CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

From the R.W. Provincial Grand Master
Bro. Peter Connolly

First and foremost I am writing at this time of year to send the season’s greetings to you all.

I also write to express my thanks for your support to our Mark Order during the year and your camaraderie which keeps our lodges in such good heart.  We have had two highly successful Provincial meetings for Mark and Royal Ark Mariners.

The current season has seen four Team Visits and I thank members of the Team and the host lodges for their enthusiasm.

POPPIES.
This is a new initiative. In May I launched our ‘Mark Poppy’ Appeal. By November you had bought 1,000 poppies and early next year we will be choosing a military charity to whom we will be donating in excess of £2,000. Thank you Brethren for your support of this venture. New supplies of poppies have now arrived – and other Provinces have expressed interest.

CHARITY
We were all dismayed to read in the newspapers and watch on the television stories of the terrible flooding in Cumbria.  As a caring organisation we wished to help in some small way. At the suggestion of Fylde Mark Lodge [who contributed £1,200] we made a presentation to Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue – already reported on this website. 

The final presentation of the year was made to St. Saviour’s Church in Bamber Bridge where our Assistant Provincial Grand Chaplain, Reverend Graham Halsall is the vicar.  He has recently begun an appeal to raise £60,000 for kitchen and toilet facilities. The church was built in 1837 and has no water on site.

At their Christingle service I was glad to present them with funds [£1,500] to buy and fit the two boilers needed for this development. The attached photograph was taken afterwards and shows Mrs Pauline Halsall and Graham, together with GG Lydia Halsall and Cub Aidan Halsall [who is also a chorister at Blackburn Cathedral]; together with Lynne and I.

This Christingle service – with over 50 children present - was a very happy and joyous occasion. I hope happiness and joy are an integral part of your lives especially in the next 7-10 days. Lynne and I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2010.

This archive article courtesy of Chris Furmston