Suffolk makes a  dream come true

Dreamflight has expressed its thanks for the 192 bears received from Suffolk Freemasons. Every year the charity takes 192 children aged 8-14 with a serious illness or disability on a holiday to Orlando. 

It has 12 regional groups, each made up of 16 children and their volunteer support team. The idea is for the parents to stay at home and have a valuable break while the children concentrate on enjoying their holiday. Previous attendees include Liz Johnson, who won Gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. 

Dreamflight relies on help from fundraisers, corporates and trusts to fund the trip and is grateful for support from Freemasons.

Historic milestone for prudence

It is quite a milestone when a lodge reaches its 1,500th regular meeting, but it is an event that was recently celebrated by Lodge of Prudence, No. 388, which meets at Halesworth in Suffolk. 

Among the distinguished guests welcomed at the meeting by Worshipful Master Ian Ansell was Ian Yeldham, Provincial Grand Master for Suffolk, who witnessed an initiation ceremony. 

The date of the lodge warrant is 23 June 1827, but research by lodge Past Master Charles Bedingfield uncovered an old Minute Book that referred to the first meeting of the Lodge of Prudence, No. 500, which took place on 12 October 1791. Records state that the meeting was held at the Three Tuns Inn, Halesworth, which is now a social club.

The Province of Suffolk itself was formally recognised in 1772 and now includes 66 lodges.

Seventy years in Suffolk

At a meeting of Babergh Lodge, No. 8122, which meets at Sudbury, Suffolk, there was a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the initiation of Lionel Bell by his father into Stour Valley Lodge, No. 1224. Suffolk Provincial Grand Master Ian Yeldham delivered a fitting tribute and a certificate recognising his achievement. 

At the same meeting, Graham Pearce was initiated into the lodge and it was thought an appropriate gesture for him to present Lionel, a founder member, with a fine selection of red wine.

The Ipswich Treehouse Children's Hospice was formally opened by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Royal Patron, on 19 March 2012. The Province of Suffolk raised over £171,000 towards the £3m total cost to build and equip this new children’s hospice in Ipswich, for life-threatened children and their families in Suffolk & North Essex.

Barry Ross, Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk, stated: "We were absolutely delighted that we were able to support this very worthy cause in this way. Our Suffolk lodges really got behind this initiative and the magnificent total was raised in under two years. The Duchess was very charming and most impressed with the support given by Suffolk Freemasons”.