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Current News - July - September 2010
From the Province of East Lancashire 27 Sep 10
Lodge in a secret past
An historic Freemasons' Lodge, still based in Oldham more than 200 years after it was founded, plays a major role in a new book about the organisation- from the Oldham Evening Chronicle.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE
From the Province of Durham 27 Sep 10
Zoe is off to Jerusalem
A DARLINGTON volunteer has won a bursary to a Middle East hospital after winning a writing competition - from the Northern Echo North East.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE
From the Province of Lincolnshire 27 Sep 10
Church is keeping up with the times
St Oswald's Church, Crowle
Time has been called on a wind up church clock after a new automated system has been installed at a North Lincolnshire church. Crowle Masons contributed a sum of money - from the Grimsby Telegraph Humberside.
From the Province of Herefordshire 22 Sep 10
Provincial Grand Lodge, June 2010 - opens its doors to 'Herefordshire Life' - article Printed in the August Edition
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
From the Province of Hertfordshire 16 Sep 10
Hooks Cross Masonic Lodge has raised money for scanner at Lister Hospital - Stevenage Comet South.
From the Province of North Wales 10 Sep 10
Giant slate memorial to fallen soldiers put up outside barracks
Fallen soldiers are to be remembered on a new monument. Businesses from Chester and North Wales have donated their time to help soldiers from the Assault Pioneer platoon of the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers) to place a memorial to those who have fallen in battle while based at The Dale Barracks, Chester. The slate was funded by donations from the North Wales and Cheshire Masons - From the Wrexham Evening Leader.
From the Province of Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 10 September 2010
Molly is the new pony for York Area Riding for the Disabled
York Group Riding for the Disabled Association had a very difficult winter when three of their ten ponies died. Alan Ross, Charity Steward of Francis Drake of York Lodge No. 7825 contacted Ken Lippett the Area representative of the Provincial Grand Charity, who recommended the lodge apply for help via a non Masonic Grant Petition.
Provincial Grand Charity was pleased to respond and awarded a grant of £1,650 in addition to the Lodge’s donation of £100, which enabled the R.D.A. to purchase pony -“Molly”. She is settling down in her role and becoming a favourite with the riders.
York RDA has 26 regular riders all of whom have learning disabilities, with most also having physical and sensory disabilities. The needs of the riders, means that the group require the services of around 50 volunteers including the catchers and groomers who are at the farm at least 3 hours before the riders arrive.
The group is very grateful for the donation which has enabled them to provide a normal service across the summer.
The Group meet at Sandfield Farm, Shipton-by-Beningbrough, and owner Mrs Margaret Dibb, founder member and organiser of York Group R.D.A., held a 40 year celebration at the farm on Sunday 8 August when Molly was formally handed over to the group.
A fixed, framed and captioned photograph will be on permanent display in the RDA area HQ at Sandfield Farm.
Ken Lippett, Jennifer Cookson (Side Walker), Pony "Molly",
Jeremy Mowforth (Rider), Alice Tollan (Leader).
From the Province of Yorkshire West Riding 10 September 2010
A junior football club has completed work on its new indoor training facility at a cost of more than £200,000. The outer shell of the building was completed in late 2008, but the project was put on hold until 2009 when a £30,000 grant from West Riding Masonic Charities allowed the long-running project to be completed - from the Telegraph and Argus.
From the Province of Gloucestershire - 9 September 2010
Freemasons give £25k to charity's work with bereaved children
A charity for children who have suffered a bereavement has benefited from a large cash donation - Gloucester Echo, Avon.
From the Province of Yorkshire West Riding - 9 September 2010
Respected former sports journalist - another obituary
Alan William Driscoll, the man better known as Longfellow to thousands of Town fans and Examiner readers, has died, aged 83. A Freemason, he was a Past Master of Lindley-based Thornhill Lodge and also a Provincial Officer - from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
From the Province of West Lancashire - 9 September 2010
Garden dedicated to Afghanistan victim Tom
A garden designed by 11-year-old schoolgirl Kerry Anne Eakins and dedicated to the memory of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has been built at Southport Flower Show. Peter Hosker, Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire Freemasons, who sponsored the school garden competition, presented Kerry with £500 to be used to enhance the school grounds - Warrington Guardian.
