NEWS
Finchale
Priory Lodge No. 7059
Annual Golf Competition
As part of the Lodges participation in Freemasonry in the Community the 20th annual Golf competition was held on 8th June 2009 at Rosberry Grange Golf Club. The event was blessed with fine weather, with some excellent golf being played. Generous sponsorship resulted in every competitor receiving a prize. (Main sponsor W Bro TPW Harbottle)
The results were
| 1st Place | 40 Points | Mr B Blinkhorn | Guest |
| 2nd Place | 39 Points |
W Bro F Taylor | Earl of Durham |
| 3rd Place | 39 Points | Mr P Thompson | Guest |
| 4th Place | 38 Points | Mr B Hall | Guest |
| 5th Place | 35 Points | W Bro A Jenkins | Bede College |
| 6th Place | 34 Points | W Bro G Parkinson | City Lodge |
Barry
Blinkhorn received the Myson Sheild and W Bro Fred Taylor won the Neil
Chilton Memorial Trophy for being the first Freemason. The Deryck Harbottle
Rose Bowl is presented to the leading golfer from the host Lodge. This
years four members tied on 31 points and the winner on a count back
was, Bro Ray Gowan, who will hold the Rose Bowl for the second successive
year.
The prizes were presented by W Bro George Thompson, Master of Finchale Priory Lodge, who expressed his thanks to the competition organizer, W Bro Ken Jeary for his efforts in ensuring an excellent day. Over £240 for charitable purposes.
Widows
Social A Great Success
Chester-le-Street
Lodges held the seventh annual social for the Widows of the members
of Chester-le-Street Lodges on Saturday 9th May. The event started at
4pm with a sherry reception, followed by a two-course meal then tea
or coffee. Entertainment included a
musical performance by
W Bro Peter Johnson of Sanctuary Lodge, who sang songs from the sixties,
seventies and many famous shows.
The evening was organized by the Almoners of Finchale Priory, Earl of Durham, Lumley, Lodge of Progress, Cestria, and Eardulph Lodges and was attended by 63 Widows and their guests. The Almoners of all six Lodges would like to thank all the brethren who volunteered their time to help make the evening a great success.
Meningitis Research Foundation Presentation
A
presentation was made at our meeting on the 12th of March 2008 to a
representative of the Meningitis
Research Foundation. Mrs Maureen Carr received a cheque for the
amount of £600 raised at our Charity Ladies Night held on the
26th of January 2008.
Mrs Carr thanked everyone for their hard work and generosity and gave a short and very informative talk about the role the Meningitis Research Foundation plays in combating the disease, in terms of research, awareness and providing support to the people affected by Meningitis and their families.
Finchale
Priory Lodge No. 7059
Charity
Ladies Night
Finchale
Priory’s Ladies Night took place on Saturday 26th of January 2008
and had an excellent attendance of some 82 guests. After enjoying a
two-course meal, toasts and speeches were made by the Worshipful Master
of Finchale Priory Raymond Gowan and Jen Oliver who acted as the Masters
Lady for the evening.
Bro.
Eddie Arries provided Entertainment singing songs from the fifties and
sixties, followed by a tribute to Elvis Presley. A quiz, raffle and
a competition to see who could throw 10p the closest to a Bottle of
whisky proved very successful and the total profit of the evening amounted
to £600, which will be donated to the Meningitis
Research Foundation.
On behalf of the Worshipful Master, his family, and the Officers and Brethren of Finchale Priory Lodge we would like to extend our most heart felt thanks for the kindness and generosity of all who supported this event. We would also like to thank everybody who donated their time and effort so freely making this event not only possible, but also the great success it has proved to be.
Congratulations Tom!
At
our meeting on the 14th November 2007 meeting W.Bro. Thomas Robson Laws
received a certificate to mark his 50th year in Freemasonry. Assistant
Provincial Grand 
Master
W.Bro. Kenneth Edward Coatsworth Howe made the presentation in open
lodge, remarking on W.Bro. Laws’ many achievements in both Freemasonry
in general and Finchale Priory Lodge in particular. As a token of appreciation
from the Brethren of Finchale Priory Lodge, W.Bro. Tom was presented
with an art work depicting St. Mary’s and St. Cuthbert’s
Church in Chester-le-Street.
Tom also accepted and Bouquet of flowers on behalf of his wife, in appreciation
of her support and understanding in loaning Tom to the Sunday Nights
Boy’s Lodge of instruction for so many years.
The Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of Finchale Priory Lodge
would like
to express their Pride in Tom’s remarkable achievement. As well
as their thanks for the many years of dedicated service Tom has given
to our Lodge. We would also like to extend to W.Bro. Tom and his family
our best wishes as he starts his next 50 years in the Craft.