Group News

If you have ever fancied a sail on the Manchester Ship Canal but didn’t know how to go about it then a unique opportunity is planned for July 2010 and Masons and their families and friends are cordially invited to go ‘cruising.’

John Hammond, Local Care Officer for the Woolton Group, previously ran a similar cruise to celebrate the Province’s 175th birthday - which proved a sell-out event - and he is planning to do it all again for very good causes, the 2010 Festival and West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, to which all profits will go.

The ship being chartered is the Royal Daffodil with two sailings to choose from. On Saturday July 17th departure is from The Seacombe ferry terminal sailing to Salford at 1.00 PM; there is free car parking at the terminal which is easily accessed from Liverpool via the Kingsway Tunnel and return to Seacombe by bus is included in the ticket price of £30 per person.

The second sailing is from Salford to Seacombe on Sunday 18th July departing from Central Bay, Salford Quays - adjacent to the Lowry Outlet Mall – at 10.30 AM. Concessionary car parking is available to us in the Mall’s multi-storey car park currently at £6.50 for a 12 hour stay.

For both sailings passengers should aim to be on board 30 minutes from departure. The six hour cruise which takes in otherwise unseen views from a completely different aspect will be described by blue badge guides who will also give a commentary on the history of the canal. The Royal Daffodil has a licensed bar and snack bar facility although passengers may bring along a picnic if they wish.

There will be an onboard raffle each day and John will be pleased to receive prizes from Groups, Lodges and Chapters and of course individuals.

Already Woolton, Garston, Bootle, Sandon, Trafalgar, Gladstone, Wellington, Widnes, Warrington, Wigan, Leigh, Eccles and South Eastern Groups are snapping up tickets but John wants to make sure other groups don’t miss out on the chance on a great day out as numbers are limited for this exclusive cruise.

Further details available from your Lodge / Chapter Secretary or the Liverpool Sandon Group Secretary W.Bro. Andy Whittle