David Stevens Reports on the Country Members Activities
Just received a note from Jon Clipsham AProv GM West Lancashire where he confirmed that the details for the Brethren of Niederrhein, who are also members of his Province, are correct and match with his data.
He advises that most of them were at a meeting last night in Southport and he had the lovely opportunity of connecting Mike Copland with the Manchester group.
So in the last month the following Niederrhein 19 non residents have sat in lodge together.
In Southport ( Starkie Lodge No 1070 Installation),Jon Clipsham, Mike Copland, Jim Hardman, Eddie Wilkinson and Denis Tierney. Apologies from Trevor Edmonds and Ken Allen.
In Doncaster: Derek Lupson (Master Don Valley), Peter Brindley, Peter Murgatroyd, Peter Grant, Ian Gibson, Stuart Grantham, Colin Forster ,Ian Smith, Graham Bailey, Geoff Ellis, Nick Craven, Mike Bunce, Keith Ellerwood and David Stevens. ( accompanied by Resident Members Glyn Edmonds, Joerg Thomas M and Dietmar S (the WM) over from Germany. This was the Installation of Brother Derek Lupson ( Initiate of Niederrhein) as Master of Don Valley No 3890 Province of West Yorkshire. Apologies from Les Fenning and Richie Thomas.
We also know that in Sussex, the following Niederrhein Brethren meet on a regular basis- Jim Clark, Mike Bonser, John Rohner, David Speedy: and that in Italy, Celestino Moro, Igor Cognolato and Gabriele Pedretti the same. And in Spain there is a regular Masonic meet up of Doug Nairn, Roy Charles Coleman and Rob Nelmes.
One way and another that would mean that 29 Non Resident brethren plus 4 who submitted their apologies have been together recently out of a total of 59 non residents and I am aware that a further 10 Non Resident Brethren who are also regular visitors to lodges.
Kind regards
S&F
David
________________________________________________________________
Roy Charles coleman
Doug Nairn wrote to the Lodge Secretary informing him of Roy Charles Colemans 79th Birthday Celebration, and why there was more to celebrate than just that....
"Have attached a photo taken on Charles Coleman's 79 Birthday (2 Nov), it was a double celebration as Barbara and Charles became Great Grandparents in Oct.
All well down here in Spain, very active Masonically this time of the year."
________________________________________________________________
Denis tierneys' Report on WBro. Jim Buxtons' 50th Anniversary Celebration
On the 24th of October 2011, I attended Beneficent Lodge in Macclesfield on behalf of Lodge Niederrhein for a celebration of W.Bro J.W. Buxton's 50 years in Freemasonary.
The Assistant Provincial Grand Master was kind enough to allow me to present to Jim a framed photograph of Jim as Worshipful Master of Niederrhein lodge. I also presented him with my new collarette from the lodge. During the ceremony W. Bro Buxton was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden.
An excellent evening was enjoyed by all. Jim sends his best wishes to the W.M and Brethren of Lodge Niederrhein .
Yours S &F
Denis.
You can reed the full laudatory speech by Clicking HERE
________________________________________________________________
What a Beautiful Photo......
David and Ingrid on the River Avon
and the story which belongs to it (take note of 30 seconds into the clip....)
________________________________________________________________
Jim Buxton to Celebrate 50 Years in Masonry
Jim Buxton, who was Master of Lodge Niederrhein in 1980 (click here to see the photo) will celebrate 50 years in Freemasonry in October. It would be really nice if any Niederrheiners in the area of Cheshire could attend. Here is a more recent Picture of Jim and his good lady Joan in Chester.
________________________________________________________________
Doug Nairn reports from Spain......
Parcent received its first Niederrheiners of the year in time to open my new Masonic garden feature, its in a quiet corner of the garden and all the pieces are in there correct situation, as usual all our non masonic friends consider me quite mad.
In the picture are Charles (Roy) Coleman, Rob Nelmes and my self.
If anyone is in this part of the world we would love to see them.
__________________________________________________________________
Dusseldorf installation meeting
A group of Freemasons from the South Eastern Group who are members of Lodge Niederrhein No 892 visited their lodge on 4 June in Dusseldorf to attend the installation of their new Worshipful Master, Bro. Dietmar S.
Lodge Niederrhein No 892 is of the Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany under the auspices of the United Grand Lodges of Germany. The meeting was well attended by its members and visitors to the lodge who live both residentially in Germany and around the world.
