East Lancs Mark Masons

14/08/2026

14/08/2026

🏍️ Blood Bikes Awareness Day – Friday 14th August 🚗

Today, we celebrate the remarkable volunteers who keep urgent medical deliveries moving for the NHS.

Blood Bike riders, drivers and controllers give their time freely to transport blood, platelets, medical samples, surgical equipment, donor milk and other essential clinical products—providing their service free of charge to the NHS.

The Mark Benevolent Fund has proudly supported the Blood Bike network since 2016. Its support has included:

🏍️ 38 motorcycles, 24 response cars, 2 vans and 1 moped presented to 26 teams
❤️ More than £1.2 million contributed since the partnership began

Here in our region, that support has included a response car for Blood Bikes Manchester, an £18,801 replacement motorcycle for Greater Manchester Blood Bikes and a new emergency response vehicle for North West Blood Bikes.

Today, we thank every rider, driver, controller, fundraiser and volunteer who helps keep this vital service on the road.

Your time, dedication and service make a real difference.

Read the full article on our website - https://www.eastlancsmark.org/blood-bikes-awareness-day-2026-keeping-vital-deliveries-moving/

07/07/2026

Always a fantastic weekend! We will be there once again Mark Master Masons of Spain - see you soon! 🤝

The preparations for the 2027 District General Assembly are on track. In the coming days you will receive all the information you will need in your email inbox to confirm your attendance, book your accommodation and register for the program of events.

02/07/2026

Back in February 2026, we started the ball rolling with the intention of re-purposing an Existing Mark Masons Lodge in East Lancashire. We can now share an update with you:

Following the success of The East Lancashire Uniformed Services Craft Lodge, together with similar lodges established in other Provinces, a number of brethren, with the support of Provincial senior officers, are exploring the opportunity to re-purpose an existing Mark Masons Lodge to create a dedicated Uniformed Services Mark Lodge.

Membership would be open exclusively to serving and veteran members of HM Armed Forces (Regular and Reserve), including adult members of the Cadet Forces, together with serving and retired personnel from HM Prison Service and the Emergency Services, including, Fire and Rescue Services, Police Services (including Police Community Support Officers), and NHS Ambulance Services. Eligibility would extend to those who have served in a paid, retained, or voluntary capacity.

The Lodge currently meets four times per year at Rawtenstall Masonic Hall on the fourth Tuesday of February (Installation), May, September, and November. Once established, the meeting dates and venue will be reviewed to ensure they best meet the needs of the membership.

The dress code will be dark lounge suit or uniform/mess dress, together with Provincial, black, unit, corps, or service tie, as appropriate.

A key objective of the Lodge will be to support charitable causes associated with the uniformed services community. Charities will be selected on an annual basis, with priority given to organisations that provide support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families.

The Lodge also intends to seek membership of the Circuit of Military Lodges, which exists to promote comradeship and fraternal contact among military Freemasons. The Circuit's website helps serving personnel and veterans identify and connect with member lodges throughout the Constitution. (Membership requirements are currently being confirmed.)

Brethren wishing to support this initiative or express an interest in joining are invited to contact:

W.Bro. / W.C. Dean Edwards
Email: [email protected]

01/07/2026

🌊 Walk On Water – East Lancashire Mark Master Masons Charity Challenge 2026 🌊

In May 2026, our then Provincial Grand Charity Steward, T Stewart Mills, listened carefully to the Brethren... perhaps a little too carefully!

After hearing countless suggestions that they'd like to see him walk on water, Stewart decided there was only one sensible response... to make it happen! Well... sort of. 😄

Rather than investing in a pair of miracle-sized boat shoes 👟 Stewart assembled a fearless team of aquatic walkers who boarded a cross-Channel ferry for a rather unusual charity challenge....

⛴️ The Mission

A 4.5-hour Channel crossing
A one-way journey of 124 kilometres
Every team member tracking their steps on board throughout the voyage

By the time the ferry reached the other side, the combined total was an incredible 124 kilometres walked... on water! 😁

It may not have been quite the miracle some of the Brethren had in mind, but it certainly was a memorable way to support charity while proving that, with a little imagination (and a ferry!), anything is possible.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, supported the challenge and donated so generously. Every step helped make a real difference.

The final total is now in........they raised an AMAZING £5450.00 for The East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund! 🤩

During his four years as Provincial Grand Charity Steward, T Stewart Mills had a hand in raising around £19000.00 which is an incredible amount of money to help those that need it the most. What a way to end his term in office. 🤝👏👏👏

📸 TSM

30/06/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT NOTICE 🚨

The Installation Meeting of W.Bro. Mark William Davis, PGJD, as the new Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire takes place on Thursday 29th October 2026 at our usual venue, Albert Halls, Bolton Town Hall, Bolton. His current position as Deputy Provincial Grand Master will then be vacated.

