Race Night I - 2023

Saturday, March 18th, saw the Brentwood Mark Lodge, No 377 go "to the races" when they held a virtual horse racing evening in aid of the Essex Mark MBF Festival 2030. The event took place at the Mount Avenue Banquet Suite in Hutton and brought together over seventy attendees consisting of members of the Lodge and their guests for an evening of fun, excitement, and charity fundraising. The evening began with a warm welcome from the Lodge Charity Steward, David Harvey, who thanked everyone for attending and introduced the charity cause of the evening.

Following the opening address and an explanation of the rules, the virtual horse racing began. The Mount Avenue Banquet Suite was transformed into a virtual racecourse, with large screens displaying the races complete with the "Mark Well" betting tote, run by Gavin Burgoyne, assisted by Roy Kaye and Peter Maloney. Guests were given the opportunity to bet on their favourite horses, with all proceeds going towards our festival funds. The punters were able to sponsor horse ownership or the jockey for a race, with winners earning themselves a bottle of bubbly presented by Lodge DC, John Waters.

​The atmosphere was electric as the races unfolded, with guests cheering on their chosen horses as they thundered down the virtual track, and celebrating their victories. There was a sense of friendly competition between the Lodge members, with each trying to outdo the other in their betting prowess. However, the real winner of the evening was the Essex Festival 2030, as the fundraising efforts proved to be highly successful raising over £1750. This was a testament to the generosity and community spirit of those in attendance, as well as a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the Lodge members who organised the event.

Throughout the evening, guests were also treated to a delicious Indian meal, prepared by the talented chefs at the Mount Avenue Banquet Suite.

The evening was a huge success, both in terms of the fundraising efforts and the enjoyment of the guests. In the words of one attendee, "It was a fantastic evening and a great way to support a good cause. The atmosphere was fantastic, and it was clear that everyone was having a good time. I'm already looking forward to the next event!"

As the evening drew to a close, the Lodge Secretary, Jack Saunders, thanked everyone for their attendance and congratulated them on their contributions to the Essex Festival 2030. He also expressed his appreciation to Mervyn Revell and his staff at the Mount Avenue Banquet Suite for their hard work and assistance in making the evening such a success.

​Overall, the virtual horse racing evening was a fantastic example of how charitable fundraising can also be fun and enjoyable. It brought together members of the Lodge and their guests for a memorable evening of entertainment, all in support of a great cause.