East Lancs Mark Masons

15/06/2026

💙 Supporting a Remarkable Local Charity

W.Bro. Colin Bodimeade recently presented a cheque for £500 to Francis House Children's Hospice on behalf of the members of Manchester Keystone Lodge No. 745.

The donation will help support the incredible work carried out by the hospice for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Another example of Mark Master Masons making a difference in their communities.

If you would like to find out more about Francis House you can visit their website - https://www.francishouse.org.uk/ - here you can see just how much work they do for the local community and how valuable that is 💙

12/06/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT NOTICE 🚨

Please find below a letter to the Province penned by The Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother John Hartley Smith:

Brethren

The Provincial meeting on 27th May marked the commencement of my twentieth successive year in acting office in the Province and my thirteenth as a ruler. I have decided that it is the appropriate time for me to stand down and allow someone else the opportunity of leading our great Province.

I have therefore agreed with the Grand Master that I will retire from office at midnight on 28th October this year and my successor will be installed the following day, Thursday 29th October, at Bolton Town Hall.

I am delighted to tell you that the next Provincial Grand Master will be the current Deputy, WBro Mark Davis, PGJD and I wish Mark every happiness and success in his new role.

It has been a great honour and privilege to have served as Provincial Grand Master and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking each of you for your friendship and support, not just for the last for the last five years, but for the many years I have enjoyed your company.

I wish you all the very best of health to enjoy your Mark Masonry in the future and may the Great Overseer of the Universe keep you and your families safe, in his special care.

With kind fraternal regards,

John Hartley Smith
Provincial Grand Master, East Lancashire

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

What.A.Day.😁😅 We’ve all had a superb day at Mark Grand Lodge in London this afternoon. It was a very special meeting being in the presence of The Most Worshipful Grand Master, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent. We also witnessed the appointment, obligation, investiture, installation and proclamation of our new Pro Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Paul Clement. The afternoon ended with great food and company with nearly 1200 in attendance at the Festive Board! Many congratulations to all those who have received first appointments and active ranks this afternoon - we hope you’ve had the most special day - especially three of our own from East Lancashire 👏👏👏

W.Bro. Martin Blades - Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
W.Bro. Shaun Higson - Deputy Grand Sword Bearer
W.Bro. Stuart Hughes - Grand Steward

28/05/2026

The East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund (ELMBF) is proud to continue supporting The North West Air Ambulance Charity. This has been a charity that has been supported since 2024 and the impact that support has had alongside the fantastic work the charity is able to do is quite remarkable.

Thanks to the support from the ELMBF the NWAA has been able to continue delivering lifesaving care to people across the entire Nort West Region, ensuring those in critical need receive the pre-hospital interventions they require.

Over the past year, The NWAA has continued to grow both in activity and ambition. They’ve also been focused on strengthening their operations and advancing the quality of care they provide. The support provided by The ELMBF has played an important role in helping them maintain momentum and plan confidently for the future.

Every time a patient receives lifesaving treatment from their crew, it is only made possible by the generosity of funders like The ELMBF, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey.

Please click here to read a year in numbers - https://markmasonshall.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/Communications/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B77EB0FDC-3EDB-4DC8-AA0E-DA65312E0D09%7D&file=The%20ELMBF%20Continues%20to%20Save%20Lives.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true

The figures speak for themselves. Every pound donated helps keep this life-saving service functional, delivering critical care when every second counts. The East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund is immensely proud to support The North West Air Ambulance Charity and remains committed to backing organisations that make a real and lasting difference to communities across the region. To learn more about the extraordinary, lifesaving work carried out every single day by the charity, visit www.nwairambulance.org.uk

Content Credits: Hiten Patel

28/05/2026

28/05/2026

27/05/2026

Today is the day! Time for our Provincial Meeting! It’s all very quiet here…for now! The preparations are done and we’re ready to welcome our Members and Guests from across the UK and overseas! Wishing you all a great day, especially those getting appointments or promotions. ☺️ 🤝

06/05/2026

Looking for a great family day out with fantastic company, food, fun and fellowship? ☀️🧺

Join us for the East Lancs Mark Fellowship Family Summer Party on Sunday 26th July 2026 (12pm-4pm) at Ashday Lea Masonic Hall, Rawtenstall.

Bring your family and friends (non-Mark Masons welcome) along for an afternoon of music, games, entertainment, raffle prizes!

🎟️ Only £15 per adult, kids go FREE
🍽️ Buffet lunch included
🎵 Music & Games
🧝‍♂️ “Mystical Quest” Puppet Stories and Scavenger Hunt
🎉 Fun for all ages

Register today by scanning the QR code on the image below or by going to this link TODAY!
https://forms.gle/NQha6WaGkyeEM4SV7

29/04/2026

A very worthy cause indeed 🤝 If you want to find out more about the TDAS visit and see the amazing work they do visit - https://www.tdas.org.uk

TDAS would like to thank the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund (ELMBF) for their very generous donation of £1,000 after 2 of their members, David and Stephen, visited one of our refuges and witnessed first hand the work we do here at TDAS to help survivors of DA. As a charity, donations like these really to make a difference and we are so grateful to the ELMBF for their support. 🎉