A Dorset lodge have shown their continued commitment to a children’s palliative care unit by making the latest of five donations to Gully’s Place at Poole Hospital 

Vespasian Lodge No. 8099, based at Branksome Masonic Hall in Poole, have supported Gully’s Place, a purpose-designed space to provide a palliative care area contained within the children’s unit of Poole Hospital, since 2015. The suite was opened in 2010 and was named after a major benefactor, Diane Gulliford, who is a dance teacher from Poole. The suite is funded purely from donations to the Gully's Place Trust Fund.

The aim of the suite is to provide privacy and dignity for patients and their families and is used for patients requiring palliative and end of life care; for children/young persons and their families who decide to remain in hospital during the terminal stages of illness; for children/young persons and their families who do not have time to go home as death is imminent and as a transition to home area for children with complex health needs. 

The latest cheque was presented to Ken Mackenzie who is the resource Co-Ordinator for the Children’s Ward of the hospital and represents the fifth in a series of donations made by the Lodge to Gully’s Place which now exceeds £2,500.

Provincial Grand Master for Dorset Graham Glazier said: ‘I'm delighted Vespasian have been able to support this wonderful cause. It takes over £30,000 to run this suite along with a similar suite in Dorchester every year and their support is characteristic of our masonic values.

'We believe in playing a key role in our communities and give time and money to charitable ventures.’