News Releases

NEW SCANNER ARRIVES AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL

August 2008

The new scanner enabling thousands of people to benefit from a new osteoporosis service at Hereford County Hospital has arrived. Staff will be trained in August followed by the scanning of a small number of patients each week and a plan to be fully operational during October. The hospital was awarded £87,860 by the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) to help buy the scanner to measure the density of bones. Currently patients from Herefordshire and Powys, many of them women, have to travel up to 80 miles for the scan, to Abergavenny or Worcester.

As reported in the Hereford Times recently, Martin Woodford, chief executive of the hospital trust said: “Securing this funding from the NOS is fantastic news for our patients. The new equipment will mean that thousands will have faster access to scans closer to home.” Caroline Johnson, development manager for the NOS, said the hospital trust would now be able to offer more than 2,000 people a year the opportunity to have a scan and receive an accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis. Early diagnosis and treatment could help to prevent future cases of fractures of the bone.

The money for the new service came from the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, which donated £3m to the NOS to help fund a better national scanning service and buy scanners. Health trusts were invited to apply and an overwhelming 90 bids had been received requesting nearly £21m. Hereford Hospitals Trust, which serves a predominantly rural population of 175,000 patients in Herefordshire and 50,000 in neighbouring Powys, was successful in its bid.

Pictured at Hereford County Hospital recently are, left to right:- Paul Knight, Head of Operations; David Joyce, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Mark Masons; Dr Vicky Alner, Consultant in Geriatric Medicine; Dr Peter Wilson, Consultant Radiologist; Tony Body, Mark Provincial Treasurer

Dr Alner said: “I would like to say thank you to the Mark Masons and the National Osteoporosis Society for this fantastic opportunity. It has enabled Hereford County Hospital to provide DXA Scanning and a fully integrated Osteoporosis service for Herefordshire.”

In explaining the background to the award David Joyce said: “Beneath the umbrella of Freemasonry there are a number of different orders. Among these, is what we call Mark Masonry. In this part of the world we are administered by the Province of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, a very large area.

Every year in turn, Mark Provinces throughout this country are responsible for a Festival for the Mark Benevolent Fund, which is administered by our headquarters in London. This Province held its Festival in 2003 and raised the sum of £550,000, all of which came from members in their individual Lodges working over a period of years in the run-up to that Festival.

In October 2006 Mark Grand Lodge celebrated its 150th anniversary and a special meeting was held in the Royal Albert Hall to mark the occasion.  At the end of that meeting a presentation was made to the National Osteoporosis Society in the sum of £3 million in order to provide funds for mobile scanning units to assist in the detection of this debilitating condition.  

Hospitals interested in setting up fixed scanning units were invited to submit their bids.  At the initial instigation of our Provincial Treasurer, Tony Body, Hereford Hospital NHS Trust put in an extremely comprehensive bid, laying out precisely the parameters which were required and, of course, this bid was eventually successful.  

May I say that we in Mark masonry are very proud of the very significant contribution which we have been able to make to benefit society in general.”

HEREFORDSHIRE FREEMASONS 5 YEAR FESTIVAL APPEAL

RAISED £583,679

June 2008

The Festival President, the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, Rodney Smallwood announced at a special festival dinner held at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford on 23rd June that the Herefordshire 2008 Freemason’s Grand Charity Festival had achieved a total of £583,679 against his target of £400,000.

The size of this achievement is illustrated by the fact that Herefordshire is the smallest Masonic Province on the mainland, with only 14 craft lodges comprising of 600 members, giving a per capita sum in excess of £900 per member over the period.

The event was the culmination of 5 years of fundraising and visitors from Grand Lodge in London included David Williamson The Assistant Grand Master, Grahame Elliot President of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity and Laura Chapman Chief Executive.

The Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire in announcing the amount thanked his Festival team, and all Herefordshire Freemasons and their families on the variety of initiatives such as an auction of promises, cow pat competition, race night, walk across Wales and many others producing such a result. 

David Williamson and Grahame Elliot responded by praising such “a magnificent achievement by Herefordshire masons which will continue to help those in need”.

The Grand Charity is the central grant making charity of all Freemasons in England and Wales. Funding is provided with annual contributions by Freemasons through their lodges and major fund raising ‘Festivals’ held in any of the 47 provinces in England and Wales.

