In Free Fall for Charity

On Easter Monday, at RAF Weston on the Green, Oxfordshire, VW Bro. Brian Bellinger, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, who had never previously jumped out of an aircraft, did so at 12,000 feet for the benefit of his Province’s 2005 Festival Appeal for the New Masonic Samaritan Fund. He fell at a speed of 130 mph to 6000 feet when his instructor opened the parachute for an exhilarating glide to the ground. Prior to the event, sponsorship forms had been circulated throughout the Province and, as Bro. Brian exited the aircraft, he knew that his few moments of sheer terror would raise the sum of £31,800. "What a thrill, in retrospect!" commented Bro. Brian.

Pedal Power in China

W Bro. Chris Brown, a Past Master of Minerva Lodge No. 250, Hull, has raised more than £5000 for MENCAP by cycling 300 miles in China. At fifty-three, he was one of the oldest members of the eighty strong group of non-professional cyclists and trained for five months to reach the level of fitness required to cycle an average of sixty miles a day in temperatures up to 100º F. His six-day journey took him through Beijing and Tianamen Square and along parts of the Great Wall of China. The entire group raised, in total, an estimated £300,000 for the charity. "Cycling 300 miles is certainly not everybody’s idea of a relaxing way to spend six days but the opportunity to raise much needed funds for MENCAP and to see such amazing sites as the Great Wall of China made all the training and hard work worthwhile", said Chris. MENCAP was founded to assist parents with mentally handicapped children and to help the children themselves to cope with growing up in an often very difficult world. Such children need ongoing support throughout their life. The Charity provides residential, education and employment services, leisure opportunities and individual support. It also campaigns to ensure that their rights are recognised and that they are respected as individuals.

Nautical Evening Raises Money for Hartlepool Lifeboat

In June, Heugh Lodge, No. 7773 in Hartlepool, held a nautical theme night in order to raise money for the local branch of the RNLI. Members of all eleven Hartlepool lodges as well as many out of town visitors attended. The Past Provincial Grand Master for Durham, RW Bro. The Lord Barnard also made a private visit. In the Temple three short talks relating to masonry and the sea specially prepared by VW Bro. the Rev. Neville Barker Cryer were delivered by Brethren. The nautical theme was continued at the festive board in the ballroom which had been decorated with fishing nets, lobster pots, and bunting. The Master and his guests were piped into the hall in naval fashion by two bosuns. Many of the brethren had changed into appropriate fancy dress and the evening was rounded off with a selection of nautical songs. Coincidently, during the evening, W Bro. Steve Pounder, a member of the Hartlepool lifeboat crew, was called out of the Temple for a genuine lifeboat emergency. He was able to return when it was realised that only the inshore boat was needed. The event raised £2000 and it has been decided to make it an annual fixture for Hartlepool Freemasons.

£200,000 Donation Underwrites Breakthrough in Asthma Research

London’s Freemasons have donated £200,000 to fund pioneering research into the causes of asthma; this has produced an important breakthrough. A team of researchers at St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, headed by Dr Clive Robinson, has been studying allergy to house dust mites. People who are genetically predisposed to develop allergy become sensitised to dust mites when they breathe the mites’ droppings that contain digestive enzymes which cause allergy. Dr Robinson said: “The funding from the London Masonic Charitable Trust has been central in enabling the team to pioneer a new theory which is set to change the future of asthma. Their charitable donations have nurtured this work through a critical phase of scientific discovery, placing the UK at the international forefront in this field.”

Advancing the Frontiers of Surgery

Sussex Freemasons had an opportunity to hear how masonic funds have advanced the frontiers of surgery and saved many lives. Six top surgeons, whose research work is funded by masonic fellowships, visited Brighton to explain the new techniques which those funds have helped develop. Professor Michael Bailey, Professor of Surgery at the Royal Surrey County Hospital and a member of the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons, introduced the presentation evening organised by the Old Brightonian Lodge, No. 4104. The surgeons were all welcomed to the Great Hall of Brighton College by RW Bro. Ian Lay, Provincial Grand Master for Sussex. He explained, "When the Grand Lodge of England celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1967 a trust fund was set up for surgical research to mark the occasion. Since then fellowships have been awarded annually to practising Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons at a wide range of hospitals and centres of research throughout the United Kingdom. The Fund has contributed £2,427,608 to the Royal College of Surgeons. In addition, in the last two years, the Freemason’s Grand Charity has donated £1,341,484 to medical research." All six surgeons gave short talks on their areas of research – into knee replacement, Hirschsprung’s Disease in children, Blood Clots, Hearts, the repair of shoulders and Skin Cancer. Afterwards, members of the audience were able to ask questions which resulted in an informative and interesting forum.

A Wheelchair for Jamie Sutherland

In October 1994 Jamie Sutherland was hit, head on, by a car whilst cycling near his home town of Bovey Tracey, Devon. He spent weeks on a life support machine but eventually recovered and began to breathe for himself. But injuries to his head meant that he would never be able to walk again. Furthermore, he was unable to use a self-propelled wheelchair since when he puts his body under pressure it affects his spine and causes spasms. At age sixteen he acquired his first electric wheelchair with the help of a charity. Now aged twenty, Jamie is studying a course in Countryside Management and needed a new chair; but the cost was £4000. Two teachers at his former school are running in the London marathon to help raise this money. And local Freemasons, hearing of Jamie’s courage and tenacity, wished to help as well. Bovey Tracey Lodge, No. 8698 raised £400, Ashburton Lodge No. 2189 raised £100 and the Provincial Mark Charity donated a further £600. There is more money to raise but all Jamie’s supporters are determined that he will get the new chair he needs.

Ambulances Donated by Mark Masons

The effort of every Province of Mark Masons to donate a Crusader Ambulance to the St John Ambulance Association continues. Bristol Mark Masons have donated one and in Birmingham, the donation represented the second made by the Mark Province of Warwickshire. This presentation took place at the Headquarters of the Craft Province in Birmingham. On receiving the new vehicle, Susan Taylor CStJ, Commander, West Midlands, said, "The generosity of the Mark Masons to present St John with Crusader Ambulances is without parallel in our history and an overwhelming act of support for our services to the community. To each and everyone who helped with this most generous donation may I extend our most sincere gratitude." At the presentation a cheque to assist with initial fuel and running costs was also donated, by Craft masons of the Province.

Dyfed-Powis Police Receive Defibrillators

Montgomeryshire and Tywyn Freemasons donated £4,500 to purchase two defibrillators for use in police patrol cars serving rural areas. Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable, Terence Grange, travelled a considerable distance from his headquarters in Carmarthen to personally receive the donation from W Bro. Emyr Roberts, chairman of the Group Nine Lodges and RW Bro. Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Assistant Provincial Grand Master for North Wales. News of this donation was well reported in the local Press and has received much public support.