Freemasonry Matters

Chesil Lodge Freemasons support cancer patients at Dorset County Hospital

Andrea Pering is grateful for the outstanding and skilled care she received from the staff of Fortuneswell Ward at Dorset County Hospital two years ago. Andrea and her husband Ray wanted to give something back to the team who cared for her. So, when Ray became Master of Chesil Lodge Freemasons he was able to nominate Fortuneswell Cancer Trust as his charity of the year. Ray Pering said: “I simply couldn’t fault any of the staff, nor the treatment. Many people suffer from cancer – family and friends of patients too – all receive excellent care at Dorchester Hospital. It is second to none. So, I decided on the Fortuneswell Cancer Trust, which supports local patients in hospital and which does such a tip top job.” The Chesil Lodge of Freemasons is based in Victoria Square at Portland. It raised £1,300 from raffles and events during Ray’s time as Master, which comes to an end on Wednesday 1st April.

RAOB hands over thousands to help the Royal Cornwall Hospital’s Sunrise appeal

MEMBERS of the West Cornwall Provincial Grand Lodge of the Royal Antediluviaon Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) have handed over £4,396.59 to the Royal Cornwall Hospital’s Sunrise Appeal. The West Cornwall Province incorporates 12 lodges, including those in Penryn, Falmouth, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St Ives, Penzance and one in St Just. Lodges ran raffles to raise money and donated 132 prizes for a raffle run by Robin Harris, Provincial Grand Primo 2014, a member of the Sur Lineal Jacobs Lodge which meets at the Boslowick Inn in Falmouth. Mr Harris also spent a day at the Asda supermarket in Penryn when he raised an additional £500 towards the appeal. Penryn community bingo also ran several raffles on his behalf as he is their caller. “Big thanks should go to my lodge, the Sir Lineal Jacobs, There are only seven members but between them they paid all my expenses for the year and donated many prizes for my end of the year draw,” said Mr Harris. Mr Harris, accompanied by several members of the West Cornwall Provincial Grand Lodge, presented the cheque to Tony Hill, representing the Sunrise Appeal.

Fundraisers donate £4,500 breathing machine to Alex Hospital

GENEROUS fundraisers have donated a £4,500 machine to a respiratory ward at Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital. The Cough Up a Pound for CoughAssist campaign was set up last year by Redditch resident Bill Roberts, who suffers from myasthenia gravis (or MG) – a condition which damages the connections between the brain and the movement muscles and can affect swallowing and breathing. The CoughAssist machine, which has now been donated to the Alex Hospital, clears excess mucus from the airwaves by mimicking a cough.

Harrogate charity’s fundraising drive for new minibus £6k closer

A Harrogate charity’s fundraising drive for a new wheelchair adapted-vehicle is 6,000 steps closer, thanks to the Freemasons. Disability Action Yorkshire is seeking to replace its existing “minibus” with one that will be easier for its Claro Road care home staff to drive service users into town and on social activities. To achieve this, it is undertaking a number of initiatives, including having an entry in the London Marathon and applying to various organisations – including local Freemasons – for financial support. To this extent, Harrogate Harlow Lodge applied for a minor grant from the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, which supports a raft of good causes in its region each and every year. And this week members of the fraternity handed over a cheque to the tune of £6,000 to the charity’s Chief Executive, Jackie Snape.

Wisbech Freemasons donate £1,000 to Wisbech Community Car Scheme which helps elderly and disabled people get around

The Wisbech Lodge of Freemasons, The Lodge of United Good Fellowship, has donated £1,000 to the Wisbech Community Car Scheme. The scheme, manned by volunteer drivers, enables disabled, elderly and sometimes lonely people to get to medical appointments, visit relatives and friends and go shopping. Coordinator Maureen Robertson said: “It is only recently that I have learnt what Freemasons actually do and Wisbech is very fortunate that they are there, ready to assist wherever possible.”

Charity thanks Freemasons of County Durham for donation

A CHARITY has thanked the Freemasons of County Durham after they donated £500 to them. The 700 Club, which provides temporary accommodation and support services to vulnerable individuals, families and couples who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless and/or are in condition of need, hardship or distress, received the cheque on Wednesday (April 15). Share article CEO of 700 Club, John Elliston, welcomed Kevin Williams, a representative of the Benevolent Committee of the Province of Durham and Ian Groves, benevolence representative for Barnard Castle Strathmore Lodge, to the 700 Club’s head office, in Darlington, to receive the cheque. The money will be used towards work of the Lodge Project, a facility developed by the 700 Club to offer emergency and short term transitional housing in Darlington.

Freemasons donate minibus to school for children with learning difficulties

Freemasons donated a new minibus to a school for children with profound and severe learning difficulties and autism. Freemasons come from several backgrounds but all raise money for different charities through numerous events including ladies weekends for their wives and partners. They auction items to raise cash at all social gatherings and make donations at each of their meetings.