50-years service award
WBro Norman Price received a visit from the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Nigel Leonard, and members of the Lodge of Amity No. 137 at his home on Saturday 12th November to celebrate his 50 years in Freemasonry. WBro Leonard presented him with a framed certificate to mark the occasion. In 1956, when WBro Price worked for Barclays International, he volunteered to spend 18 months secondment in West Africa. He returned to the UK 33 years later, having not only become a Freemason but having met and married his wife Emma!

WBro. Price's Masonic career reads like a Who's Who of Freemasonry, with membership of numerous Masonic Orders during his 50-year association with Freemasonry. Recent ill health has prevented his regular attendance at Lodges, which is why the presentation took place at his home. Afterwards, the visiting Brethren were given a conducted tour by Emma to view Norman's extensive orchid collection in his two greenhouses.

Use the hour
How did you use the 'extra' hour when British Summertime ended and the clocks were put back on 30th October? Bro. Karl Hopton of the Broadstone Lodge No. 8641 decided to put it to good use in raising money for the 2014 RMBI Festival.

Karl, a seasoned marathon runner and 2014 Festival fundraiser, decided to keep his watch set to British Summer Time a little longer, in fact until 9am on Sunday morning 30th October. His quest, to use the 'extra' hour to do a sponsored run from the Masonic Centre in Wimborne to the Masonic Centre in Poole, a distance of about 8 miles, to hand deliver the Travelling Gavel. In doing so, Karl requested each Lodge to send a donation for the 2014 Festival. Our congratulations go to Karl for another great fundraising idea.

Karl receives the Travelling Gavel at Wimborne 09:00 (BST)

En route along the Holes Bay relief Road

Approaching the Masonic Centre in Market Close, Poole

Handing over the Gavel in Poole 08:53 (GMT)

Mission accomplished 09:00 (GMT)

Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting
This year's Provincial Grand Lodge meeting was held at Sherborne School on Thursday 27th October 2011. Prior to the meeting, the 2011 Dorset Masonic Magazine was delivered by post to all Brethren subscribing to a Lodge in the Province of Dorset and this contained a removable agenda for the Provincial meeting. The setting for this annual event is quite special and it is always well worth attending. Sherborne is an independent boys' boarding school that was founded in 1550 under a Royal Charter granted by Edward VI. Housed in historic buildings, the school forms a perfect setting for a day devoted to the formal ceremony and business of the Provincial Grand Lodge annual meeting. The Provincial Grand Master's address to the meeting can be read on the PGM's page.

Provincial Carol Service
This will be held at Sherborne Abbey on Sunday 11th December at 2.45pm. The annual Provincial Carol service heralds the start of the festive session, and is held in another beautiful and historical setting. Freemasons, their families and friends join together in a celebration of Christmas with music and readings. Refreshments will be available following the service at the Masonic Hall, Digby Road, kindly provided by the Sherborne Lodges.

The Big Cycle Ride: Rock to the UK
The Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Richard Merritt, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Nigel Leonard, accompanied by officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and the Master and members of St Aldhelm's Lodge were delighted to welcome back WBro John Donoghue at Branksome Masonic Hall after his 28 day, 1522 mile epic cycle ride in support of the 2014 Festival.

Pictured right are: W Bro Stephen Lister, W Bro Paul Richardson ProvGSuptWks, W Bro Alan Hughes ProvGOrator, W Bro Nigel Leonard APGM, W Bro Andy Rogers WM St Aldhelms, W Bro John Donoghue, Rt WBro Richard Merritt PGM, W Bro Peter Thomas, W Bro Robert Brownridge, W Bro Barry Smith.

WBro John, a joining member of St Aldhelm's, having completed a cycle ride from Lands End to John 'O Groats two years ago in aid of the 2014 Festival decided that he needed more of a challenge this time and together with his close friend, Trevor Woodford, who is raising money for 'Cyclists Fighting Cancer', set out from Gibraltar on 24th August to ride back to the UK. During the first week in Spain, they encountered temperatures of 40C (104F) with no shade for miles and John admits that on more than one occasion nearly gave up having been physically ill several times.

