Provincial News
- Written by: John Fergusson
The ‘Wayne Williams Trophy’ Golf Competition 2016
This event was founded in 2013 to foster relationships between neighbouring Royal Arch Provinces and other Orders within Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Province as a social event outside of the main Masonic Season. Peterborough Milton Golf Club traditionally hosts the event and we are very fortunate to have a great connection at that Club in E Comp Russell Laxton who together with E Comp David Jackson manages the event.
This year’s event was held on 2nd August and saw sixty participants from six Provinces, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and of course Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire taking part. The Wayne Williams Trophy is awarded to the team scoring the most Stableford points on the day. The first three annual events have been won by the Northants, Hunts & Beds Provincial Priory team. However, of the six Provinces this year, Bedfordshire were on top form and swept to victory in a most spectacular fashion. Our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent is pictured above with the victorious Bedfordshire team.
The day saw some fine golf from all participants which also included teams from KT, Mark and Craft from Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Province. The individual prize winner with a score of 40 Stableford points was Comp Steve Storey, playing on this occasion for Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Craft Team. The event concluded with a superb dinner at which prizes were presented by our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, and he gave hearty thanks to all present, particularly E Comp David Jackson and E Comp Russell Laxton for all their hard work in producing yet another memorable and wonderful day of golf and companionship. The competition will be held again next year at Peterborough Milton Golf Club on Tuesday 1st August 2017.
Images of the 2016 Wayne Williams Golf Trophy Day
- Written by: Gerry Crawford
Formally recvorded Freemasonry has been a part of the fabric of our society for well over 300 years but it has existed for much longer. With masonic connections, the village of Fotheringhay has played a significant part in the local history of Northamptonshire and is of national importance. It was the birthplace in 1452 of Richard III. It features the remains of a castle that was built around 1100 by Simon de St Lis and survived until the 17th century. There are few remains of the castle but it is well known as the site of the execution in 1587 of Mary, Queen of Scots. Edward III began the construction of the parish church of St Mary and All Saints.
The original 1434 manuscript contract for the construction of they Church was copied by Sir William Dugdale in 1669 from the original document then in the hands of the Right Honourable William Pierpont of Holme Pierrepont Hall, Thorsby, Nottinghamshire, and was written in early English. It was published in the Masonic Monthly 1882 for the Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076 where William Harry Rylands FSA (1847-1922), very much liked by his fellow masons, explains some of the mysterious words. After much searching it is feared that the original document is lost. It is the only known contract for the building of a church in the medieval period and has the earliest use of the word ‘free-mason.’ William Horwood, dwelling at Fotheringhay, is referred to as a ‘free-mason’ and is charged with the work in return for a payment of £300. It also stipulates that the work is to be done “by oversight of masters of the same craft.”
Interestingly, the contract bequeathed a bonus to William Horwood should he complete the construction work on time. However, it also contained a penalty clause in the event of the work not being completed on time - that “he shall yield his body to prison at my lords will and all his moveable goods and heritages at my said Lord’s disposition and ordenance.”
Recently, there have been structural problems with the church including serious roof decay. A registered charity, The Friends of Fotheringhay Church has been formed with the aim of preserving and restoring this magnificent building and thereby preserving this important part of our national heritage for future generations.
On hearing of this fund raising effort and its links with Freemasonry of yesteryear, the Provincial Grand Master of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, RW Bro Max Bayes, decided this would be a most suitable community impact project and sought the support of Masons in the Province. The response was magnificent. Lodges, as well as individual Masons, made generous donations.
As a result, at the 2016 annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge, the Provincial Grand Master was able to present the resulting £150,000 cheque to the charity. This will be used in essential restoration and maintenance work. In return, Simon Leatham, the Honorary Treasurer of the charity, gave the Provincial Grand Master a copy of the original contract thus establishing a link between William Horwood, our ‘free-mason’ of 1434, and Freemasonry in the Province today.
- Written by: Rob Taylor
WBro Maurice Rye, PPSGW, C of M, an Honorary Member of Risdene Lodge No 6532, recently celebrated two important milestones, his 90th birthday and 50 years as a Freemason.
He lives with his wife, Evelyn, at Dukes’ Court, Wellingborough, a residential care home, and his recent birthday party with family and friends, included RWBro Barrie Hall, WM of Risdene Lodge, and WBro Steve Squires, Secretary, and their wives. RWBro Hall presented WBro Rye with his 50th Certificate, explaining the reasons for the award of his certificate of merit in 2000.
WBro Maurice thanked all present and explained how much he had enjoyed his life and his many years in Masonry and missed the lodge meetings due to his poor health.
- Written by: Rob Taylor
The Masonic Trout & Salmon Fishing Charity held their latest event at Rookery Waters on the 7th July 2016. RWBro Barry Hall, WBro David Burton and their wives attended as Official guests.
There were over 20 participants and overall catered for over 50 people on the day which was a great success.
The final event of the year will be held at Ringstead Island Fishery on the 22nd September 2016 & volunteers are always welcome.
