Freemasonry and the Mayor’s Charity Appeal

Ken Davies, MBE, and Joan Davies, The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor James Gartside, Sandra Hewitt and Peter Hewitt

One of the first tasks Councillor James Gartside had when he was elected Mayor of Rochdale was to form a Fund Raising Committee of some 10 people responsible for promoted events throughout the Borough with any proceeds being directed to the Mayor’s chosen charities for his year, Parkinsons UK (Rochdale Branch), Rochdale Blind Welfare Society and Springhill Hospice.

Two of the Committee Members, Ken Davies, MBE and Peter Hewitt, were co-opted from the Rochdale Freemasons and tasked with help organise a couple of events which, to the delight of the Mayor, managed to raise £5,000 for his fund.

The events included the staging of a North West Film Première of the Dustin Hoffman directed film ‘Quartet’, which was shown at the Odeon Cinema in Rochdale, the other event being a Speakers Dinner held at the Masonic Hall with guest speakers Sir David Trippier, RD, JP, DL and the former Chief Superintendent of Greater Manchester Police, Lilian King, QPM, MA. Both events were tremendously well supported.

Over the past three years the Freemasons of Rochdale, which includes the towns of Bacup and Todmorden, have donated in excess of £80,000 to local good causes. This has been achieved through a membership of some 500 Freemasons in the Rochdale District.

There will always be a warm welcome extended to men wishing to join, or re-join, any of the lodges of Rochdale and expressions of interest can be forwarded to:

chairman@rochdalemasonic.org.uk