Leukopolis Lodge N.85 celebrated its final of the season, commemorating the feast of St. John, patron saint of Freemasons, and installing the new Worshipful Master and his Officers. The picture captures the lodge’s brethren, provincial officers, and visitors. The ceremony was splendid, featuring music, the reading of poems, and an emotional Festive Board.
La R.L.S. Leukopolis N.85 celebró la última tenida de la temporada conmemorando la fiesta de San Juan, patrón de los masones y también la instalación del nuevo Venerable y sus Oficiales. En la imagen Hermanos de la logia, oficiales provinciales y visitantes. Una ceremonia expléndida donde la música sirvió de acompañamiento a la lectura de poemas y un emotivo ágafe fraternal.
On Thursday 20th June, over 90 golfers gathered at the Bonalba Golf Resort in Mutxamel to participate in the Annual Masonic Provincial Charity Golf Tournament.
The weather was hot and clear and the competition fierce as the players sought to challenge themselves against the beautiful Bonalba course.
The winners were:
• Masonic Cup Winners – Nigel Parker and Alex Watson
• Scratch Winners – Richard Finch and Alex Cowens
• Handicap Winners – Joris Kraak and Marinus van Kessel
• Handicap Runners Up – Paul Burletson and Nick Monks
• Handicap Third Place – Nick and Mel Kelly
The Grand Master of the Province of Valencia was delighted with the results of the day. Commenting, he said “I would like to thank everyone involved in organising such a successful event. Without the support of our Lodges, local business sponsors, and the great number of non-masonic players who supported this occasion an event of this magnitude would not be possible.”
The following businesses sponsored the event:
• Jean Paul and Pascale Le Roux, owners of Bonalba Hotel and Golf Resort who generously donated prizes for the winners and raffle prizes as well as the use of the Golf Course and provided staff to help out.
• Sofia Sanchez Watson of Watsons Real Estate, La Marina who kindly sponsored the Prize Ceremony and the after-golf refreshments.
• Haakon Ellingsen of Green Parrot Tourism provided an €800 Travel Voucher which was raffled raising a total of €1,000 in cash.
• Manuela Urselmann of ExPat Insurance Partners donated cash and sponsored the Ladies’ Longest Drive prize.
• Golden Leaves Funeral Plans and Legal and Tax in Spain sponsored the Nearest the Pin Competition prizes.
• C&M Plumbing sponsored the Men’s Longest Drive Competition.
• Edi Rent a Car and Campbell Lamont Golf donated vouchers for the raffle
• Several Masonic Lodges sponsored different holes on the Course.
As a mark of thanks for the last 5 years in which Bonalba Golf has supported the Masonic Golf Tournament, the Valencian Freemasons commissioned an oil painting of Seve Ballesteros from a local artist, Mike Jenkins of EmJay Art. This was presented to Pascale Le Roux and Juan Albert, the Competitions Director of Bonalba Golf.
Concluding, the PGM said, “We’ve all enjoyed a fantastic day of golf and I want to congratulate all of today’s winners. Helping those less fortunate than ourselves lies at the heart of Freemasonry. Therefore, I am really happy to announce that our efforts today have raised over €10,000 in cash and pledges of support for Masonic charities and good causes. Along with my Charity team, I look forward to being able to make a big difference to those in Society who need our support.”
Just a few of the photos (courtesy of Jorge Prieto). They can all be viewed HERE.
W. Bro. Dai Comer was a member of OLIVA LA SAFOR Nº 112. Passed to the Grand Lodge above on the 5th of June 2024
On Sunday, June 9th, Puerto de Xàbia Lodge No 58 hosted a Summer Party at the home of the Worshipful Master, John Young.
Over 40 guests were treated to a cava reception and a sumptuous feast prepared by the Puerto de Xàbia team led by Jenny Young and assisted by chefs Peter de Graaf, Phil Gibson-Daw, and Dave Brettle.
