FESTIVAL NEWS

Brethren we recently held the Festival Finale to celebrate the culmination of the Oxfordshire 2022 MCF Festival. A superb night out at the Bodleian Library in the centre of Oxford saw representatives from the United Grand Lodge of England and the Masonic Charitable Foundation joining in the festivities.

We were very privileged to have the Pro Grand Master, MW Bro Jonathan Spence and his wife as the guests of honour. Also present and representing the MCF were RW.Bro. Sir Paul Williams (Deputy President and Chairman), W.Bro. Les Hutchinson (Chief Executive), VW.Bro. Simon Duckworth (Trustee) and W.Bro. Howard Wilson (Trustee), each with their respective partners.

The conclusion of the formal dinner saw a number of toasts, including those to the Festival President and the MCF. The toast to the Festival President was proposed by the MW Pro Grand Master and was well received by those present. Our Provincial Grand Master gave a heartfelt response thanking all those who participated in the past 5 years for their support of the appeal.

The toast to the MCF thanked them for all their charitable work and specifically for the advice, support and encouragement given to the Provincial team. In his reply to the toast W.Bro. Les Hutchinson revealed the total raised by the Province. He also gave insight as to how donations from various Lodges, Chapters and other orders contributed to the grand total.

After a suitably dramatic build up the grand total raised by the Province of Oxfordshire was revealed to be:

                 £1,047,801.

A fantastic achievement of which we should all be very proud.

 

With the formal part of the event over guests danced the night away to the live band.

At the end of the evening and upon leaving the Divinity School guests were able to see on the Tower of The Five Orders, in the Old School’s quad, an illuminated Square & Compass together with the grand total raised. A fitting conclusion to a successful Festival.

Finally, a very big thank you to all those individuals, Lodges, Chapters and other orders who contributed in so many ways to make the Festival the success that it was.

 

VW Bro Graham Ellis

Festival Chairman