The Grand Charity makes grants to distressed Freemasons and their dependants, other masonic charities, non masonic national charities serving England and Wales and emergency relief work for world wide national disasters.

 
The Grand Charity donated £3million in the year ending 30 November 2007 alone, to 368 non-Masonic charities, including Medical Research, Youth Opportunities, Vulnerable People, Air Ambulances, Hospices, and Emergency Relief Grants.

St Michaels Hospice, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust, and the County Air Ambulance are among the beneficiaries.
 

The Grand Charity grants are in addition to the considerable sums raised by Freemasons around the country each year in support of their local charities and hospices.

Pictured are :-
Left to right - David & Jill Bowen, Brian & Mary Kelly, Laura Chapman, Grahame Elliot, David & Margaret Williamson, Rodney & Christine Smallwood, Sebastian Madden, Nicholas Bosanquet.

FREEMASONS PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE

June 2008

The annual Herefordshire Provincial Grand Lodge meeting, a ceremonial occasion, was held on 2nd June and attended by 189 Freemasons with over 50 distinguished visitors with 11 Provincial Grand Masters, 8 Deputies and many Grand Lodge Officers from other Provinces who formed the impressive procession.
 
The business of the day was completed after which The Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, Rodney Smallwood appointed and invested his Provincial Officers for the new Masonic year.

During his annual address he praised the efforts made over the last 5 years by all lodges in respect of fundraising towards the Herefordshire Freemason’s 2008 Grand Charity Festival Appeal Fund, with a target of £400,000 by the actual Festival date to be held on 23rd June, at the Three Counties Hotel Hereford. The Grand Charity donated £3million in the year to 30 November 2007 alone, to 368 non-Masonic charities, including Medical Research, Youth Opportunities, Vulnerable People, Air Ambulances, Hospices, and Emergency Grants.

A Festival chalice is awarded annually to the Lodge deemed to have shown during the preceding year the most originality and endeavour in supporting the Festival, and this year Coningsby Lodge of Hereford was declared the winner, following a successful year including their Auction of Promises which raised £2500.
 
As is tradition, The Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting was followed on Sunday 8th June by a packed Choral Evensong at Hereford Cathedral attended by the Provincial Grand Lodge, visiting dignitaries from other Provinces and strongly supported by freemasons representing every lodge in the Province together with their families. All of the lodges from Hereford, Kington, Leominster, Ledbury, Bromyard, Ross On Wye and Hay On Wye processed into and out of the Cathedral under their respective lodge banners, followed by Provincial Grand Lodge.

Following a warm welcome by the Dean of Hereford, the Very Revd. Michael Tavinor, the lessons were read by Rodney Smallwood, Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire and The Revd. David Bowen, Deputy Provincial Grand Master. The sermon was given by The Rt. Revd. Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford, and this was followed by the Provincial Chaplain David Jones who offered prayers.
 

TREK TO  ABERYSTWYTH RAISES £6725 FOR THE FESTIVAL

June 2008

Rising fuel prices was not the primary reason for a Group of Senior Freemasons from Herefordshire, walking the 60 miles from Kington to Aberystwyth on May Day.

Eight Grand Officers, led by the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Rodney C. Smallwood, walked the route - passing through the picturesque Elan Valley, Cwmystwyth and Devil’s Bridge, conveying a congratulatory letter in the form of an Illuminated Address to the Provincial Grand Master of the West Wales Province, R.W. Bro. Dr. John Lloyd to mark his seven years as the Provincial head in Dyfed, and as Dr. Lloyd  is retiring as  Provincial Grand Master.

Commenting on the background to the walk, R.W. Bro. Rodney Smallwood said :-

“2008 is the Herefordshire Province’s Festival year, when we aim to raise £400,000 in support of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity which, since its formation in 1981, thousands of Masonic and Non-Masonic Charities-both large and small, have benefited from grants exceeding £72 million”.

“Since 1984” he said “children’s and adult Hospices alone have received over £7 million”.