The Lodge history states that initially for sometime, a number of members were from the British Forces but with the gradual rundown of military personnel the membership now consists mainly both English speaking men resident and working in the Dusseldorf area and German nationals. However, the lodge also has members from across Europe including the UK, the Middle East, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong and America. In December 2014, the Lodge will be celebrating 50 years since its consecration.
South Eastern Group members pictured from left to right are: Jim Hardman, Eddie Wilkinson (PrJGD) Glyn Edmonds (JGW, GL-BFG) Trevor Edmonds (PPrGSuptW), Dietmar S. (Niederrhein W.M.),
Jon Clipsham (APGM), Denis Tierney (PrAGSuptW) 
Enjoying a night out on the town: Denis Tierney, Eddie Wilkinson, Jon Clipsham, Jim Hardman
__________________________________________________________________
A Sociable double act
Two very active Masons and members of Social Lodge No 3472, were delighted to hear they were to receive their first Provincial appointments at the May meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackpool.
Eddie Wilkinson and Denis Tierney both said they were extremely pleased for the lodge, as it is a great honour to have one, let alone two acting officers in a lodge in the same season. They also said they were honoured to be invested by the Provincial Grand Master with their collars at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting, which saw a new Deputy Provincial Grand Master and four Assistant Provincial Grand Masters invested.
Eddie was appointed as Provincial Junior Grand Deacon and Denis was appointed as Provincial Assistant Grand Superintendent of Works, both were well supported by friends and group members.
Eddie is a member of Social Lodge 3472, a founding member of Radio Millennium Lodge 9709 and also a member of Lodge Niederrhein 892 in Germany. He also currently holds two group offices in the South Eastern Group of Lodges; Publicity Officer and Membership Officer.
Denis is also a member of Social Lodge and currently holds two offices in the lodge, that of secretary and charity steward, Denis is also a member of Lodge Niederrhein 892.
Both Eddie and Denis have expressed their intent to support the Provincial Team where required and of course will be looking forward to supporting their own South Eastern Group meetings for the ensuing year.
Provincial Grand Lodge was a very successful meeting with over 1,000 Masons being present, a very busy day for the Provincial team and their Stewards with a very full agenda and over £4,200 raised towards the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity.
__________________________________________________________________
Keeping it in the family.
I have just received a note from Beau Sankey is coming to the end of his time as Master of St. Andrews Lodge in Townsville; Queensland Australia.
Beau very kindly proposed my son-in law into his Lodge and I am delighted to hear that Brother Robert will be raised tomorrow. There have been a couple of telephone calls from Australia asking for advice!
Emily, my daughter has been there before, because of me, and no doubt will be supporting her husband!
So Beau initiated into Niederrhein is the Master. Robert who became interested whilst he was based in Krefeld is being Raised and from the content of the email from Beau, next month will present the Charge after Investiture to a candidate who is also ex British army. As I said keeping it in the family.
Kind regards
David
__________________________________________________________________
Newsletter from David:
Re-opening of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford upon Avon following the
Transformation/ loan of the silver trowel from Swan of Avon Lodge
As some of you know, I am working in a small way and in a voluntary capacity with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the last week and indeed the last few days I have been busy.
To say the least, this is now the finest theatre in the world and I urge as many of you as possible to try and get to Stratford and watch world class theatre.
There is a Masonic connection. On Saturday I was invited by the RSC to attend an evening of celebration to the Builders. It was a wonderful evening of pure professional artistic joy and thanks to all, particularly the Builders, who have contributed in whatever way to the success of this fantastic venture. Michael Boyd the Artistic Director reminded us that the project was completed within budget and on time.
The Masonic connection was evident as the silver trowel used to lay the foundation stone of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in 1929 by the Provincial Grand Master of UGL of England and by Elizabeth Scott the architect was on loan courtesy of the Worshipful Master of the Swan of Avon Lodge No 2133 was brought onto the stage by Katy Stephens and Joe Dixon, our hosts for the evening. Indeed there is no doubt that the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare show in depth knowledge of Freemasonry and embody the philosophy of the Craft.
So I am delighted that I can be involved with two of my great passions- Freemasonry and the Theatre.
Kind regards
David
__________________________________________________________________
David and Ingrid Stevens went to see Wales play Australia in Cardiff at
the weekend. I imagine this picture was before the game as they both still look happy!!
__________________________________________________________________
OK, so he's done it again!! David Bashford is enjoying his free time at a pond where the fish
just seem to jump at him!! (What, you note a tone of envy !!!)
