Help for St Michael’s Hospice

Herefordshire Freemasons have continued a long tradition of supporting the county’s St Michael’s Hospice with a further donation of £5,000.

Director of income generation Ruth Denison and community fundraising manager Paddy Nugent received the donation from Provincial Grand Master (also former hospice chaplain) the Reverend David Bowen and Deputy Provincial Grand Master Michael Roff.

With the money to be used for the fitting out of one of the bedrooms in the new building, Nugent said: ‘St Michael’s Hospice is eternally grateful for the support from the masons, which goes back to 1984. We really appreciate their continued commitment and would like to thank all involved for their continued support.’

£5,000 donation to St Michael's Hospice 

Herefordshire Freemasons have long been strong supporters of the county’s St Michael’s Hospice, and have continued that tradition with a further donation of £5,000. The donation was presented by the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire and former Chaplain at the Hospice, the Rev David Bowen, and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Michael Roff, to Ruth Denison, Director of Income Generation, and Paddy Nugent, Community Fundraising Manager.

Receiving the donation, Paddy Nugent said: 'St Michael’s Hospice is eternally grateful for the support from the masons, which goes back to 1984. We really appreciate their continued commitment and would like to thank all involved for their continued support.' The money will be used for the fitting out of one of the bedrooms in the new building.

This follows closely on a donation of £500 made by members of the oldest lodge in Herefordshire, Palladian Lodge. One of its members, Colin Tudor, has been receiving out-patient care at St Michael’s, and is so pleased with the way he is being looked after that he wanted to show his appreciation, with the support of his Lodge. In presenting that cheque Colin thanked the dedicated staff for all they had done for him and many others.

Freemasons throughout the country are strong supporters of their local Hospices, and those in Herefordshire are very pleased to have such an invaluable and high-quality facility available to the local community.

Help for St Michael’s

In a visit to St Michael’s Hospice Hereford, the Rev David Bowen, Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire, met patient and Past Master of Delphis Lodge, No. 7769, Colin Tudor and his wife Gill. 

Colin had for some time been a fundraiser for the Macmillan Renton Unit and St Michael’s Hospice. Following a period of chemotherapy treatment, Colin walked across mid-Wales for these charitable concerns.

While he was there, David Bowen, accompanied by Mike Roff, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire, presented the hospice with a £3,343 donation from the Grand Charity.

Over the years, the Province of Herefordshire has presented some £70,000 to the hospice, helping towards the current £3.2 million refurbishment.

During one of many visits to St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford, RW Bro the Rev David Bowen, Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, was recently given the most welcome opportunity of meeting and greeting hospice patient Colin Tudor and his wife Gill.

Colin, past Master of Delphis Lodge No. 7769, had for some time been a valiant and resolute supporter and fundraiser for the Macmillan Renton Unit and St Michael’s Hospice: following a period of chemotherapy treatment, Colin walked across Mid Wales for such charitable concerns.

David Bowen, accompanied by VW Bro Mike Roff, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire, presented Ruth Denison Fundraising Manager and Paddy Nugent Community Fundraising Manager, with the annual donation awarded to the Hospice by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.

This year the award was for £3,343. Since 1984 The Freemasons' Grand Charity has donated rising £12m to the 245 adult and children’s hospices in England and Wales.

The Province of Herefordshire has also presented approximately £70,000 to St Michael’s Hospice over the years, and this support will be recognised within the £3.2m refurbishment of the original hospice buildings due to be completed within the next three months.

The Rev David Bowen pledged the continued support of Herefordshire Freemasons to the dedicated care the hospice provides, which is so highly valued by the local community. David Bowen had been Chaplain to the hospice in the past, and truly appreciated the work undertaken at St Michael’s.

The presentation took place in the new £8m In-Patients’ Unit – the most advanced and highly specified in the country. David Bowen emphasised how important it was to be able to show a continued commitment to the outstanding work of the hospice.

Emergency help at Sussex hospice

In the early hours of 11 July, a fire took place at St Michael’s Hospice in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.

Twenty three patients with progressive life-limiting illnesses were evacuated, along with one family member and nine members of staff. In the days following the incident, three patients died, two of whom had been treated for smoke inhalation. 

The Grand Charity responded with an emergency grant of £5,000 to help with immediate recovery efforts. Since 1987, St Michael’s has been part of the Grand Charity Hospice Scheme and has received more than £84,000. The Province of Sussex also donated £5,000 via the Sussex Masonic Charities. 

Perdita Chamberlain, St Michael’s head of fundraising, said, ‘We would like to thank the Sussex Freemasons and the Grand Charity for their continued support and their incredibly generous donation.’ Hospice CEO Celia Pyke-Lees praised the nursing team, calling them ‘true heroines’ on the night of the fire. 

