Essex Freemasons provided a magnificent spectacle on Saturday 29th June with their twin "Fun Day" and Evening Concert in the grounds and gardens of Ingatestone Hall, the home of the non-masonic, but accommodating, Lord Petre, descendant of an eighteenth century masonic Grand Master. It was the hub event for Essex and it surpassed all expectations both in the enjoyment it provided and the large sums it raised for specifically non-masonic charities.
    The morning and afternoon were given over to the children: all the traditional fairground events were available together with such popular pastimes as facepainting. Most of these stalls were run by charitable groups. There were about fortyfive masonic lodges running stalls and another eighty run by non-masonic charities. The large crowds present had much to amuse themselves with. The second part of the day was a Musical Gala Evening at the centre of which was the thirty-five piece orchestra of the Royal Artillery together with two soloists. They provided a three hour concert with a blend of classical music and songs from the West End and Broadway shows.
    A highlight of the evening was the drawing, by the Provincial Grand Master for Essex, Sir Neil Thorne, of a special raffle which had been promoted by the Province for several months. The first prize was a ten-day Caribbean Cruise! This raffle alone raised £30,000. Added together with the money taken during the day this brought a total raised for charity to something in excess of £50,000. All concerned can be very proud of their efforts.

Sussex: Old Steine Lodge, No. 7875, treated children from a local school for the mentally handicapped to the pleasure and excitement of a helicopter ride out from Shoreham Airport and over the coast, crossing above the city of Brighton. The children were exhilarated by the experience.
    For safety reasons, each child from the Downs Park School was accompanied by a carer and they too enjoyed the rides. Afterwards the children enjoyed a buffet party lunch inside the terminal building at Shoreham.

London: Some one hundred and fifty Freemasons, families and friends set off from Freemasons’ Hall to follow a fascinating trail through the City of London and to test their knowledge of London on the way. All the participants had been sponsored so as to raise funds for the Richard House Children’s Hospice, in East London.
    In glorious weather they walked round the City, stopping at the Innholders Hall where they were invited inside for a glass of Bucks Fizz before embarking on the Docklands Light Railway at Tower Hill. An easy ride took them to Beckton and the Richared House Hopsice where everyone relaxed with an excellent barbecue and entertainment from the Pearly Kings and Queens. A supurb day which is expected to raise more than £10,000.

Leicestershire and Rutland: Masonic lodges in the leading towns combined to organise a marvellous experience for more than three hundred children at "Conkers" in the National Forest. While the main day was on Sunday 23rd June, children were also entertained for three days over the next week.
    Parties of youngsters typically arrived in the morning in transport provided by the masonic lodges and each was given a "Freemasonry in the Community" baseball cap. The mainstay of the event was the Conkers Visitors Centre with trained staff on hand to assist children in fully appreciating the important lessons of environmental protection.

Hertfordshire: On the 26th June a group of enthusiastic fishermen, the majority of whom are Freemasons, hosted a day of fishing and country pursuits for the benefit of fifty-five mentally, physically and visually impaired children and young adults from schools across Hertfordshire.
    The children were brought in minibuses to the Rib Valley Fishing Lakes near Ware, Hertfordshire, at the invitation of the Masonic Trout & Salmon Fly Fishing Club. All participants were assigned to an experienced angler and strict safety procedures were followed – safety goggles and hats all being generously provided by some of the largest fishing equipment suppliers.
    The children all had the opportunity to land the rainbow trout with which the lakes are stocked and received a certificate marking the day.

Bromley Masonic Centre Becomes Dreamland Castle. Members of the lodges meeting at Oakley House, the Bromley Masonic Centre, togther with the catering staff, all created an otherworldly atmosphere to entertain about one hundred handicapped youngsters and their carers for the day. The children came from six special schools in the Bromley area As the children arrived at Oakley House they were greeted by cartoon characters presenting them with balloons.
    Outside a carousel and a brass band welcomed them and at the entrance to the "castle" were Mickey Mouse and the Master of Ceremonies, Ron Wilson together with Brethren of the lodges meeting there who accompanied the children through the "castle" to their banqueting tables.
    Along the route they were amused by Snow White, Tigger, jugglers, a unicyclist and clown from a circus workshop. A delicious meal was provided during which they were entertained by a singer whilst the circus entertainers circulated the tables. The climax came when the children were presented with presents by a very special guest – a Queen Elizabeth II lookalike who, to great applause, "knighted" each child and gave each a scroll commemorating the day of chivalric achievement.
    The Provincial Grand Master of West Kent, Bill Bryan, then presented a cheque for £6000 to the Mayor of Bromley, Carole Hubbard, the amount to be distributed evenly to the six schools represented by the children.