“Knowing that Dr. John Lloyd was retiring as Provincial Grand Master for West Wales shortly” continued R. W. Bro. Smallwood,” it was the wish of my Province to send him our congratulations for his sterling Masonic leadership in West Wales over the last seven years, and it was suggested that we arrange a sponsored walk, from the doors of Kington Masonic Lodge to the Aberystwyth Lodge, conveying a letter of congratulation, whilst at the same time raising funds for our Festival”

The Herefordshire walkers arrived at 4 o’clock on Thursday 1st May where a number of Aberystwyth Lodge members greeted their arrival. After tea and a shower, the walkers continued on to the Aberystwyth Masonic Lodge at Market Street where the formal presentation to Dr. Lloyd was made.

In his response before a packed Lodge, Right Worshipful Brother Dr John Lloyd said, “In thanking the Herefordshire Brethren for their tremendous efforts both in raising a magnificent sum in support of Grand Charity, as well as braving the elements today by walking the 60 miles from Kington, I am honoured to have been the recipient of this congratulatory letter that has travelled with the Group.”

In turn, a cheque on behalf of the Province of West Wales, as well as a cheque from the Aberystwyth Masonic Lodge was presented to the Herefordshire Province to boost their efforts.

The target for the Festival is £400,000, raised by Herefordshire Freemasons over the last 5 years for the Grand Charity which continues to support local and National registered charities catering for Medical Research, Vulnerable People, Opportunities for young people, Hospices and Emergency Grants for Disaster Relief, the latest of these being £20,000 in emergency relief for Burma and also £20,000 to China. The Grand Charity receives funds from individual Freemasons and fundraising "Festivals" held each year in Provinces within England & Wales.
 

Pictured are:-

The Merry Band of walkers: 

Also The Provincial Grand Master, Rodney Smallwood, making the presentation of an Illuminated Address to the Provincial Grand Master of the West Wales Province, Dr. John Lloyd during the lodge meeting:

BOB BECOMES MASTER OF DEAN WATERFIELD LODGE IN HEREFORD AT 84 YRS OF AGE

May 2008

W Bro. Robert Donald McDuff was born in London in 1924. At an early age he developed an interest in Radio transmissions and during the war years he was part of the Advanced Units in setting up communications for the Normandy Landings. Later he ran an army newspaper and stage managed army shows. After leaving the forces he moved to an electronics company in Liverpool and whilst there he developed the first Motor Car Alarm, the Egg Grading Machine for the Egg Marketing Board, the first Split Beam Oscilloscope for the children’s hospital in Liverpool, and a Tennis Ball Grader for Dunlop. All of this, in the days of “Steam Radio”. In his spare time he was involved in voluntary youth work in Scotland Road Liverpool, an area where Patricia White lived, “Cilla Black” as she is now known, before becoming a Rural Youth Officer in East Sussex. He moved to Much Birch in 1985.

His Masonic career is equally impressive:

Also a member of  Cantilupe Chapter, Leofric Lodge of Mark Masons, & St  Ethelbert’s Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners, in Herefordshire.

Bob will have completed 50 yrs in Freemasonry in 2009.

Pictured below left to right :- Rodney Smallwood the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire congratulates Bob on achieving “ The Chair” of his lodge.

Congratulations Bob, from all of us!
 

50 / 60 YEAR CERTIFICATES
 

April 2008

A rare event took place at Hay on Wye Freemason’s Lodge recently when Geoff Mattocks and Bob Miles, both members of Loyal Hay Lodge were presented with certificates on the same evening to celebrate 50 and 60 years respectively in Freemasonry, from Rodney Smallwood the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire.

The Provincial Grand Master thanked them both for their contributions over many years to Freemasonry in general and Loyal Hay Lodge in particular, which was warmly received by all of those present.

Pictured at the event are from left to right:-
The Provincial Grand Master, Bob Miles, Geoff Mattocks and Terry Holden the current Master of the lodge.

HEREFORD’S CANTILUPE LODGE SUPPORT REFURBISHMENT OF THE CANTILUPE SHRINE IN HEREFORD CATHEDRAL

February 2008

Following a recent meeting of Cantilupe Lodge in Hereford local Freemasons presented The Dean of Hereford, The Very Revd. Michael Tavinor with £3000 towards the refurbishment and improvement to the stonework around the base of of the St. Thomas Cantilupe Shrine at Hereford Cathedral.

The Dean was pleased to received two cheques, each for £1500 from members of Cantilupe Lodge and Chapter, and also from The Revd. David Bowen The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire on behalf of the Herefordshire Province.

