The Grand Lodge 250th. Anniversary Fund stands at over £3 million (depending on the Stock Market) thanks to careful husbandry by trustees who have nurtured the original £504, 891 16s 5d.
    Income now supports Freemasons’ Fellow Mr. Peter Hutchinson’s research. Two more Freemasons’ Fellows should be named soon. Peter Hutchinson, with head of department Professor John Pickard and others at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Neurosurgery Department, Cambridge, evaluate new techniques involving treatment of head injury and stroke patients.
    His research measures brain substances thought harmful following brain injury. Two very fine (0.5mm) probes are placed into the brain; one measures oxygen and acid while a small volume of salt solution is passed through the other, enabling them to collect small fluid samples. After analysis, harmful chemicals can be detected. The hope is to introduce drugs to counteract effects of these chemicals and protect the brain.
    Research is part funded by a Royal College of Surgeons Research Fellowship. The college provides Fellowships to trainee surgeons, enabling them to research projects during training, funded by various sources. Mr. Hutchinson is the first to be funded by the Craft.
    When the fund was created, after an England and Wales levy (with the aim of showing that the Craft supports non-masonic activities), its first chairman was the then Grand Master, the Earl of Scarborough, with seven trustees (Jeremy Pemberton is the only survivor, although not now a trustee) and they commenced husbanding the money to get best returns to support the Royal College.
    Today’s trustees are led by Past Assistant Grand Master, Lord Eglinton and Winton plus Lord Lane of Horsell (past President of the Board of General Purposes); present President Gavin Purser; Viscount Chelsea; Harvey White (eminent cancer surgeon); Anthony West; Anthony Wilson and Barry O’Meara - all Grand Officers. Last year the Craft’s grant to the Royal College was £140,000 and will be £145,000 this year. Barry O’Meara says the trust has always enjoyed very close contact with the Royal College of Surgeons, particularly with President, Sir Rodney Sweetnam. Unfortuantely, he adds, most Craft members have paid “scant attention” to annual reports which were technical, and “its activities sank into oblivion in the eyes of most...but of course it is very much alive and vibrant. We want to make sure the Craft knows it’s alive, kicking and doing exceedingly well.”