Ulverston Flood Relief Project
 
West Lancashire Mark Masons to the Rescue
 
The recent flooding affected some 80 homes within the Ulverston area and although the resultant damage is nowhere near as bad as that in the Workington and Cockermouth areas, it is nevertheless quite a large local disaster that will take many months and lots of finance to recover from.
 
Having made a charity donation of some £1,200 at the Installation Meeting, Fylde Mark Lodge, who, having an affinity with the Ulverston and Barrow Mark Lodges, via the Corinthian Charity Group, felt that it should be used for a flood relief project within the Ulverston area. The Assistant Provincial Grand Master W.Bro Keith Beardmore, a member of the Lodge, made contact with the Corinthian Charity Group Leader W.Bro. Alan Jones, and asked him if he could identify a suitable project.
 
After much investigation Alan suggested that the way forward may be in purchasing replacement equipment that had been lost by the rescue teams during the flood recovery exercise, this was agreed in principle by the Assistant P.G.M. Alan made contact with Mr Michael Margeson, Team Leader of the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue, who had been involved in the flood recovery exercise. During the conversation Alan was informed that a fairly serious shortfall with respect to rescue equipment had been highlighted, in the form of an inflatable life raft or dinghy.
 
This was immediately seen as a suitable project for possible financial assistance and agreement was sought from both Fylde Mark Lodge and Province who agreed, not only to the project, but agreed to top up the donation made by the Lodge to a figure that would purchase the necessary equipment. From reaching verbal agreement on possible funding, it took less than a week to obtain quotations for a suitable life raft and associated life jackets, and present a cheque to the rescue team.
 
 
The Provincial Grand Master presents the cheque to
Michael Margeson Team Leader of Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue
 
A cheque to the value of £2,500 was presented to Mr Michael Margeson, Martin Cooper and Paul Robley of the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team by the Provincial Grand Master R.W.Bro. Peter Connolly on Friday 4th December on behalf of the West Lancashire Mark Masons. Also in attendance at the presentation were, V.W.Bro Kevan Beardmore (Fylde Mark Lodge), W. Bro B Davey (Special Representative) and W.Bro. Alan Jones (Corinthian Mark Charity Group Leader). This money will enable the team to purchase a five person river rescue sled and up to 10 life jackets which can be used in all river bank searches and should the need arise, flood rescues in the future
 
 
With the Provincial Grand Master and Michael Margeson
are Martin Cooper and Paul Robley of Duddon and Furness MRT and
V.W.Bro Kevan Beardmore of Fylde Lodge.
W.Bro Alan Jones, Corinthian Charity Group Leader and
W.Bro Brian Davey Provincial Grand Master’s Special Representative