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The Master's List

W.Bro Will Kane, Worshipful Master of Tudor Lodge, has chosen two charities to support during his year in the Chair.

The first is the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND,

The second is Box4Good, a UK based charity project, under the Humanitas Charity and working with the Grenada Sports and Wellbeing Foundation, to support disadvantaged children in Grenada to access sports.

PGL Herts 2019 Festival raises £3,632,368

After five years of intense fundraising, the Province of Hertfordshire has completed its Festival in support of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (now part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation).

At the Festival Celebration Dinner, held at Guildhall in London on 6th July, the Chief Operating Officer of the MCF, Les Hutchinson, was delighted to announce that the grand total raised was £3,632,368. He thanked all the Lodges and individual members who worked so hard to raise such an incredible amount and assured them that the money raised would make a huge difference to the lives of young people around the country.

ESSEX and HERTFORDSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE TRUST

W.Bro Jay Patel, APGM, and W.Bro Chris Noble, ProvGCS, recently visited North Weald Airfield where the two Essex and Herts Air Ambulance aircraft are stationed. This followed a recent MCF grant made to the Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) on behalf of Hertfordshire Provincial Grand Lodge.

They were shown around the station by Jane Gurney, CEO, and Natasha Robertson, fundraising manager, who explained about the work done by the staff and volunteers. "Understandably they are very proud of the new £6.5m state-of-the-art second aircraft which predominantly serves the Herts area," said Chris Noble. "They reminded us that the 27 Air Ambulance Trusts receive no Government funding and rely solely on public donations. They told us that without the support of Freemasons the service would suffer considerably."

The pilot showed them inside the helicopter and explained that the onboard computers could manage a perfect hover, in windy conditions, above an incident site, and advised that the four rotor blades alone cost £1.5m to replace. Unbelievably the Trust has had to recently invest in 'stab vets' at £400 each due to a rising incidence of verbal and physical abuse on the crews. Doctors and paramedics work on a three-year secondment from their hospital.

The EHAAT team has offered any interested Herts Lodge a brief presentation at a future Lodge meeting. Lodges should contact W.Bro Chris Noble via the Provincial Office for details.

Freemasons' donation to the London Fire Brigade

In light of recent events, London Masons made a donation of £2.5million so the London Fire Brigade could purchase two vehicles with high aerial ladders, capable of reaching the top of a building as high as Grenfell Tower, the first of which has now been built. Reaching a staggering 64m they are the tallest in Europe.

In addition, six fast response outlander vehicles and four bariatric stretchers have also been funded.

W.BRO RUSS FENNER CONTINUES HIS SUPPORT FOR PEACE HOSPICE CARE

W.Bro Russ Fenner, in the guise of Imperial Auto Services, has been thanked by Peace Hospice Care for his ongoing support as part of the Peace Business Partnership Scheme. Along with seven other local businesses, their annual membership covers 12 days of the Hospice Social Worker costs which ensures that patients go home with the right support in place for their ongoing needs and pays for eight syringe drivers to provide patients with continuous pain and symptom management relief.

TUDOR LODGE DONATES £500 TO THE NORTHUMBERLAND MASONIC DEMONSTRATION TEAM

On Saturday 3rd November 2018, Tudor Lodge hosted a special meeting with a demonstration of an early 19th Century Third Degree Ceremony by The Northumberland Demonstration Team. The meeting took place at 3.30pm at Bushey Sports Club with The Demonstration Team in full authentic costume of the period. W.Bro Brian Denton APGM first set the scene and then the demonstration of an 1805 ritual began. We were treated to a highly involved rendition of the Third Degree as it happened in those days. The ritual was recognisable but was carried out with much greater theatrics so that the ‘Candidate’ might learn and understand much more of what he was going through.
With the demonstration complete, the Team were thanked by W.Bro Stuart Adams, Master of Tudor Lodge, followed by rapturous applause from the audience. The picture below shows the Demonstration Team with W.Bros Stuart Adams, David Ellis and Andrew Ellis. Those present, together with the team members, then retired to a Trafalgar-themed Festive Board. A total of 111 Masons dined. Bro Harry Lomas acted as Master of Ceremonies and conducted the diners through two raffles and a game of Heads & Tails. During the evening the Worshipful Master presented W.Bro Brian Denton with a cheque for £500.00 in aid of the charities supported by the Northumberland Masonic Demonstration Team with a similar amount raised for the 2019 Hertfordshire Festival in support of the RMTGB.

Support for Australia

The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) has donated AUS $150,000 to help people affected by the catastrophic and ongoing Australian bushfires. This donation will be awarded as three $50,000 grants to the Australian Freemasons’ Disaster Relief Funds in each of the three states most affected by the blaze; New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Hundreds of homes and businesses have been lost in Victoria and South Australia. Many Australians have lost everything and the impact on the livelihoods of ordinary people is vast – the economy will take many years to fully recover.

Support for Southern Africa

The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) has donated £50,000 to UK charity Plan International UK to provide emergency food packs and urgent humanitarian assistance to thousands of people at risk of starvation in southern Africa.

An estimated 45 million people across southern Africa are likely to be affected by record high temperatures and low rainfall, which has led to the worst drought for 35 years. Combined with the volatile political and economic situation in many states, the price of food has risen sharply. Families have been forced to reduce the quantity and frequency of meals, and often forgo healthcare. Many children are missing school to help support their families, affecting their long-term futures.

Rose Caldwell, Chief Executive of Plan International UK, said ‘We’re very grateful for this generous grant which will allow Plan International to reach thousands of people suffering from severe shortages of food. It is critical that we act now to provide this support to those most at risk.’

The Masonic Charitable Foundation has donated £15,000 to Plan International UK to support survivors of three major earthquakes in the Philippines.

Destruction to homes, schools and infrastructure

Massive damage on the southern island of Mindanao has seen an estimated 188,000 people affected by damaged and destroyed infrastructure. Roads have been blocked by landslides and water and sewage systems have been destroyed, leading to a serious risk of disease.

Nearly 1,500 schools have been damaged or destroyed, along with an estimated 28,000 houses. Rescue workers are reporting that 31,465 people have been displaced, with 24,000 in emergency evacuation centres.

School after Philippines earthquake

Classroom destroyed
in Cotabato

The £15,000 grant will help Plan International UK to provide more than 4,000 water kits, including a jerry can and water treatment chemicals. The provision of clean water is essential in the prevention of cholera and other diseases which can be life-threatening, especially to young children.

Rafael Garcia Velasquez, Acting Director of International Policy and Programmes at Plan International UK, said "We’re hugely grateful for this generous contribution to Plan International’s disaster response to the Philippines earthquakes. The provision of clean water is an absolute essential in the aftermath of a disaster like this and will help to protect thousands of people."

South Yorkshire Community Foundation’s Emergency Flood Disaster Relief Appeal

Freemasons have donated £15,000 to help people in South Yorkshire affected by the recent floods. £15,000 is being donated to South Yorkshire Community Foundation’s Emergency Flood Disaster Relief Appeal – £10,000 by the Masonic Charitable Foundation and £5,000 by the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding.

The appeal will support families and local people who have been displaced from their homes and had their property damaged by severe flood waters. About 400 homes have been flooded in the North, and 1,200 properties have been evacuated, according to the Environment Agency. Dozens of flood warnings are in place across the county and further heavy rain is forecast.

Local freemasons volunteer

Additionally, local Freemasons are being asked to assist anyone in distress caused by the floods. In the past, Masonic Halls have opened their doors to provide temporary shelter and a hot meal, and now are preparing to do the same.