The Lodge’s Annual Installation took place on the 15th December 2012, where Bro. Graham F. Wyllie was re-installed as Right Worshipful Master for the ensuing 12 months. The Installing Masters were PM Bro. Iain Macdonald, PM Bro. Willie McJimpsey and PM Bro. Bobby Cook, the RWM was invested with his regalia by Right Worshipful Substitute Provincial Grand Master Bro. William Fleming, PM 1042.
There was a very good turn out from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire East, Reigning Masters, Past Masters and brethren all from within and out-with the Province to show their support for Lodge St Andrew 524.
After the installation, the brethren were joined by family and friends where they enjoyed dinner and speeches, afterwards those present listened, and danced, to the band ‘2 Bob Rocket’ as they played a rocking set that brought the house down!
In January 2012, the Lodge held it’s usual General Committee meeting at which we decide which charity to support for the coming year. It was agreed by the committee that we raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Wishaw General Hospital. This recommendation was unanimously approved at our next Regular meeting, as most, if not all the Brethren were aware that Bro. Derek Bell PM’s daughter Paige had been diagnosed with this illness at birth. And so the adventure began, which may seem a strange thing to say at the beginning of an article, but all will come clear.
It became an extraordinary year of fund raising, not only involving our Lodge, but Lodges throughout the Province of Renfrewshire East, and to the Province of Argyle and the Isles, and personally it feels like the whole community of East Kilbride. The major thrust would be a sponsored walk of the West Highland Way, which would be undertaken by 4 members of the Lodge and a further 7 friends and family, but more of that later.
Many people came forward with money raising ideas, and Mrs. Agnes Cook, wife of our IPM Bro. R. Cook, began to boost the funds by making home made jam. Such was the success of this that she then started to make a variety of pickles, with the ingredients also being supplied by other people who bought them. At one stage it appeared there was a complete shortage of jam jars in East Kilbride. Agnes had them all. Mrs. Gloria Miller also began making tablet each week, and like the jam this became a great source of raising money as this too sold out almost instantly.
Meanwhile plans were being made for a range of events which included a Ladies night, Sportsman’s dinner, Toddle Waddle, Curryoke night, Fashion show, Race night, Sponsored Walk and Charity Dance.
The major of thrust of the fund raising was the West Highland Way, and permission was granted by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire East for the Lodge to request sponsorship at each of our Regular meetings. The generosity was unbelievable. Come the start of the West Highland Way there was already about £7,000 in the bank. The walk saw nine intrepid walkers set off in good weather from Milngavie. Five days later the walk was finished in Fort William, and also included four of the team climbing Ben Lomond en route. Unfortunately the proposed ascent of Ben Nevis had to be cancelled due to poor weather. Everyone of the walkers showed tremendous spirit and strength of courage by completing the walk despite a variety of quite serious injuries in some cases. Four had actually to attend hospital after the walk. No one really escaped injury and even the support driver’s got in on being injured. The walk completed it was now over to the other events.
The Fashion show and Ladies night were a resounding success with many of the women asking when the next one was. These events being organised by Ladies associated with the Lodge. The Sportsman’s Dinner was also a success enjoyed by all in attendance.
Many would say that the West Highland Way was the highlight of the fund raising but the one thing that stands out is the Toddle Waddle. Over 30 children, at least 25 with no connection to the Lodge, took part in this on a cold, damp June day at the James Hamilton Heritage Park in East Kilbride. The ages ranged from 1 to 10 and they were joined on the waddle by “Spongebob Squarepants” which made their day.
majority of the children had also no connection to the Lodge, and without them there really wouldn’t have been a Toddle Waddle.
This effort raised in excess of £1,500 for the charity. The Race night and Curryoke nights were a resounding success with a few thousand pounds being added to the total. The last real fund raising effort was the sponsored walk which took place around Chatelereau Country Park in Hamilton. Over 50 people took part in this again adding a considerable amount to the funds.
It may feel that that is enough but there is more. People became so involved in trying to raise money through innovative ideas that we had not one but two intrepid teams of sky divers. The first was Andrew Cook, son of the jam maker, and his partner.Tina who completed a sky dive whilst on holiday in Dubai. The next sky divers were five Brethren from the Oban Commercial Lodge No.180, who unlike the previous two did their dive on a dry cold day in November at St. Andrews. Sainbury’s at the Kingsgate.
East Kilbride allowed us to have two bag packing days and this raised the total again by a considerable amount. So a special thanks to them. A further thank you must go to the staff of the petrol station in St. Leonards, East Kilbride who had a change bucket which they encouraged customers to put their small change into. This raised in excess of £500.
As I previously stated, it was not just the Lodge who were involved, but many individuals and companies who donated food, supplied buses, donated raffle prizes and anything else they could to assist. To name them all would probably take too long, so I would just like to say a big heartfelt thank you to you all. You know who you are and so do we at the Lodge.
The Charity Dance/ Presentation of the cheque was the last event of the fund raising and it was a pleasure for us to welcome five members of the CF team from Wishaw General Hospital. On that night Bro. G. Wyllie RWM, assisted by Bro. D. Bell PM, and of course Paige, presented a cheque to Dr. C. Dreyden of the unit, for the sum of £21,291.95.
To say the CF team were stunned by this total would be an understatement, they were all completely gob smacked. Since this has been an extraordinary year of fund raising, and also personal to me, I would personally like to thank everyone who helped in any way, no matter how small a part you think you played, but it was a team effort by all concerned and it shows that the public will support our Lodge when they hear about the charity work being done. It was indeed a pleasure to be part of this extraordinary journey but who knows we may be just embarking on another extraordinary year, if not this year then next.
