For those who couldn’t get to the world-famous Aintree Races, then the Goodwill Lodge No 3896 Annual Charity Race Night provided the perfect opportunity to enjoy a ‘night at the races’ whilst also helping a well deserving cause
The stakes were high when over 100 brethren; family and friends came under starters orders as Clerk of the Course, Bob Williams, explained proceedings for the nights racing. Declaring that for once the racing was immune to the weather, the going was good and that there were no obstacles between the grandstand and the bar, also the hall’s bar prices were approximately half of those being paid by punters 15 miles down the road! Information that saw a number of guests break into a gallop! For those brethren present though it was noted that it was more of a cantor!
Master of the lodge Rob Smith then addressed the guests and explained how the lodge had lost one of its longest serving members, John Alderson, last year and that all proceeds from the race event would be going towards Macmillan Nursing who had supported John and his family in difficult circumstances, and that it was also John’s son-in-law Bryan and grandson Lewis who had provided all of the equipment to successfully run this event for the third year in succession.
With four scheduled races before a planned break, the punters enthusiastically placed their bets knowing that win or lose, they would be helping the designated charity. From the ‘off’, the volume of noise increased in the hall as everybody was determined to cheer their chosen selection on to the finish line.
One or two punters took it so seriously that they even mimicked their riders by standing up in the saddle with whip in hand as they somehow thought that this would give their horse an advantage or maybe it was that they thought that it would convince the judges who were presenting prizes for the most enthusiastic table during a race!
A break in proceedings then saw the hall caterers Mark with Splendour provide a street kitchen in the Peter Browne Suite offering a choice of food from curry to burgers and hot dogs, which were eagerly purchased and devoured by the children and punters present
Following the food, the WM and his partner Siobhain conducted a huge raffle of donated prizes, mainly bottles of alcohol which meant that most people present went home with a least something to drown their sorrows if they had not won on the horses
Commencing with the remaining races, bookmakers Bryan and Lewis Magan were certainly kept busy as the flurry of bets kept coming in; aided by one or two big winners in the preceding races
Following the conclusion of the racing, the WM offered his thanks to all of those present and declared that the event had been a resounding success and that the total amount raised for Macmillan Nursing had reached the wonderful sum of £2,000 which would be passed on to Lewis Magan, the grandson of John Alderson at the lodges planned ‘Giving Day’ on Saturday 20t April.
In summary it was a ‘tote-ally brilliant evening’, enjoyed by all with charity being the overall winner. Although. it is thought that with all of the food and drink that was consumed, then one or two will be carrying ‘top-weight’ at the next meeting
Report by Bob Williams, Regional Charity Steward Mersey Valley Group.