News Archive
Freemasons Donate £100,000 to Flood Relief Efforts
As torrential rain and flooding affected large areas of Britain, the President of the Grand Charity has responded to The British Red Cross UK Floods Appeal with an emergency grant of £65,000. A sum of £35,000 has already been made available to boost Provincial Grand Lodge donations to various charitable funds.
Approximately 1 million people have been affected by the worst flooding to hit the UK in over 40 years and many have been left without access to drinking water or power.
As well as supporting the work of the emergency services in the immediate aftermath of the downpours, the British Red Cross will be providing assistance as the floods begin to recede. The £65,000 grant will help support communities and individuals as people are finally able to begin returning to homes ruined by flood-waters.
In view of the severity of the situation, a sum of £35,000 has been set aside in addition to the rant to the British Red Cross to match Provincial donations to charitable organisations involved in the flood response. Nearly half the money has already been earmarked and The Freemasons' Grand Charity aims to distribute the remaining funds over the forthcoming weeks.
In parallel with support for wider relief efforts, The Freemasons' Grand Charity will be assisting individual Masons affected by events, and their dependants, through Masonic Relief Grants which are given to relieve hardship.
Speaking about the response, Grahame Elliott, President of the Grand Charity said, "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible weather which has destroyed homes and left many people in dire need of assistance. The Freemasons' Grand Charity was established to support people in need and we hope these grants will help people cope with the impact of the floods and begin to get back on their feet."
Malvern Masonic Hall Open Day 2007
The doors of Malvern's Masonic Hall were opened to the public on Saturday 18th August 2007. The annual open day, organised by W. Bro. J. F. Lomas of The Royds Lodge, allowed members of the public to gain an insight into Freemasonry and learn about its long history in Malvern. It also provided a rare opportunity for visitors to enter the Masonic rooms, which were once part of Malvern's Belle Vue Hotel.
Supported by a large team of local Freemasons, W. Bro. Lomas opened the doors of the Masonic Hall at 10.00 am, with the first visitors arriving shortly after. On their entrance into the dining room, visitors were welcomed by a local Freemason, who described the various exhibits and conducted them on a guided tour, describing the layout of the building and the significance of the various items on display. Free tea, coffee and biscuits were served by Malvern's Masonic ladies, who provided an excellent service and ensured that every visitor, including the Provincial Grand Master, was made to feel welcome.
For the majority of visitors, the most interesting part of the day was the tour of the Lodge room. As in previous years, there was considerable fascination with the photographs of the Past Masters of The Royds Lodge, which are displayed along the north wall and were affectionately referred to as the 'rogue's gallery'. Many visitors recognised family, friends and familiar names, including those that have a strong association with the Malvern area and local businesses.
For those involved, the open day was hard work but proved to be very beneficial to all concerned. It was refreshing and interesting to discuss Freemasonry so openly with those who were genuinely interested to learn more about the Craft.
Freemasons Support County Air Ambulance
The Freemasons have pledged their charitable support to the County Air Ambulance with a cheque for £12,500 donated in recognition of the fantastic life saving work carried out by this important emergency service.
The Freemasons' Grand Charity is the central rant-making charity of all Freemasons in England and Wales and has been supporting community charities since 1727. Their choice in supporting the County Air Ambulance was warmly welcomed by Paul Weir, the fund raising development manager for County Air Ambulance, who said, "The Grand Charity has a unique history of charitable work in the community and I am very pleased that the organisation should recognise the County Air Ambulance and its valuable contribution to community life in the region with this generous donation to the Charity."
V. W. Bro. Robert Vaughan, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Information Officer at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire, said, "The speed at which County Air Ambulance is able to respond to emergencies is invaluable, as one of our members found out recently. He was rapidly air lifted to hospital after an accident and made a full recovery. Along with all local Freemasons, we are delighted to be supporting the organisation and the vital service it provides to the local community."
The County Air Ambulance serves an area of 8,000 square miles and a population of 7.8 million in the West Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Powys. It operates from its bases at the East Midlands Airport, RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton, and Strensham North Services on the M5. The cost of running and maintaining current level of operations stands at £3 million, for which the County Air Ambulance relies entirely on the general public for voluntary donations.
Freemasons Donate £30,000 To Save Malvern Day Club
The Freemasons have saved a Malvern club, dedicated to the care of elderly people, from closure. Friends of the Elderly's Alexander Gardens Day Club will receive a rant of £30,000, paid at the rate of a £10,000 a year, from The Freemasons' Grand Charity.
The club, which meets at Alexander Gardens, Gloucester Close, Malvern Link, provides companionship and a range of activities for people who have mild or moderate dementia. Club manager, Shirley Bradley, said of the donation, "Friends of the Elderly greatly appreciates this generous grant from the Freemasons' Grand Charity. This grant will help Friends of the Elderly to continue providing quality dementia care and emotional support to the older people who attend the club."
Founded in 2001, the club offers a wide range of activities for its 27 members, including regular outings, exercises classes, and arts and crafts. R. W. Bro. Richard Goddard, the Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire, said, "We're delighted to assist Friends of the Elderly's work in the Malvern community, as we are deeply impressed by their commitment to supporting dignity and respect for all older people."