The lodge’s fundraising continued on 31st August with a race night. There were over 60 in attendance, enjoying and betting on 9 races during the night. The first 8 races were sponsored by Graham Wyllie (RWM), Derek Bell (PM, WSW), Iain McDonald (WJW, PM), Bobby Cook (IPM), Ian & Jean Bell, Tennets Caledonian Breweries, Gillian Greenshields, and the social club. Thanks to all the sponsors who put up excellent prices for the winning owners & jockeys. The final race of the evening was the Auction Race, with a prize of over £100, it was won (for the 2nd year in a row) by Bobby Cook (IPM) & Tina Rezapour. As well as the races, there was a raffle and half time rolls with bacon and sausage for the race goers. Overall, the night was very enjoyable & successful, raising £1044 for our charity.
After the first venue being unavailable due to construction & red tape problems, then the bus company folding 2 weeks prior to the walk, plus a change of date, the annual sponsored walk finally took place on Sunday 19th August 2012 at Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton. A total of 66 walkers turned up on the day, with glorious sunshine for the whole route. The walk itself was 6 miles, along a route chosen for us by Alan Wyllie, Depute Master of 524. The walk was through woodland, and with a few hills along the way, making it quite a test. Alan stopped the group a few times to give details of the history of the area, which also helped folk to get their breath back as well. Most finished the walk under 2 hours, and then all headed back to the Lodge for food, drink and entertainment. Soup, followed by steak pie and potatoes was provided by the kitchen, then a karaoke session from 2pm to 6pm kept everyone entertained while they recovered from the walk. A great day was had by all, and hopefully plenty of money was raised for the charity.
The first half of the year has seen the members of 524 travel in large numbers to visit lodges within, and outwith, the province of Renfrewshire East.
Deputations include visits to Lodge McLaren (1688), Lodge Toryglen (1561), Lodge Douglas (1557), Lodge St John Busby (458), Lodge St. Andrew Kilmarnock (126), Lodge Kil Bryd (1667) and Lodge The St John’s Operative (347).
For details of future visitations please see the Syllabus section of this website.
Another full house for a fundraiser. A delicious buffett included Poppadoms, spiced onions, choice of 3 curries and there was very little wasted. This was followed by 4 hours of Karaoke with song and good singers on show. Thanks to ticket sales and raffle, this event raised £499 for our charity.
While the Lodge held its annual dance, the children contributed to the fund raising with a toddle waddle. Over 40 children joined parents, grandparents and Spongebob Squarepants to walk at least 1 lap of the James Hamilton Heritage Park. All the children were sponsored, and so far £1,600 has been raised for this event.
This year’s Annual Dance saw a group of lodge members, family and friends travel to Fisher’s Hotel in Pitlochry where they enjoyed some rare Scottish sunshine before spending an evening listening to the resident band and partying the night away.
Another fund raising, this time a men only night. With 2 excellent speakers, and a great 4 course dinner, it was a very enjoyable night, raising more money for our chosen charity. Auction items included football tickets, signed strips, and a framed, signed picture of Archie Gemmill.
As part of our continued fund raising, the wives and other female relatives of the Lodge members held a very successful ladies night. A full house saw a great total of £1047 raised for our Lodge charity.
16 Brethren travelled to Oban to confer a fellow craft degree on one candidate in Lodge Oban Commercial 180. This was the second time the Lodge had carried out a degree in Oban and further cemented the friendship between the 2 lodges.
7th April 2012 – Charity Drive at Sainsbury at Kingsway, East Kilbride.
About 30 volunteers worked shifts packing bags at Sainburys Kingsgate store between 10am to 5pm. This proved to be a very profitable day, raising £1697 for our charity, many thanks to everyone that supported this event on the day.
On Sunday 22nd April, 9 men – 3 members of Lodge St Andrew 524 plus family and friends, set out off to do the West Highland Way. This walk was to raise money for cystic fibrosis, the lodge charity for 2012. The West Highland Way (WHW) is 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, over varying terrain of moors, hills, woodlands and mountains.
The 1st day was 21 miles in glorious sunshine, camping for the night just north of Balmaha.
The 2nd day saw the group split up as 4 went to climb Ben Lomond, while the rest continued along the way following the east shore of Loch Lomond., all finishing a hard, undulating day at the campsite in Bein Glas Farm.Day 3 saw a very difficult morning for all, with 12 miles through fields and forest to stop for lunch at Tyndrum. The afternoon was much more pleasant , mostly downhill to Bridge of Orchy, then a nice little hill over to Inveroran Hotel. Day 4 was a long bleak walk over Rannoch Moor, to a welcome lunch at Kingshouse Hotel. This was followed by another long trek over the Devil’s staircase, and then a long descent into Kinlochleven. The final day was another long stretch, 15 miles into Fort William, with no signs of civilization in between, and nowhere to rest.
So, after 5 gruelling days, the finish line at Fort William was a welcome sight indeed. So far, over £5,000 in sponsor money has been collected between the 9 men, on behalf of cystic fibrosis, paediatric unit at Wishaw General Hospital.
Robert Aitkenhead receives his Jubilee (50th) certificate from Neil Fraser, Substitute Provincial Grand Master on Tuesday 13th March 2012, he was joined by members of his family to celebrate the occasion and partake in some lodge harmony, thanks to bro. Jim Dunlop from Lodge Douglas for providing the photographs from the evening.