East Lancashire Masonic Charity

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A packed Derby Suite finds the ELMC in good heart !

In the absence of ELMC President, Paul J.E. Rink, currently undergoing a further course of medical treatment, the meeting was presided over by the Deputy President, Dr. Nigel G. Bramley-Haworth, who delivered a powerful opening address, on behalf of the President, at the meeting held on 17th May 2007, at Freemasons Hall, Bridge Street , which was very well attended.

The formal part of the proceedings was notable mainly due to the retirement of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Grahame N. Elliott, and the election of his successor, Paul M.A. Rose. Similarly, Brian W. Taylor stood down as Honorary Treasurer, and was replaced by Ken A. Jones.

The formal proceedings included the financial report, which showed the Charity to be in good shape, and this was followed by the appointment and re-appointments of members to the Board of Directors, and to the various sub-committees, these being the Committee of Benevolence, the Community Fund Committee, the Hewlett Court Management Committee, the Comforts Fund Sub-committee and the Young Peoples' Sub-committee.

AGM1 The outgoing Chairman then declared the formal proceedings closed, after which those present were treated to a number of speakers describing, in moving terms, various causes to which Freemasonry has devoted substantial sums of money and/or physical support. First up was Peter Hewitt (pictured here on the left), who, as a Rochdale Mason, has been involved in the remarkable project to build, literally from the ground upwards, a sensory garden at the Springhill Hospice, which was officially opened on 5th May before an assembly of local dignitaries. Our Community Fund donated £6,500 to help complete the project, and local Masons were heavily involved throughout the project.

AGM4

Next came the diminutive figure of John Cook (on the right), a long term resident of Hewlett Court , giving his own humorous take on life there. His good humour, enthusiasm and gratitude towards the staff and fellow residents was palpable and uplifting. Could it be at least partially due to the fact that he is one of only 10 men, amongst a roster of 32 residents ?

He was followed by the remarkable Jeremy Glover, Chief Executive of Bolton Lads and Girls Club AGM2 (pictured here between Grahame Elliot and Phil Mountford), who very quickly captivated his audience with a no-nonsense description of the amazing work carried out by this club, in guiding young people in the right direction and providing fulfilling leisure facilities for them. Freemasons are involved to an increasing extent in the club's mentoring project, which is hugely successful in rehabilitating young people, who appear to either in trouble, or heading that way. The Community Fund has recently donated £5,000 to the club and, at the time of writing, 14 Masons have been trained as mentors, and are contributing in that capacity on a one-to-one basis.

AGM3 The final speaker was Richard Holmes of Skill Force, a charitable organisation which works with various schools throughout the country, offering alternative activities to students, with vocational qualifications, community volunteering and life skills, within the context of a classroom, as well as outdoor based activities. Mentoring and instruction is provided by predominantly ex-military personnel, who stand no nonsense, yet instil respect and mutual support. Richard was accompanied by a team of instructors and young children (some from St. Matthew's School pictured here), some of whom answered questions from an appreciative audience in an impressive manner. Skill Force have received a substantial grant recently from Grand Charity.

An interesting and informative evening closed with liquid refreshments and canapés and an opportunity to mingle and discuss with one's peers, the remarkable and rapidly developing activities of the ELMC, of which we can be justifiably proud.