The achievement is all the more commendable as John admits to the tender age of 57, a body more like the Old Man of Hoy than Chris Hoy, and only functioning on one kidney having donated one to help save his daughter a few years ago. On being welcomed back, he proudly announced that he now tips the scales at 26lbs lighter than when he started out!

Any donation which your Lodge may wish to contribute in recognition of, and tribute to, this outstanding demonstration of endurance and charitable commitment should be sent to the Provincial Grand Charity Steward for attention. You are assured that such contributions will be recorded appropriately to the credit of your own Lodge's accumulating total for the Dorset RMBI 2014 Festival so that your generosity will be noted in conjunction with John Donoghue's achievement.

Sponsored tandem ride
Brethren from the Ashley Lodge No. 6525, led by their Worshipful Master WBro Peter Boyd and his wife Carolyn (shown left), raised £293.75 for the 2014 Festival in a sponsored Tandem Ride in Poole. The ride was completed by a small but select team of Brethren and family members, including two riders who were well over 60 and had not ridden a bike for more than 40 years!

They completed the 45 mile trip on Saturday 13th August in Poole. Congratulations to them all - especially since, as one of the riders put it, "some of us couldn't sit down for a couple of days after the ride!".

Judging by the photograph shown right, some participants received a little assistance to finish the course....

Zetland Court Summer Fete
The 2011 Zetland Court Summer Fete was held on Saturday 4th June and was opened by VWBro Graham Williams, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, accompanied by his wife Ann.

As usual there was a great variety of stalls and entertainment, but this year with some new additions to the old favourites - everything from the Freemasonry in the Community stand manned jointly by members of the Provinces of Dorset and of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, to an appearance by Mr. Punch.

Good weather favoured all who attended, and there was a plentiful supply of refreshment on hand with cream teas, burgers, ice creams and a well-stocked beer tent available.

There were several events during the afternoon, with Jules the Jester, dancing displays with the Ring of Eight, and Punch & Judy shows too.

Several competition draws took place. In addition to the Association of Friends of Zetland Court draw, the Beaminster Manor Lodge Quiz Card was drawn by WBro David Wakey assisted by his wife, and the St. Aldhelm's Lodge raffle draw was made by VWBro Clive Deakin, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Dorset, ably assisted by his wife Jennifer and WBro Nigel Leonard, Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Dorset.

A cheque for £20,000 to the Youth Cancer Trust was presented jointly by Dorset and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Provinces on behalf of the Freemasons Grand Charity.

All in all the afternoon was a resounding success which was reflected in the money generated for the Friends of Zetland Court on behalf of residents and staff. Our sincere thanks to all those who went along and to all those who provided stalls and entertainment.

See you on 2nd June 2012!

The Summer Fete is held on the first Saturday of every June and is organised by the Association of Friends of Zetland Court.  Lodges from the Province of Dorset, together with some from the neighbouring Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, man a wide variety of stalls ranging from pig racing, plants, hoopla, burgers, pictures, golfing, books, skittles, bric-a-brac and the ever-popular beer tent. 

Zetland Court provides care for 63 residents, and last year the RMBI granted approximately £4 million for care and assistance to older Freemasons and their dependants who could not otherwise afford to meet the cost of their care.

Forthcoming Association of Friends of Zetland Court events include:

	* Annual General Meeting on Saturday 10th March 2012, commencing 11:00am.
	* Annual Summer Fete, Saturday 2nd June 2012, gates open 1:00pm.
	* Late Summer Concert in the grounds, Saturday 1st September 2012, gates open 5:00pm. Admission by ticket only.

Dorset Masonic Magazine
The current edition of the Dorset Masonic Magazine (issue 15, 2011) is available and you can view a PDF version of the magazine here (approx. 6MB). The previous issue is also available as a PDF file here (approx. 6MB).