4 Mark Master Masons, from London, W.Bro. Jon Wallis, APGM, W. Bro. Simon Dodd and W. Bro. Peter Malstrom APGDC’s and myself, W. Bro. Brian McCormack PGCS, headed to Northamptonshire to take part in their abseil challenge raising funds for the London Provincial Prostate Cancer appeal.
Our aim was to abseil down the outside of the tower which, at 418 feet, is the tallest freestanding abseil structure in the world. Unfortunately, the good old British weather prevented that as, due to wind & rain, the rooftop was closed.
However, the facility has several internal shafts which are equally challenging and so our four intrepid masons, got harnessed up and rose to the task ahead.
Peter and Simon had done a little bit of abseiling quite a few years back so were slightly more confident than Jon and I who had never abseiled before. My hat goes off big time to Jon because, by his own admission, whilst being about 6′ 4″, is terrified of heights.
For all of us, getting over the guard rail (pictures attached) was the most nerve jangling bit as your stepping over a waist high rail, into the void below. None of us are as supple as we used to be and struggled to get our legs over….
Once over, whilst you have to trust the equipment, and, more importantly, the team, at the National Abseiling Centre, the nerves are still tingling, heart racing and sphincter well and truly locked.
Off we go. The first few tentative feet are a proper test of nerve as you start to descend. Each few feet get easier until, for me, I was relaxed enough to start to enjoy the experience.
In total, we all did three descents, in different sections and to a person, we all thoroughly enjoyed the exepreince, even Jon.
We were then invited to make the descent face first and Peter jumped, not literally, at the opportunity. Not to be outdone, I summoned up my inner Tom Cruise and we both descended in style. Watch out for us in the next Mission Impossible instalment.
Descents done, the team gathered outside for the much relieved team photo, before we raced off to a local pub for a few well earned cold refreshers.
What a day, what an experience. We started this journey with an aim of raising £15,000. We have surpassed that and the PGM R.W. Brother Tom Quinn, will reveal the final total at the London Provincial meeting in July.
Donations can still be made using the team page link below.
Please consider donating to the very worthy cause.
My, our, sincere thanks to all who have donated thus far. These donations will make a huge difference in providing PSA tests, for free, to Mark brethren who sign up for them.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our July assembly.
S&F regards.
Brian.
W. Bro. Brian McCormack
Provincial Grand Charity Steward
Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons London
