Members of the Guernsey and Alderney Light Blue Freemasons Club were delighted to attend the South Show on Saturday, helping to support one of the parish’s most popular annual community events while also promoting Freemasonry in Guernsey.
Held at the St Martin’s Community Centre, just a short distance from the Masonic Hall, the event attracted hundreds of visitors throughout the day, together with many canine companions enjoying the various attractions, displays and activities on offer.
The Light Blues operated a stand in the field under a gazebo, kindly provided through the support of the GSPCA and W. Bro. Steve Byrne. As well as helping on the Masonic stand, Steve had a particularly busy day running the neighbouring GSPCA stand, organising the ever-popular fun dog show and providing a number of gazebos around the showground to offer welcome shade for visitors and their dogs.
Bro. Matt Tostevin was another key supporter of the day. Matt brought along an excellent display and information stand which attracted considerable interest from visitors wishing to learn more about Freemasonry in Guernsey. In addition, Matt assisted with erecting a number of gazebos before the event, helped on the GSPCA stand during the day and was on hand when it came time to pack everything away at the end of a long but successful show.
Also supporting the event was Bro. Eric Crolley, who spent much of the day speaking with members of the public, answering questions about Freemasonry and lending a helping hand whenever needed. Eric also assisted with various activities taking place throughout the day, including helping with elements of the fun dog show.
The stand proved to be a wonderful opportunity to meet both existing and prospective Freemasons. A number of local Freemasons stopped by to say hello including the Deputy Head of Freemasonry in Guernsey and the Head of the Light Blues Club, whilst the candidate due to join Hansard Lodge next month also visited the stand and enjoyed meeting members. Particularly encouraging was a visit from an unattached Freemason who recently relocated from the United Kingdom to Guernsey. After meeting several local brethren at the show, the visitor expressed a keen interest in visiting a Guernsey lodge in the near future.
Reflecting on the day, W. Bro. Steve Byrne said:
“The South Show is a fantastic community event and a wonderful opportunity to engage with local people. It was great to see so many visitors stopping to chat, ask questions and learn more about Freemasonry. My sincere thanks go to Matt, Eric and everyone who helped throughout the day, as well as the organisers and volunteers who work so hard to make the South Show such a success each year.”
Bro. Matt Tostevin added:
“There was a great atmosphere throughout the day and plenty of interest in our display. It was particularly pleasing to speak with people considering joining Freemasonry and to welcome a visiting brother who is hoping to become involved with local lodges. Thank you to everyone who supported the stand and helped make the day such an enjoyable experience.”
Bro. Eric Crolley commented:
“Community events like the South Show allow us to showcase the values of Freemasonry while supporting our local parish. It was a pleasure to meet so many people and to work alongside fellow brethren and volunteers. The turnout was excellent and I look forward to supporting future events.”
The Guernsey and Alderney Light Blue Freemasons Club would like to thank everyone who visited the stand, together with the South Show organisers, volunteers and community groups who contributed to another successful and enjoyable event in St Martin’s. The day once again demonstrated the important role community engagement plays in Freemasonry and the value of working together to support local events and charities.
To see the results of the Fun Dog Show and the day check out https://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/fantastic-south-show-fun-dog-show-draws-crowd-canine-stars-see-results-lots-thanks
If you are interested in joining send us a message via the contact box on our home page https://guernseyfreemasons.org.uk/