From the Province of Buckinghamshire - 9 September 2010
Duke of Kent praises Freemasons
BEACONSFIELD Freemasons have won the royal seal of approval for encouraging youngsters to do community work in the area - Buckingham Advertiser:
From the Province of Nottinghamshire - 23 August 2010
Helping hand: Dr Steve Mather, Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the Freemasons in Notts, hands over £3,000 of audio equipment for use by blind and partially sighted spectators to Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club CEO Derek Brewer and commentator David Eaes - Nottingham Evening Post:
From the Province of Durham 20 Aug 2010
A SPECIAL medal ceremony has been held for hard working pupils at a South Tyneside school - Shields Gazette.
From the Province of Cornwall 20 Aug 2010
Trevor Whetter died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism, aged 68, at his home in High Street, Lanjeth, last Tuesday. The photographer, who lived all his life in Lanjeth and was also a joiner by trade, was secretary of St Denys Lodge of masons and was also a keen member of Four Lanes male choir - Cornish Guardian South West.
From the Province of Berkshire 20 Aug 2010
THE founder of one of Reading's biggest solicitors has been remembered as a humorous and colourful character in a family tribute - another obituary of a Freemason, this time in Reading - Reading Post (Weekly) South.
From the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight
he Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance have been presented with a cheque for £4,000 by the Masons Grand Charity. Its good to see Freemasonry as part of the community again - Southern Daily Echo Hampshire.
From the Province of Cambridgeshire 11 August 2010
The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (Asbah) is celebrating a fundraising boost after winning £40,000 for Spina Bifida research - Community Newswire
From the Province of Yorkshire West Riding 16 July 2010
The Calderdale family of a hero soldier killed in Afghanistan are fundraising in his memory. Michael Dyson sought a donation from the West Riding Freemasons and was hopeful of £2,000 and was stunned to be awarded £50,000.
From the Province of East Lancashire 14 July 2010
Teddy bears' picnics are being used at Bolton Crown Court to help children give evidence in difficult cases. The Freemasons' teddy bear project, called Teddies for Loving Care, started with giving bears to children's wards in hospitals, but has now been expanded to courts.
The Bolton News Lancashire, 14/07/2010 - CLICK HERE TO VIEW ARTICLE
From the Province of Bedfordshire - July 2010
Martin Foss Award
At the University of Bedfordshire Graduation Ceremony, the Provincial Grand Master, Michael Sawyer accompanied by the Provincial Grand Secretary, Tim Pope was pleased to present Linda Henness with the Bedfordshire Freemasons’ Martin Foss Award. This annual award is made to a final year student who in the opinion of the University has made greatest contribution to the life of the Faculty of Health and Social Science.
Linda has always wanted to be a nurse and first started nurse training when she was eighteen years old. However she was advised to leave or do the two year Enrolled Course as she wanted to get married.
Linda chose to leave and changed direction to work in finance. She went on to do a Masters Degree in Human Resources. As Linda’s family grew up she realised her desire to nurse had never left her and despite having been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2001 she decided it “was now or never”
She enrolled at the University of Bedfordshire in 2006 on the Bsc. Hons. Nursing program. Linda has not only battled with her own health needs but has had to cope with family health problems that arose during the course.
Despite all these Linda has maintained her professionalism and has worked extremely hard within both practice and theory. She will be the first to admit that there were times she wondered whether she would ever reach the end. However with the support of her family and the Health Care Department she has achieved her life long ambition.
From the Province of Herefordshire - July 2010
Across Wales `as the crow flies` for charity
A determined charity walk of 100 miles in eight days has been undertaken as a `thank you` to staff of Hereford Hospital, and as a means of attaining financial support to improve the lives of future cancer patients.
WBro. Colin Tudor, Immediate Past Master of Delphis Lodge in the Province of Herefordshire, accompanied by the Junior Warden Bro. Ian Talboys, walked from Aberystwyth to Hereford in a direct line - `as the crow flies` - to raise some £2,000 towards equipment for the local cancer unit.
Colin, now 70 years of age, was admitted to Charles Renton Cancer Unit over two years ago and is still undergoing treatment. The walk proved a challenge especially over the hills of mid Wales in the heat of the summer sunshine. Success and satisfaction proved the challenge to be worthwhile.
From the Province of Buckinghamshire - 13 July 2010
Letter from the PGM on football and teamwork - Bucks Free Press
From the Province of Devon - 13 July 2010
Funeral of Very Rev Neil Collings - Exeter Express Echo