On a wild, wet and windy March night in Cleveleys, the companions of Saturnian Chapter No 7563 met at Cleveleys Park Club Masonic Hall for a regular convocation. The business for the meeting was firstly to ballot for, and if successful, admit a new joining member, Eddie Wilkinson.
Eddie is the former vice chairman of the Trafford Group, who has recently relocated to the Fylde Coast with his wife Jeanette and he has been welcomed into a lodge and chapter of the North and South Fylde Groups. Eddie was welcomed into Saturnian Chapter by first principal Steve Willingham and he took his seat.
The companions were all enthralled by the next item of business which was a superb explanation of the Grand Chapter certificate to Matthew Ashworth, delivered in style by John Porter, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals.
The final item of chapter business was a presentation of a Solomon nugget, in the very capable hands of director of ceremonies for the evening, Shaun Haynes. Shaun spoke confidently and with great passion about the historical significance and contributions of the two great scribes Ezra and Nehemiah, much to the delight of Saturnian Chapter visiting officer and Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah, John Topping.
Scott Coxey stood and gave a detailed and sensitive report regarding his work as Saturnian Chapter almoner which was well received by all. When all the chapter business had been completed, the chapter was closed and all the companions retired to the function room below to enjoy a splendid buffet produced by Lee Williams of Yes Chef Catering.
Following the toast to Provincial grand officers, John Topping responded by sharing with the companions the numerous local media press successes he has had as a result of a wide range of charitable giving that has taken place. John spoke with commitment about the powerful link there is between our membership challenge and community engagement.
John encouraged all lodges represented by the chapter members to produce at least one media news report with pictures during the year. He offered to assist with the process if required and detailed how ‘Submit Your Story’ works within the Blackpool Gazette.
One particular positive news story John referred to was the ‘Freemasons raise £5,000 in cash and food for charities’, which was featured just before Christmas 2025 as a result of the hard work of the South Fylde Group charity team led by South Fylde Group Charity Steward and Saturnian Chapter scribe Nehemiah, David Jenkinson.
David was clearly delighted with how this project was featured in the media and how it continues to be developed in the South Fylde Group. John spoke of how a community engagement footprint can be left in the community, in the first instance by the donation of goods itself and then followed up by a strong media profile which embeds it further, assisting in attracting readers; especially gentlemen to seek further information on becoming a Freemason from an added link to our West Lancashire Freemasons website. Click here. This clearly gave all in attendance a deeper insight into the power of positive media as a tool to assisting our membership challenge.
A raffle was conducted by Shaun Haynes that raised the sum of £64 for Masonic charities. During the evening Shaun Haynes spoke of Saturnian Chapter donating £500 in the future to assist the conversion of lodge room two to being a permanent chapter room, which was widely supported.
Report by John Topping.