The Shrine situated in the North transept of Hereford Cathedral is the original tomb of St. Thomas Cantilupe, (1218 – 1282) who was Bishop of Hereford from 1275 to 1282, and canonized as Saint Thomas of Hereford in 1320.

The Shrine became a focal point for pilgrims who flocked in large numbers into Hereford to pay homage to his memory and to touch the holy shrine.

Cantilupe Lodge, whose lodge banner depicts the Shrine was formed in 1920 with two prominent churchmen serving as founders, the then Bishop of Hereford, Rt. Revd. Herbert Hensley Henson, and the Dean, the Very Revd. Reginald Waterfield, who also became Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire in 1923.

Pictured left to right:- Roy Davies of Cantilupe Chapter, David Haines of Cantilupe Lodge, The Very Revd. Michael Tavinor and The Revd. David J Bowen.

AUCTION OF PROMISES

February 2008

Coningsby Lodge of Hereford hosted a Provincial Auction of promises this month attended by 97 people representing 11 lodges.

There were 42 promises made and due to the expertise of Brian Lambert, auctioneer for the day assisted by Gordon Bumfrey the auction raised £2500 for the province's 2008 Grand Charity Festival being held in June of this year.

Ege Parker assisted by Mike Hopkins followed this with the 2008 Festival Draw and announced that it had made £3000.

The Freemasons Grand Charity gives support locally to The County Air Ambulance, St Michael’s Hospice, Acorns Children’s Hospice and Hereford Cathedral.
 

TREAT FOR WIDOWS

January 2008

On January 19th widows of Freemasons throughout Herefordshire again enjoyed their special annual luncheon at the Masonic Hall in Hereford, and this year the event was attended by 44 ladies and 40 lodge members from across the Province.

The lodge members transport the ladies to the luncheon and either join them for a meal or act as stewards for the day.

This popular event provides an opportunity for the ladies to meet many old and new friends, and was hosted again this year by Rodney Smallwood the Provincial Grand Master, and Terry Neate the Provincial Almoner.

Pictured left to right:- Rodney and Christine Smallwood with Pat and Terry Neate during the luncheon.

FREEMASONS' SUPPORT FOR ST. MICHAEL’S & ACORNS

January 2008

Supported by all Herefordshire Masons, The Freemason’s Grand Charity has made a further donation of £3500 to St Michael’s Hospice, and also a further £4000 to our local Acorns Children’s Hospice, which will also be enhanced by an extra £300 from Hereford’s Cantilupe Lodge following their New Years Eve raffle.

Hospices across England and Wales are receiving a funding boost as The Freemasons’ Grand Charity distributes £600,000 towards the operating costs of the widely respected services. 

The money will be shared between 220 hospices, with over half of the children’s services receiving more than £3,000 and each adult service receiving an average of over £2,600. 

The newly announced grants will take The Freemasons’ Grand Charity’s support for the sector to over £7 million since 1984.

The Grand Charity gave grants in 2006 alone to 331 charities totalling £2.2 Million, in the areas of Medical Research, Vulnerable People, Youth Opportunities, Hospices and Emergency Grants for disaster relief.

The Grand Charity is supported by all Freemasons and each year several Provinces in turn start 5 or 10 year fundraising appeals from amongst their members to be able to continue financing the extensive support programme, and Herefordshire Freemasons are now into the final leg of our Provinces 5 year Festival Appeal to realise a target of £400000 by June 2008.

Many of the 14 lodges in our Province have already installed a new team of officers for the  new year and in addition to the extensive support given to local charities the new masters are working with their teams to continue the festival support including a Race Night sponsored by Royal Edward Lodge of Leominster which realised £1700, an Auction of Promises due to be held by Coningsby Lodge in early February, and a team of officers are planning to walk across Wales in the near future.
 

£20,000 FOR BANGLADESH CYCLONE VICTIMS 

November 2007

In November 2007 following the devastation of parts of Bangladesh by Tropical Storm Sidr, The Freemasons' Grand Charity is supporting the relief work of the Red Cross with an emergency grant of £20,000.  Around 1 million were believed to have been affected by the storm which hit the Southern Coast of Bangladesh on 15 November, destroying homes, crops and infrastructure and triggering a tidal surge that swamped three coastal villages.   

