A magnificent £6,600.00 was raised for charity at this year’s Provincial Boxing Night, held at the Shepherds Inn, Carlisle. Chris Gabbott, Chairman of the Event Organising Committee, was delighted with the outcome which helped to raise money for ‘Lifelites’ and Kendal Amateur Boxing Club. In acknowledgement of this splendid achievement, he said “ I wish to thank everyone who supported this Year’s Boxing night by buying a ticket. An exciting night was had by all, with some brilliant boxing over fourteen bouts. The first two of which were skill bouts of three by one minute rounds, just to give young boxers much needed ‘crowd experience’. At the same time four nurses from Carlisle Hospital sold raffle tickets, and did an amazing job. I must thank Richard Benn for organising the girls, who I am sure will now be at the forefront of efforts to fight the Coronavirus.
The main sponsor of the evening was Carlisle Scaffolding Services Ltd., who again supported the night with a sizable donation and brought along twelve guests, who I am told, really enjoyed the evenings Boxing.
We are also indebted to our second main sponsor, the Allied Masonic Degree, who through Eddie Crosby, District Grand Prefect and his committee, agreed to donate £500.00 to sponsor the occasion, all of which will go towards the ‘Lifelites’ Charity. The Allied Degree has five Councils throughout the Province, and the District Grand Prefect, together with his new Deputy, Lawrence Hinde, and two other Allied members presented trophies to four of the bout winners. Any masons wishing to know more about the Allied Degree, please contact the District Grand Secretary Peter Sacre in the first instance on petersacre@btinternet.com.
I must especially thank the whole Events Team for giving up their time to support the Night, some of whom worked tirelessly within their own Lodges and visited other Lodges in their respective Groups to sell tickets. This was not an easy task and I do appreciate the amount of effort and dedication they put in, as well as that of the Stewards on the night, most of whom have performed this duty year after year. They quietly went about their responsibilities in a very professional manner making the whole evening flow.
A massive thanks also, to all who paid to advertise in the Boxing Programme, donated Raffle and Auction Prizes and to ‘The Shepherds Inn’, who always look after us extremely well, making sure the evening was a success.
Finally I must specifically thank Alan Willoughby, Head Coach of Kendal Amateur Boxing Club, without whose boxing knowledge, organisational skills and sporting contacts, this event could not have taken place.
This unique event raised over £6,600.00 on the night. £600 will go to the Kendal Amateur Boxing Club, and the balance will go to ‘Lifelites’, donated through the Provincial Grand Masters’ Charity Fund.”
Chris Gabbott
Chairman
