Berkshire Mark Freemasons donate to Wessex House

A wonderful donation from Berkshire Mark Master Masons 

May 14th I was back in my mother Mark Province to attend a ribbon cutting at Wessex House. W. Bro. Bob Watson, our Provincial Grand Almoner & BeMBA secretary, and I, were representing BeMBA to present a cheque, for £3100, to The Bridge – help for young people. It’s always a pleasure to accompany Bob whose great fun to be with and is very committed to supporting our chosen recipients.

Wessex House is a newly refurbished building, providing live in accommodation for 7 young people who are transitioning from foster care, or homelessness, into adult life.

The photos show one of the flats. These flats are immaculately decorated and the electrical appliances, in each, were purchased using our donation.

The ribbon was cut by Pandora Christie, a Heart FM DJ, whose own back story is why she empathises with the aspirations of The Bridge. From the day she was born, she was in and out of care as her mother had a variety of personal issues leaving her, at times unable to care for Pandora.

To complicate matters, her mother died when Pandora was 9 and resulted in Pandora going into full time foster care. At that time nothing like Wessex House existed. When Pandora heard of it’s work she immediately got involved in supporting & promoting it.

Today was a fitting day for her to officially open it.

Brethren, on behalf of Provincial Grand Master of Mark Master Masons – Berkshire, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Mark Master Masons – Berkshire & Berkshire Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Freemasons, can I thank you all for allowing BeMBA to support such an important charity. Across Berkshire, The Bridge now has the ability to support 19 young adults and this is, in part, down to you. Once again you have enabled our relatively small charity to make a huge difference, you can all be very proud of how you’ve all helped.

I hope this gives you all a better appreciation of the importance your assistance is.

My sincere & fraternal thanks,

Brian

W Bro Brian McCormack

Provincial Grand Charity Steward of Mark Master Masons of Berkshire.

Provincial Charity Steward hits the streets of London!!

Posted on behalf of our wonderful Provincial Grand Charity Steward of Mark Master Masons – Berkshire

Today, 4 Mark Master Masons, David Ashbolt, Marios Stylianados, Stacy Harman & myself, will be yomping around London, to visit the remaining Cabmens shelters to raise funds for their upkeep. This is a 22 mile trip ending at MMH. This is a final shout out to anyone/lodge that would like to donate on the link below. Any, and all, donations will be very much appreciated.
https://donate.givetap.co.uk/…/cabmens-shelter-challenge-1

The Provincial Grand Masters’ Reception and Dinner – An event not to be missed!

A new Master for The Old Rectory Lodge

This week Old Rectory Lodge held its installation meeting attended by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Mark Master Masons – Berkshire and a team of Provincial Officers.

A wonderful ceremony was performed by various members of the Lodge, it was a pleasure to see Bro Patrick O’Neil Brown take the chair for the first time.
Following the meeting, members and guests enjoyed a lovely meal in the new catering facilities adjacent to the Lodge room.

Windsor Castle Lodge hosts another excellent meeting

With thanks to Provincial Grand Charity Steward of Mark Master Masons – Berkshire for another fine report.
On Wednesday 20th November, Windsor Castle Lodge enjoyed a double ceremony, an Installation and an advancement.
These ceremonies were marked by the presence of the Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Masons R.W. Bro. Graham Seeman who was accompanied by a retinue of active Provincial Grand Officers.
The installation ceremony was a shortened version as the W.M. W. Bro Martin Woodall, was continuing in the chair for a second year. The ceremony was conducted in a very professional manner, by the DC, who oversaw proceedings efficiently. The addresses were delivered with the sincerity they deserve with the PGM delivering the address to the brethren in his usual impressive manner.
The evening moved to the advancement ceremony which was superb, the advancee receiving an excellent advancement. It was clear that all officers had put in a lot of hard work, in learning their roles. The WM stood out as the most impressive and had clearly put in many hours to ensure the advancee received an excellent ceremony.

The latest from Erlegh Mark Lodge 1627

The latest from Erlegh Mark Lodge 1627

 

Fresh on the back of an advancement ceremony in September, Erlegh Mark Lodge 1627 the Province’s Saturday Lodge held another successful meeting on Saturday 16th November where they were pleased to advance a new member Bro Peter Emerton and welcome a joining member Brother Graham Strood.

The ceremony of advancement was carried out by the Worshipful Master W Bro Dave West who was ably assisted by the officers of the lodge along with some guests who were pleased to fill a few offices.

All in all a great afternoon enjoyed by all – pictured are W Bro Dave with Bro’s Pete and Graham and the rest of the officers and guests. The lodge now look forward to their Installation Meeting on 22nd March where Bro Jim Owens will take the chair for the first time, all visitors will be made most welcome.

Royal Ark Mariner Assembly – Berkshire

Last night we held our Royal Ark Mariner Provincial assembly. A well attended meeting held at the lovely Windsor Masonic Hall.

Donation to Bracknell Rugby Football Club

Donation to Bracknell RFC

The Berkshire Mark Benevolent Association (BeMBA) have recently donated £200 to Bracknell Rugby Football Club and as a result contributed to the purchase of a new kit for the U14 team.
We look forward to watching the team win many games wearing the kit and wish them all the very best of luck!!
Charity is at the heart of every Berkshire Mark/Royal Ark Mariner Freemason, we continue to provide much support for local charities and national projects.

Berkshire’s First Provincial Mark / Royal Ark Mariner Newsletter

Dear Brethren,

I hope this email finds you all well.

I am delighted to include below the link to our first Provincial Newsletter. I hope you enjoy this first issue. Your communications team are working hard to make this newsletter as informative as possible. To do this we need your help and input. Please send through all information, news and general articles for inclusion. Our members will appreciate hearing your news!!  Content can be emailed to berksmarkcomms@gmail.com 

Please click on the following link to view your newsletter, click HERE.

Enjoy and Mark Well!

Sincerely and fraternally

Mark Davis 
Provincial Communications Officer
E: berksmarkpco@gmail.com
www.berksmark.org.uk

Erlegh Lodge hit the ground running for their new Masonic year.

Erlegh Lodge of MMM 1627 held their September meeting on Saturday 14th September at Wokingham where Worshipful Master Dave West and his officers (with a little help from 3 visitors) advanced Brother Trevor Christian of Pangbourne Craft Lodge. All members and guests then enjoyed a “harmony” style buffet afterwards with good humour, good fun was had by all.
Brother Trevor remarked afterwards “I enjoyed the ceremony and the warm welcome, the ritual was unique and impressive, the humour involved did not detract from the message and I can tell Mark Masonry is my style of Masonry”.
Erlegh are now looking forward to their November meeting (Saturday 14th November) when they will be advancing another candidate and would welcome any visitors who would like join them.