Dear Brethren,

You will be aware that the 2020 Mark Benevolent Fund Festival was due to be held by the Mark Province of Kent on Saturday 13^th June but had to be cancelled due to the Covid Pandemic. Some of you were Festival Stewards and many others purchased the Kent Festival badge. The result of all the Fund raising for the Festival has just been announced and the final total was a phenomenal ¬£2,080,000. This is by far the highest amount any Province has raised for a Festival. The actual Festival event will now take place 4^th September 2021 and a number of us will be attending.

Dear Brethren All,   

I thought that we had seen, maybe, the last of inspirational people but no, this week we saw the news that Kevin Shinfield had run seven marathons in seven days to support MND and his good friend in Rugby League, Rob Burrow, who has been struck down with this disease. What an achievement and dedication for someone special.

Dear Brethren All, 

Well, there is good news this week that a vaccine has been approved and will be taken into use very soon. However we must be patient and cautious still, the logistics of getting enough vaccine delivered and then giving it to us must be a nightmare. It will be a few weeks or maybe months before most of us are vaccinated. This is good news though and we are all, I am sure, very grateful for the scientists of many fields who are making this possible.

Dear Brethren All, 

I start by wishing our Provincial Grand Senior Warden, W. Bro. Patrick Burridge, best wishes for a recovery from his operation which took place this week. Hopefully the skill of the surgeons will make life easier for him. Please have him and all who are suffering, in your thoughts and prayers.

Dear Brethren All, 

I can start this weekly letter with optimism as there has been very good news on the development of what appears to be suitable vaccines having been formulated. As the Health Secretary has stated it is good news but it will only be in general use when there is confidence that it is effective without side effects. The scientists are to be congratulated for pulling out all the stops.

Dear Brethren All,  

This being Remembrance week I would like to say how impressed I have been in the manner in which the Nation has paid their respects. Every family in the country has, I am sure, been affected by the great conflicts that have taken place and still continue to do so, and we all like to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, or have suffered from these conflicts.

Dear Brethren All, 

What an interesting and challenging week I have had. On Sunday my daughter called in to give me a pre-lockdown haircut. She did not stay long as she wished to see quite a few clients in the days remaining before she has to cease her hairdressing and beauty treatment business for four weeks. On Monday we discovered a water leak under the sink, what with one thing and another it was Thursday before the leak was fixed. It also threw up the fact that our external shutoff valve did not work effectively so that and the water meter had to be replaced. All done now, am I glad that I had an insurance to cover all of this.

Dear Brethren All, 

I missed writing to you last week but I had the pleasure of my son and his family staying with us. They live in Stratford-upon-Avon, where we were going to visit for the weekend. Plans changed as our son phoned to say that he did not want to risk our health in that area due to the number of visitors that descended on the town from the Birmingham area, where infection was increasing.

Dear Brethren All, 

It is with regret that I report the passing to the Grand Lodge above of W. Bro. Roger Legg, Prov, G.Stwd., a member of New Forest Mark Lodge No. 611. From the messages that I received he was highly thought of and a very willing member of the Lodge. His wife, Jenny has said, ‚Äú He was a good man and loved his masonry.‚Äù Can I ask that you have her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. We must continue to remember also all who are suffering in different ways, during these challenging and difficult times. Please keep up the communication with all. 

The Provincial Grand Master for the Province of East Lancashire has the honour of presiding over the 153rd Mark Benevolent Fund Annual Festival. Festival Badges costing £10 each are now available from members of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Provincial Executive team including the Provincial Grand Master, Provincial Wardens, Provincial Grand Charity Steward, and the Provincial Grand Treasurer. Please support the Mark Benevolent Fund and the Province of East Lancashire by purchasing a badge.