The Annual Mark Benevolent Fund Festival 2012
 
On Friday 28th Sept the PGM & Mrs Lynne Connolly, The Prov Sec & Mrs Marion Lee,
W Bro Eric & Mrs Tegwen Drinkwater traveled to Twickenham for the Mark Benevolent Fund Festival. 
 
  During the day on Saturday we visited Kew  
  Gardens, which were very impressive.   
     
  The four "jungle" photographs show us in  
  the huge Palm House, followed by  
  afternoon tea!  
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
   
Geoff and Marion Lee above
     
   
     
The PGM with Tegwyn and
   
Lynne and Peter Connolly above
  
Eric Drinkwater below
Geoff and Marion Lee with
      
Eric and Tegwyn along with
  
W. Bro Bill & Denise Ainsworth below
  
the PGM
      
   

 

  
In the evening we were glad    
to be joined by VW.Bro Keith,    
Mrs June Beardmore, VWBro.    
Michael & Mrs Pat Clarke and    
W.Bro. Bill & Mrs Denise

 

  
Ainsworth.
     
These pictures show us    
enjoying the banquet at the    
Festival Dinner - which 750    
people from all over the    
country attended.    
     
     
     
     
         
The Pro / Deputy / Assistant Grand Masters were present; together with the President of the MBF. 
The evening was presided over by the Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex, whose Province was applauded
when the result - £673,914 was announced. 
         
In the booklet distributed it showed some £300,000 grants to petitioners and £345,000 to worthy causes -
all in the last year.
 
Having consumed smoked trout, fillet of beef and pavlova [all delicious] the West Lancs brethren and
ladies retired for a private party.
 
   
 
   W.Bro.Eric Drinkwater and Tegwyn          VW. Bro. Keith Beardmore and            Mrs June Beardmore and
                                                                     Bro. Bill Ainsworth                        Denise Ainsworth
                                                              Enjoy their refreshments!
 
 
  We departed separately for
home on the following day,
but the PGM had spotted a
steam railway in operation
near Princes Risborough,
just off the M40.
 
He took the opportunity to
enthuse the Drinkwater's
on this hobby and is shown
with the fine engine in steam.
 
pictured far left the PGM
and again along with Eric
 
Interested in the Loco follow
this link here web master
 
 
 
Next years Festival is being hosted by East Anglia in Norwich on Saturday, 21st September 2013.
 
This year East Lancs had 20 people at the Festival and Durham had over 40!
 
The PGM would be delighted to see half a bus load going from West Lancs
and wonders if anybody is up to the challenge of organising this.

 
Photographs and story line courtesy of Peter Connolly and Keith Beardmore