A Past Master from Shropshire has walked a mammoth 11 miles in aid of Masonic charity this autumn – a praiseworthy but not especially remarkable achievement, perhaps, until you realise that the brother concerned, Clive Jones, is completely blind.
Clive, a former Welsh Guardsman and keen Mason, heard that Brethren from his lodge, St Mary’s Lodge No. 8373 were walking from Whitchurch to Market Drayton as part of a series of walks connecting all the lodges of Shropshire. These “Provincial Perambulations” are designed to celebrate and raise funds for Shropshire’s Grand Charity Festival over the next few years, and will culminate in a final grand walk from Shrewsbury to Great Queen Street in 2019.
Clive immediately insisted on being part of the Whitchurch event – indeed, with characteristic good humour he appointed himself official map-reader. Five Brethren set off from the North Shropshire Masonic Rooms on the morning of Sunday, 25th October, and after a brief unplanned diversion soon left the town behind them. After completing the 11.2 mile walk, they rested weary limbs before visiting St Mary’s lodge the following evening. Congratulations went to all of the Brethren who had taken part, but Clive in particular deserves special praise for completing the course in fine style and thereby raising sponsorship for this excellent cause.