Lodge Fingal 318 members in Dingwall join Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with tree-planting

FREEMASONS in Ross-shire's county town have been active in the community in recent days undertaking starkly contrasting activities.

Lodge Fingal 318 members were joined by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ross and Cromarty at a tree-planting ceremony at Pefferside as part of wider celebrations to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Andrew MacIvor, Ronnie Sutherland, Raymond MacKeddie, Stewart Bain, Donnie Gunn, David MacMaster, Cllr Sean Kennedy and Alex Craib marked the occasion.

And recently, a team of rowers made the final push in a charity challenge – in the local Tesco supermarket.

The masonic lodges in the Province of Ross and Cromarty have teamed up to raise funds for Prostate Scotland.

Using static rowing machines and with the encouragement of shoppers at the Dingwall Tesco store, rowers – who had already chalked up 23 miles – completed the final 25 between 9am and 1pm on Saturday.

It was the equivalent of a crossing from Ullapool to Stornoway – which is included within the province.

Angus Beaton, who took part, said: "All these challenges are to raise funds for Prostate Scotland under the initiative from the Grand Lodge of Scotland to raise £1 million for the charity by the end of the year."

He said the team wished to thank the people who contributed. That effort raised the impressive sum of £1160.

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