We are delighted to inform you W.Bro. Davis has invited W.Bro. Stephen William Bolton, PProvGJW, to succeed him as Deputy Provincial Grand Master and W.Bro. Bolton has accepted. W.Bro. Bolton is a well known Freemason holding high office in a number of Masonic Orders and has Grand Rank in The Craft, Royal Arch and other Companion Orders.

At the Installation Meeting the Provincial Grand Master will re-appoint W.Bro. John Andrew Christian Porter, PGStwd and W.Bro. James Robert Beninson, PGJD, as Assistant Provincial Grand Masters.

Brendan Harte JP PGJD RAMGR
Provincial Grand Secretary

25/06/2026

On Monday 22nd June 2026, representatives of the Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) and the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund (ELMBF) attended the official handover of a new specially adapted minibus to Age UK Manchester.

The presentation took place at Age UK Manchester Openshaw Resource Centre on Catherine Street and marked the culmination of a significant charitable partnership aimed at supporting the elderly across Manchester.

Present for the handover were R.W.Bro. John Hartley Smith, Provincial Grand Master for East Lancashire, Darren Coleman-Heald, Charities Manager of the MBF, together with representatives of the ELMBF and directors of Age UK Manchester.

The new vehicle has been made possible through a grant of £21,533 from the Mark Benevolent Fund, supported by the charitable efforts of Mark Master Masons. The minibus will play a vital role in helping Age UK Manchester provide transport for older people, enabling them to access day services, social activities, well-being programmes and essential support within their local community.

Speaking at the presentation, representatives from Age UK Manchester expressed their gratitude for the donation and highlighted the difference the vehicle will make to the lives of many older residents who rely on safe and accessible transport.

The Mark Benevolent Fund has a long-standing commitment to supporting charitable causes throughout the UK and beyond. This latest grant demonstrates the continuing dedication of Mark Master Masons to making a positive difference within their communities and supporting organisations that improve the lives of others.

The East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund is proud to have worked alongside the Mark Benevolent Fund in supporting Age UK Manchester and looks forward to seeing the lasting benefits this new vehicle will bring to those who use the service.

The presentation provided an excellent opportunity for representatives of both organisations to meet, discuss the valuable work being undertaken by Age UK Manchester, and celebrate a partnership that will deliver practical support for many years to come. 🤝

If you would like to find out more about Age UK Manchester or know anybody that may benefit from their services, you can head to their page or visit their website - the https://www.ageuk.org.uk/manchester/

📸 B Davies

24/06/2026

Just four years ago, the future of Rose of York Mark and RAM Lodge No. 1010 looked uncertain. In June 2022, the Lodge was facing the difficult prospect of handing back its Warrant due to declining membership and an uncertain future.

Rather than allowing a proud Lodge to disappear, six senior members of the Province, together with three junior Brethren, came together with a vision. They became joining members with a determination not simply to save the Lodge, but to rebuild it for the future. What began as a rescue project has since become one of the Province's great success stories.

The members recognised that long-term sustainability required change. One of the most significant decisions was to relocate the Lodge from Mossley to Manchester, making it more accessible and attractive to potential candidates and members.

The results have been remarkable. Since 2023, Rose of York has Advanced 13 new Mark Master Masons and welcomed a further three joining members. They now boast the youngest average age in a Lodge across the whole Province. The Lodge has also adopted a practical and member-friendly approach by holding both its Mark and Royal Ark Mariner meetings on the same day, three times a year. This format has proved highly successful, helping members maximise their Masonic time while maintaining strong attendance and enthusiasm. It has also allowed the senior members of the Lodge that joined in 2022 to take a step back by being made honorary members.

The Lodge's most recent meeting, held on Thursday 18th June, demonstrated just how far it has come. A double Advancement ceremony, for Brother Yau and Brother Yam, was conducted entirely by the newer members of the Lodge, they organised the rehearsals and filled all the principal positions. In a significant milestone for the new look Rose of York Lodge No.1010 , there were only two Provincial Officers on the floor, with one acting as The Director of Ceremonies for the first time. It was a magnificent evening and a superb ceremony - the "blank canvas" this Lodge works with shows in how far they push the Advancement Ceremony - much to the enjoyment (and amusement) of the candidates and those watching!

The confidence, commitment and ability displayed by the members reflected the tremendous progress made over the past four years. Even more encouragingly, the Lodge already has two further candidates waiting to be Advanced, providing continued momentum for future growth.

Rose of York Mark and RAM Lodge No. 1010 stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when experienced Masons and newer Brethren work together with a shared purpose. Through vision, determination and teamwork, a Lodge once facing closure has been transformed into a thriving and vibrant centre of Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Masonry.

The future looks exceptionally bright, and the Province looks forward with great excitement to seeing the next chapter in the continuing success of Rose of York Mark and RAM Lodge No. 1010. 🤝

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 💙