The emergency grant approved by the President of the Grand Charity helped to fund the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, providing for the needs of some of the most vulnerable people affected by the storm, including the provision of blankets, food, shelter, medical supplies and basic healthcare. 

REPLACEMENT ORGAN AT ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH, SUTTON ST NICHOLAS

November 2007

St. Michael's is a small but active village church some 5 miles north of Hereford with history from the 12th century.

Having recently completed repairs and renovations to the tower, roof and bells, to finalise the programme the church needed a new electronic/digital organ with which to accompany the  services.

Their existing instrument was old and inadequate and did little to engender an atmosphere conducive to worship, or to enhance the musical element of the services, with it’s condition  failing for some while.  

It was realised that expenditure on the old instrument  would be a waste of funds as it was sadly lacking in accompaniment capabilities even when fully operational.

The church were therefore in need of help, and over a seven month period they have run events to raise funds,  had the benefit of donations from parishioners, and also asked Herefordshire Freemasons if they would also support the cause which they were pleased to do. 

On visiting the church to see the new organ The Revd. David John Bowen who is also the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the Masonic Province of Herefordshire said: - “ I am delighted to be present, I have known the church for some time and also known the old instrument which was absolutely diabolical ! ”

Roy Gillham – As organist and on behalf of the Parochial Church Council said: “We are thankful for the assistance from several sources and grateful to the Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association for their contribution”.

Pictured left to right are:-  Roy Gillham, The Revd David Bowen and Mike Hopkins Secretary of the Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association with the new organ.

KINGTON FREEMASONS SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL

October 2007

When Geoff Wilding was admitted as an emergency patient to Hereford County Hospital two years ago with progressive paralysis of his lungs and upper torso, a spare Spirometer machine wasn’t readily available at the time.

After recovery from his illness, he knew that the hospital would benefit from a Portable Spirometer to enable 24 hour use for any patient with a similar problem to enable early detection of a rapidly progressive respiratory weakness giving a timely warning before the condition reached a critical level.

He determined that he would support the hospital during his current year as Master of Arrow Freemason’s Lodge in Kington and gained full support of the members to raise sufficient funds during his year to provide the hospital with a portable Micro Lab Spirometer.

This was achieved from the proceeds of a Treasure Hunt, Sunday Luncheon, Clay Pigeon Shoot, Raffles and private donations which collectively raised £1200 to purchase the machine.

Geoff was pleased to be able to present the portable machine on behalf of the members of Arrow Lodge at the hospital on the 16^th October 2007 to Doctor Richard Williams and Janette Humphreys, the Respiratory Physiologist, knowing that it will be used to good effect by the admissions department and other patients on any ward as necessary.

In presenting the machine together with the good wishes to the staff from members of Arrow Lodge, Geoff was warmly thanked by Doctor Williams and Janette Humphreys  for their gesture and goodwill.

Pictured left to right: - Janette Humphreys, Doctor Richard Williams & Geoff Wilding

£25,000 FOR FLOOD RELIEF ACROSS AFRICA

September 2007

The President of the Grand Charity, Grahame Elliot, has responded to a British Red Cross Appeal to assist hundreds of thousands of people affected by flooding across East and West Africa by approving an emergency grant of £25,000. 

Countries from Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso in the West of Africa to Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia in the East have been hit by the heaviest rains in living memory.  Over a million people have been affected as the waters have swept away belongings, destroyed livestock and harvests and reduced homes to little more than mud and bricks.  A number of remote areas are now unreachable and deadly waterborne diseases are an increasing threat. 

The grant to the Red Cross will help to provide the most vulnerable people with shelter, kitchen sets, blankets, candles and water purification products.  Seeds and tools will also be provided to help families get back and their feet by supporting their return to work.

£12500 Donated to County Air Ambulance

May 2007

                   Pictured:- Paramedic Jim Hancox with Rodney Smallwood, at the Strensham Services helicopter base.

The Freemasons Grand Charity which is supported by all Herefordshire Freemasons has donated £12500 to the County Air Ambulance Service.

The service was launched in 1991 and now covers 11 counties including Herefordshire, West Midlands, Shropshire. Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Rutland & Powys, with 3 helicopters covering 8000square miles, and a population of over 7.8m people, with an average of 2000 missions per year.

It is the largest air ambulance service in the country, recognised as a major provider of pre hospital care by the NHS, and funded entirely through charitable support.