With the sun shining and the mercury touching 30c, everyone enjoyed the warm weather, the good company, and a cold drink or two!
But the main objective of the day was to raise money for local charities. In total, from the ticket sales and a fantastic raffle for prizes donated by the members of the Lodge, a total of €1,090 was raised. As brethren in the Lodge kindly donated all the food, all the funds raised will be put towards charitable causes.
John Young, Worshipful Master of Puerto de Xàbia Lodge No 58, said “It has been a genuine pleasure for Jenny and myself to have hosted so many friends and Brethren at our home today. As well as enjoying good food and great company, I am proud that we have raised €1,090 for local Charities. Along with all of the Brethren in our Lodge, we will now decide how to distribute this money and I look forward to presenting cheques to those charities very soon. I am delighted today’s event will help less fortunate children and families in the Jávea area.”
On Tuesday 5th June 2024 San Juan de España Lodge No.28 presented €1000 worth of food and other essentials to the Ajuntament de Callosa d’en Sarrià for distribution to the disadvantaged in the community.
This was made possible by various fundraising events within the Lodge.
Pictured are Worshipful Brother Anthony Hesketh-Field, Worshipful Master and Worshipful Brother Jerry Roberts, Immediate Past Master with Andrés Molina Ferrándiz, Mayor of Callosa d’en Sarrià and members of the City Council staff.
Whilst it’s nothing new to have a couple of Masons in the same household, it is however quite unique for both the Husband & Wife to both be Worshipful Masters of their lodges at the same time. W. Bro Norman Ship first became a Freemason in 2006 when he joined Kendleshire Lodge No. 8394 which meets in Downend, Bristol. Norman became W.M. of Kendleshire Lodge in 2014. During his time as W.M. and then as a Past Master, Norman and his wife Nic traveled to Germany, Malta and Spain, supporting the Lodge of Saint Christophers No. 9095 in their travels abroad.
In 2015, the Masonic Hall Park Street Bristol, held an open day, which we both attended. We were part of a tour group being shown around the hall, and one of the ladies in our group asked the question ‘Why are there no Lady Masons’, to which the response back was, ‘But there ARE Lady Masons’,
This response sowed a seed with Nic and started her interest in Masonry. In 2016, Nic applied to join The Order of Women’s Freemasons and she became a member of, Lodge Aqua Sulis No. 158 which meets in Bath.
In February 2018, Norman & Nic decided to retire to La Marina, Alicante, Spain. Once they were both settled in Spain, Norman then joined a Craft Lodge called Old Tower Lodge No. 49 and Nic joined a Craft Lodge called Lodge La Rama Primera No. 355.
Now our journeys to our individual lodges in Spain are very different, with Norman’s Craft, Mark, RAM and Chapter lodges being in Quesada, which is just under 20 minutes door to door. Whereas Nic’s Craft, Mark, RAM and Chapter lodges meet in Fuengirola, which is some 500 kms away from La Marina and takes over 5 hours to drive each way.
Thankfully our lodges do not meet on the same weekend, so we are able to share the driving to and from Fuengirola, and because of the distance, we also treat it as a mini break from the Wednesday to the Sunday.
Although we live in Spain, following the COVID Pandemic, Nic recommenced her Masonic journey in the UK and on 26th November 2023 became the Worshipful Master of her mother Lodge Aqua Sulis No. 158. Whilst Nic’s lodge meets in Bath, it’s interesting to note that her installation took place at the Downend Temple, Shrubbery Road, with Nic becoming the first Lady Mason to be installed at the Downend Temple, some 9 years after Norman had been installed into the same Chair of King Solomon.
On the 20th May 2024, W. Bro Norman Ship became the Worshipful Master of the Old Tower Lodge No 49, which comes under the Province of Valencia.
The million dollar question has to be,
who is the Wor‘SHIP’ful Master when they are both at home?
I will leave the wife to answer that one!
R.W. Bro. Alonzo Whitehead was a founding member of Old Tower Lodge and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.