29/09/2024
CELEBRATING 80 YEARS ON SAUL STREET
Oh, what a night! 80 years ago, this month the Freemasons of Preston began meeting in their new home on Saul Street. The site has been developed and extended over those years into the magnificent building it is today.
A Celebration Ball was held and the Mayor of Preston was the guest of honour. Quite fitting as the move to Saul Street was promoted by one of his predecessors in 1944, Sid Howarth. This was due to dispute with the Bull & Royal over wartime rations assigned to the Masons. In a nod to that, the menu card for the Ball was a Ration Book.
The beautifully decorated Ballroom was full of Masons, Family and Friends to celebrate the 80th Anniversary Ball. A fabulous three course meal was served and Poppy Holliday provided live entertainment with music and songs covering those 80 years.
Being Masons, the night had to have a charitable cause to support. On this occasion, the main charity was Teddies for Loving Care. This is a Masonic Charity that provides free teddy bears to Accident & Emergency Departments, in sterile packaging, to give to a young child when they are admitted to A&E, often in distress. It is a small comfort for them to keep forever. TLC has donated over 40,000 teddy bears to the A&E departments of Royal Preston and Chorley Hospitals in the last ten years. The Ball raised over £1000 for charity.
A donation was also made to Let’s Grow Preston which is one of the Mayors chosen charities for his year in office.
There will be bleary eyes this morning!