The cost of running and maintaining the current level of operations is £3m per year.

Rodney Smallwood The Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire said “ Coincidentally the emergency warning bell rang after the photograph was taken and the helicopter was up in the air in no time at all to that emergency which made us all feel that the donation was  well justified .”

Anne Newell Special Events Coordinator said “We are grateful to all concerned for helping us to keep this vital service operational.”

VISIT TO HEREFORDSHIRE

May 2007

Pictured left to right are:- Rodney Smallwood, Laura Chapman, and The Revd. David J Bowen.

Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of The Freemasons Grand Charity based in London was welcomed to Herefordshire in May by Rodney Smallwood Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire and The Revd. David Bowen Deputy Provincial Grand Master.

In addition to ongoing and extensive support for local charities and hospices Herefordshire freemasons are also moving into the final year of a 5 year Festival Appeal, aiming to raise £400,000 by June 2008 in support of The Freemasons Grand Charity with many events planned running up to the festival.

The Grand Charity is supported by all freemasons and each year several Provinces start fundraising appeals from amongst their members to be able to continue financing the Grand Charities extensive support programme.

The Grand Charity gave grants in 2006 alone to 331 charities totalling £2.2 Million, in the areas of Medical Research, Vulnerable People, Youth Opportunities, Hospices and Emergency Grants for disaster relief.

On a local basis substantial grants have been made in 2006 /7 to St. Michael’s Hospice, The County Air Ambulance, and Hereford Cathedral Trust.

The latest emergency grant was in July of £65000 to The British Red Cross UK Floods appeal.

In its first 25 years The Grand Charity has given over £28 million to national charities, over 6.4 million to hospices and over £1.5million in emergency grants.

Laura Chapman wished Herefordshire freemasons every success in the final year towards the Festival and thanked all Charity Stewards of the various lodges within the province for their support.
 

Freemasons Continued Support For St. Michael’s

January 2007

                                                               

     Pictured:- Chief Executive Nicky West, St. Michael's Hospice with Rodney Smallwood Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire.

St Michael’s hospice in Hereford has received an extra £3000 grant from The Freemasons Grand Charity which is supported by all Herefordshire Freemasons, bringing the total to date to £57854.

Richard Shackelford head of fundraising at St Michaels said:- “We are so grateful to the Freemasons for their continued support of our work, it is an important area of fundraising as we rely for over 85% of our funding from voluntary sources.”

Overall another £1/2 million of grants for hospices across England and Wales have been announced by The Freemasons Grand Charity, to complement the generosity Provincial and individual Masonic Lodges regularly show for their local service. 

Open to independent Hospices from across England and Wales, The Grand Charity’s Hospice scheme annually distributes grants to services that receive no more than 60% of their funding from the NHS and contributes to the millions of pounds needed each and every year for Hospices to deliver their compassionate services.

Speaking about the grants, Grahame N Elliott, President of the Grand Charity said:-

“For many years Freemasons have recognised the importance of the care provided by the Hospice movement.  Over 22 years, the Grand Charity Hospice Grant Scheme has distributed more than £6 million in support of the activities of Hospices and we are pleased to contribute to the continuation of their important work through the Scheme, which has great support from all Masons throughout the country.”

 

Herefordshire Freemasons ongoing support for Acorns

October 2006

 

Pictured: - Fran Winterbourn & Rodney Smallwood.

Rodney Smallwood The Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire has presented a further donation of over £3000 to the Acorns Trust, on behalf of several local lodges.

Fran Winterbourn, Community Fundraiser for Acorns said:  “A great big thank you for all the tremendous ongoing support for Acorns by Herefordshire Freemasons, and also from The Freemasons Grand Charity which together have given us very substantial support over many years which makes such a difference to the children we care for and the families we support”

Rodney Smallwood has also announced a target of £400000  for the 2008 Herefordshire Grand Charity Festival Appeal and 14 local lodges are working towards this figure to continue the work of the Grand Charity.

The Grand Charity is supported by all freemasons with fundraising Festivals held in different parts of the country each year and has to date donated over £33million over 25 yrs to non Masonic charities working in England and Wales, covering medical research, vulnerable people and youth opportunities, and including nearly £6million for more than 250 Hospice services. £1.5million has also been given for emergency relief work following devastating disasters worldwide.