.
Once again we are taking on the organisation ‘in house’ and our Festival Secretary has secured this well-appointed venue for the two day Festival, with additional days available at a very reasonable cost. Prices are £120 per person per payable direct to hotel, plus £20 per person for Sat Banquet/Dance, payable to Festival Sec. Extra nights are available at the discounted rate of £60 per person per night (Dinner B&B) for Wed, Thurs and Sun. Full details are on the application form.
The President is W Bro Brian Ennever and he and Michaela look forward to you, your families and friends (Masonic or not) joining them for a very enjoyable weekend.
Please make a note in your diaries and remember to apply early to avoid disappointment.
Come and join us in the beautiful Cotswolds!

S&F WBro Rick Bott - 2012 Festival Secretary

Invitation from the Festival President & his Lady

Ladies Festival Booking form

All the details of the Festival in the article above can be downloaded for printing here

REPORT ON THE 2011 MARK LADIES FESTIVAL WEEKEND

The 2011 Mark Ladies Festival Weekend was held at The Stratford Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon from Friday 15 April to Sunday 17 April. The hotel, set in 21 acres of beautiful countryside, proved to be a delightful new venue for us situated just 5 minutes from the centre of historic Stratford-upon-Avon. Many found the leisure centre with pool and fitness facilities the perfect place to relax and unwind after visiting Stratford, Warwick or any one of the wealth of nearby interesting venues in the surrounding area.
The President, VW Bro Richard Turpin, and his wife Doris would like to thank all who attended for their support and for their encouragement in taking the decision to move to a new venue which, by all accounts, was appreciated by all who came along. The standard of the hotel and catering was first class and, thanks to the effort put in by Rick and Gill Bott in taking on most of the administration, were outstanding value for money. It was a pity that some who had hoped to come were unable to be accommodated at the Festival rate but, given the uncertainties of the potential support in the early days, it was difficult to estimate how many rooms we could guarantee taking up.
Watch this space for the announcement of the 2012 event and, to avoid disappointment, get your bookings in early.

142nd MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL RESULT

Message from the Provincial Grand Master.

I am delighted - as I am sure you all are - with the result of a magnificent £561,127 raised over the course of our Festival and I now publicly thank all those members and Lodges of the Province, together with those from other Provinces and Districts, and indeed the Craft and other orders within Freemasonry, for their generous support.

Thank you all so very much.

I also thank all those who helped with the preparations for the functions over 16th & 17th July and those who helped in any way at those events – above all I thank those of you who attended for their support and encouragement.

RW Bro George E Bonham

Provincial Grand Master - Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons
of the Province of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire

The Festival results booklet which details the donations received from our own Mark and RAM lodges, as well as from other Orders, of this and other Provinces, both of this Country and abroad, can be downloaded here. Festival Results Booklet

This booklet also serves to illustrate the level of assistance which the Mark Benevolent Fund has been able to provide to a wide variety of very deserving causes since its inception, only as a result of your generosity

- to date amounting to over £20million.

THE 142nd MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL DINNER

- was held at the East of England Showground Atrium, Peterborough on Saturday 17th July under the Chairmanship of our Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro George Edward Bonham RAMGR.

A total of 711 people dined, including Mark Master Masons and their partners and guests, who were honoured by the presence of representatives of The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons in the persons of the Pro Grand Master MW Bro John Hale, the Deputy Grand Master RW Bro Benjamin Addy, Assistant Grand Master RW Bro Michael E Herbert, President of the General Board RW Bro Peter H Rollin who is also President of the Mark Benevolent Fund, and the Grand Secretary RW Bro John Brackley.

The Festival was to celebrate the culmination of over 7 years of fundraising for the MBF Charity, which was launched by our immediate Past PGM, RWBro Roy K Bradley and continued by the present Provincial Grand Master RWBro George Bonham. The magnificent sum of £561,127 raised by Mark, Royal Ark Mariner lodges and other Orders of both our and other Provinces, was a result which more than doubled the original target.

MW Bro John Hale -Pro Grand Master, meeting guests

Grand Lodge with PGM & DPGM - RW Bros John Brackley - Grand Secretary, Michael Herbert - Asst GM, Benjamin Addy - Dep GM, Peter Rollin - President of General Board, MW Bro John Hale - Pro GM, RW Bro George Bonham - PGM, VW Bro Richard Turpin - DPGM, RW Bro Graham Herbert - Grand DC

Incoming Procession

The Top Table

A sizeable room was required to accomodate all those who wished to celebrate the Festival with the PGM - a total of 711 dined.

- many more photographs of the festival celebrations can be downloaded here

PRIVATE MARK & RAM LODGE EVENTS

Any Brother who wants to highlight a special Lodge meeting or fundraising event on this page for the benefit of the Brethren, please forward it to the Provincial Grand Secretary using the "Contact Us" link on the left.

The events detailed below have been organised by an individual Mark or RAM lodge in our Province, who want to open up the event to other Brethren,their family and friends

GRAND HOG ROAST AT ENGINE FARM - SUNDAY 26th JUNE

By kind permission of WBro Gordon and Pam Easton, a "Grand Hog Roast" was held at Engine Farm, Coates, Whittlesey on Sunday 26th June at 3pm in support of the N&H Mark & RAM Charities. Admission by ticket only £10 (to assist catering)

Also on site was WBro Gordon's famous "Museum Collection" which was open for viewing from 1.00pm. The Showman's Engine was "steamed up" along with the Theatre Organ, Gypsy Caravan and a host of other wonderous items

Further information can be found here

EVENTS IN NEIGHBOURING PROVINCES

144th MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL - PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX

Following the highly successful 143rd Mark Benevolent fund festival hosted in July 2011 by the Province of North Wales, RW Bro Peter George Halls-Dickerson, the Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex will preside over the 144th Anniversary Festival on Saturday 29th September 2012 at Twickenham Stadium, Rugby Road, Twickenham TW1 1DE

More can be found at information www.thefriendlydegree.org.uk

Our Provincial Grand Master, RWBro George Bonham, will lead a party from Northants & Hunts, for more information please contact WBro Brian Ennever, DPGM on brianennever@hotmail.com