Freemasons Armed Forces Event
Signing of the Armed Forces Covenant by the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire.
On Saturday 25th January 2025, Mayor of Westhoughton , Cllr Neil Maher and Mayoress, Cllr Linda Maher attended an event at Brookfield Hall ran by the Freemasons of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire. The event was arranged so that the Lodge could re-sign the Armed Forces Covenant signifying the groups commitment to its own members who are veterans and also to other local veterans.
Starting at 10am, the event had many stalls including The Garrison 69th Field Regiment, Fusiliers from Bury, Leigh Freemasons Military Lodge, Trafford Veterans CIC, as well as representatives of branches of Royal British Legion Westhoughton , SAFA, Darren Deady Foundation, Veterans Living History Museum, along side Cadets from the 1471 Horwich Air Cadets and Bolton Sea Cadets.
Members of the public could walk around talking to Veterans, serving members of the armed forces as well as taking a tour of the Free Masons’ rooms upstairs. At 12 o’clock invited guests joined Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews, member Gary Smith talked about the many connections that the Freemasons have with serving personnel and veterans and the commitment of the lodges. The Covenant was also signed by Mayor of Westhoughton.
After the Signing of the Covenant Brookfield Hall provided a lovely hot pot lunch for guests.
Over the course of the day Provincial Grant Master, Mark Matthews gave out £2600 in cheques to the local groups attending, including £200 each to the Royal British Legion Westhoughton Branch, The Darren Deady Foundation, Senior Solutions, 1471 RAF Cadets, Bolton Sea Cadets and many more.