So what's 27lbs 7oz in real money?
__________________________________________________________________
Well, David is now on the Country Members Corner. As you can see, he and Ingrid seem quite happy at their new address!
Click here for his first Newsletter.
__________________________________________________________________
OK! So you have been everywhere in the world - well almost, so where do you go on your Holidays? to the North Pole of course!!!
Peter and Anne took a cruise there, and here are the pictures to prove it!
__________________________________________________________________
Dave Bashford writes:
Just a quick hello from 'down under'. Been here 5 weeks and return
next Thursday. Will be back in France about the 22 May.
Lots of game fishing here in the south Island, but not easy fishing,
very fast, shallow rivers and hugh, deep lakes.I managed to catch a
wild brownie from a wild river, it came in at 3lb, 10oz and was 56cm
long, quite a lean fish but what a fight in the fast flowing river. We
took about 12 steaks out of it....lovely!
Doug, in spain, is keeping the Niederrhein flag flying. He writes:
We were very lucky yesterday as another Niederrheiner and his family
found there way to Spain, Gunther U. is on a golfing holiday with his
wife and daughter it was so nice to see them and to talk over old
times.
Gunther U. was proposed and seconded into Lodge Niederrhein as a
joining member by Charles Coleman and myself.
Please let all memebers of the lodge know that if they are in Spain on
the costa blanca then we would love to see them.
____________________________________________________________________
James W Buxton, Past Master of Lodge Niederrhein 892 back in 1980 contacted us recently and informed us, that not only is he Masonicly very Active in his UK Lodge Beneficent 6472 , He is now the Past Provincial Superintendant of Works. Here is a photo of His good Lady Joan and himself on Celebrating their diamond wedding Anniversary in May 2009. Congratulations!!
____________________________________________________________________
Charles celebrated his Birthday on the 2nd November, and I happen to know that that beautiful smily cake is lying.......there are loads of candles missing !!
Happy Birthday !!!
____________________________________________________________________
Peter Grant, better known to some of us as Peterpedalandski is a traveller. He spends a lot of his time cycling through exotic places or Skiing for a couple of months every year. Well he found some time to take a cruise along the West coast of Canada and America this year along with his good Wife Anne.
Peter writes:
Hi Glyn,
here are a couple of pics (we took 900) during a cruise from Vancouver. We spent eight days in Alaska before coming down the west coast of the U.S. calling at
SanFrancisco and SanDiego before flying home via Calgary. Incredible trip of fantastic sights and experiences for us! We saw all the wildlife we hoped - whales, brown bear, bald eagles ... and enjoyed the history and cultural diversity of this beautiful place. (pics are of Masonic Temple on waterfront at Ketchikan, us on the Yukon Road from Skagway (US/Can border), and a brown bear at Icy Strait Point.
____________________________________________________________________
Ken and Ann celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary in March 2009. Ken, is a Past Master of Westbourne Lodge Nr. 7257, and of Phoenix Lodge Nr. 1730, which was formed after the amalgamation of four Lodges in Urmston. Not forgetting of course that because of his effort and support at our annual Installation Meeting he was made an Honorary Member of Lodge Niederrhein Nr.892.
____________________________________________________________________
Doug is a past Master of Lodge Niederrhein (1997 / 98) Possibly one of the best ritualists I have ever seen and certainly one of the Only Masters of Niederrhein that mannaged to visit every other Lodge of the GLBFG during his year of office!
Ian is Past Master of the City Lodge Nr. 5955 in Salisbury. A small party of Niederrheiners whent to see him installed in the Chair.
Hi Jim
Hope this email finds you well, thank you for the minutes of the last meeting and for keeping us Spanish Neiderrheiners' up todate with our Lodge.
Have attached couple of photos of myself and another brother I'm certain you will recognise (Ian Gibson) He and his good lady Liz visited us in Parcent this week, was really nice to see him after so many years.
We are hoping to meet up again at Lodge Neiderrhein Installation next year and of course I will bring Charles Coleman too. Both Charles and Barbara are keeping well as indeed both Jean and I are.
Fraternal regards
Doug Nairn
Doug followed this up with a further two pictures of Him and Rob (on the Guitar) and Charles, Barbara and Jean, see below.
Rob was a joining Member of Lodge Niederrhein back in 2002, and has always been a country member.
Charles retired to Spain a couple of years ago to be with his wife Barbara. He was Master of Lodge Niederrhein in 1995 and those of you who have seen his Magic show will never forget it!!