A wreath will be delivered to the National Memorial Arboretum by Manx bikers to mark the start of Armistice Day remembrance events.
It will be delivered by the island’s chapter of the Widow’s Sons bikers for a ceremony early next month.
A short ceremony to bless the wreath before it leaves the island will be held on Friday in the Ramsey Masonic Hall followed by a curry supper.
The ceremony and dinner are open the general public and start at 7pm.
Remembrance Service
“The masons have a war memorial in the Staffordshire arboretum and each year hold a ceremony in which wreaths from each of the 48 provinces in the British Isle are laid, usually on the first Saturday in November,” local masons’ spokesman Tim Earl said.
“We are sending our wreath in the care of local masonic bikers – the Widow’s Sons Isle of Man Chapter. They will deliver it to the arboretum ready for a delegation of local masons who will attend the ceremony on 1 November.”
The wreath-laying ceremony will be one of the last events attended by head of the island’s masons Martin Blackburn who retires at the end of the year.
People attending Friday’s event can have a preview of the J A Brown Manx Masonic Museum which is to be reopened officially next year after extensive refurbishment.
They will also be able to see the northern masons’ meeting room.
Attendance at the event is free but the curry dinner costs £20 which includes a donation to the National Memorial Arboretum, and must be booked in advance: email Tim Earl at pco@freemasonry.com.