Consultant physician James Dennison added, ‘I was very pleased to hear that both the Province of Sussex and the Grand Charity had quickly responded. It is wonderful to see Freemasonry in action like this.’

Cash donation to help fire-stricken hospice

In the early hours of Saturday morning, twenty three residents of St Michael’s Hospice in St Leonards-On-Sea, Sussex, were evacuated following an explosion and fire. Three patients have since died following the evacuation, two of which were being treated for smoke inhalation.

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has donated £5,000 to support the Hospice during this difficult time. Since 1987, St Michael’s has been part of the Grand Charity Hospice Scheme and has received over £84,000 in total.

The emergency grant will help the Hospice’s recovery needs by funding emergency supplies such as blankets and food, the relocation of patients and repairs.

The Province of Sussex, a long-time supporter of St Michael’s Hospice, has also indicated that it will be making an emergency grant to the cause.

An invited tour of the extensive new £8 million build at St Michael’s Hospice on the last day of 2014 by Herefordshire Freemasons, reflected the extent of appreciation for their committed support

In the presence of Ruth Denison, Fundraising Manager at the hospice, the RW Bro the Rev David Bowen, Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, accompanied by fellow Freemasons, was informed that the new building would be the most advanced and highly specified in the country.

The new facilities, including the imaginative and highly technical five clusters of four bedded areas for in-patients, representing a significant increase in capacity, will enable the hospice to sustain its excellent national reputation.

The visiting local Freemasons were also told that the projected £3.2 million refurbishment of the thirty-year-old part of the existing hospice will take place during the coming twelve months, thus completing a challenging period of development.

The Rev David Bowen presented a donation of £2,804 on behalf of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity – since 1984, the charity has donated more than £11 million to hospices in England and Wales – and David Hudson, Worshipful Master of Coningsby Lodge presented an additional £500 on behalf of the members.

Speaking about the donations, David Bowen said: 'Freemasons in Herefordshire are pleased that The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has continued to provide this vital funding for our local hospice. The care, compassion and support the hospice provides to the community is outstanding and we are delighted that we are able to show our continuing dedication to their cause.'

Full support for St Michael’s Hospice

Vitruvian Lodge, No. 338, Ross-on-Wye, has continued its support for St Michael’s Hospice. On behalf of the Freemasons of Ross-on-Wye, Provincial Grand Charity Steward Nick Swan presented fellow mason Allan Lloyd with a cheque for £750 in support of his campaign to raise awareness and funding for St Michael’s Hospice, now in its 30th year. Allan emphasised the need to support the hospice and its £11.5 million programme of renovation and extension.

Ian Talboys of Delphis Lodge No. 7769 in Hereford, has long admired the staunch work of Linda Bishop in her support of St Michael’s Hospice

Ian has known Linda for many years through their involvement with the local Scout movement and has had the pleasure of walking many miles with her in the Black Mountains.

Linda recently completed her Beating Boundaries Challenge Hike, the first ever complete walk around the county boundary of Herefordshire, to raise money especially for the new Complementary Therapy Suite at Bartestree.

With the £14.5 million new build at St Michael’s Hospice due for completion in June 2014, as projected by Head of Fundraising Ruth Denison, visiting Herefordshire Freemasons recently took the opportunity of viewing its progress while presenting their annual donation.

A donation of £2,809 from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity was presented to Ruth Denison during the visit, with an additional £1,000 from Hereford’s Delphis Lodge being ring-fenced for the provision of the state of the art Complementary Therapy Suite.

Since 1984, £10.5 million has been donated to hospices across England and Wales by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.

Speaking about the donation, Rev David Bowen, Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire said: 'Every year Freemasons all over the country work together to provide funding for hospice services.

'The care provided by our local hospice is exceptional, but financial support is fundamental to ensuring a continued good service. We recognise the vital role the hospice plays within our community here in Herefordshire, and that is why we are so happy and committed to maintain our support.'

Colin Tudor, having successfully undergone more than five years of extensive treatment for cancer, has commenced a campaign to pass on his personal experiences during his period of therapy and care, to groups of public and patients

His initial illustrated presentation 'Life is for Living', was given at a seminar held at The Three Counties Hotel at the request of Alison Stemp, Macmillan Information and Support Advisor based at the Hereford Cancer Unit. The illustrations in the presentation included a photographic record of his sponsored 90-mile walk from Aberystwyth to Hereford, as the crow flies, in aid of the purchase of new equipment for the unit.

Such presentations are designed to demonstrate, in Colin's words, 'that just because a person has a life threatening condition, it must not be an excuse to give up, and that normal life – perhaps with some restrictions – can still go on.'

Several organisations have received this presentation, and any donations received Colin has given to charity, mostly to Midlands Air Ambulance.

Colin's next presentation will take place at St Michael's Hospice.