News

Index

Kip and Carmen Waistell raise over £8,000 for Smile Train
The 2012 Widows’ Lunch takes place at Kyrle Street
Sponsored walk raises £3,600 for Charles Renton unit
Royal Edward’s 150th Anniversary celebration
Support for St Michael’s Hospice from Grand Charity
Province of Herefordshire becomes a Guardian at Breast Cancer Haven
Breakthrough in MS treatment funded by Grand Charity
Support for purchase of robotic surgical equipment for the region
Delphis Lodge celebrates 50 years
Presentation of donation to Parkinson’s UK
Province represented at Cathedral Close refurbishment celebration
Coningsby Mad Hatters’ Tea Party raises over £250 for SSAFA
Annual Arrow Clay Shoot raises £345
Teresa Bridgland-Taylor’s parachute jump for Help for Heroes

(For older stories, before July 2011, please go to the News Archive pages via the links above, or by clicking here

Arrow Clay Shoot raises £345

The annual Arrow Lodge Clay Pigeon Shoot took place on Saturday 23rd July 2011 at The Four Seasons Shooting Club near Madley. Sixteen shooters took part, and excellent weather made it a good day for all.

For the technically minded, participants shot 10 Down The Line followed by a 50 bird Sporting competition. In Down The Line five competitors at a time take turns to shoot at clays flying straight away from them, scoring one point if they hit it with the first barrel and half a point if they miss with the first but hit it with the second barrel. Sporting is designed to emulate the flight of real game birds - or, in one case, a bolting rabbit. There are five stands, with two clays at each flying in different directions, and each participant shoots five times at each stand, giving a maximum of 10 points at each stand.

Participants ranged from quite experienced shots to virtual beginners. One of the great things about this activity is that everyone can try, and enjoy it, with no experience as long as they are safely supervised.

The highest scorer was Geoff Wilding of Arrow Lodge, who notched up 39 points out of a possible 60. However, as Geoff shoots regularly at the club he generously stepped aside for the next highest scorer to be pronounced the winner. A mere half a point behind Geoff was Matthew Goodwin, son of Terry Goodwin from Dean Waterfield, and he was presented with a trophy at a buffet lunch at Brampton Golf Club, Madley, after the event. Other high scorers were John Allen (Arrow) on 35, followed by John Norris (Cantilupe), Terry Goodwin and David Thomas (Arrow’s newest member), all on 33.

Our very grateful thanks go to Gordon Williams (Vaga and Arrow) and rest of the team at Four Seasons for running the day, giving instruction and helpful hints, making sure that the event went off safely and for their generosity in providing the clays. Also to Geoff Wilding for setting the event up and doing the admin, and to all who took part. Between us we raised the excellent sum of £345, which will be divided between the Air Ambulance and Cancer Research UK.

My Hero

A tandem parachute jump from 13,000 feet with the Red Devils Parachute Team, has been made by Teresa Bridgland-Taylor in memory of the late Bob McDuff of Hereford, and also to raise money in aid of the charity Help for Heroes.

Teresa refers to Bob McDuff as “my hero”, who on his 20th birthday with heavy radio kit strapped to his back, took part in the Normandy Landings D-Day 6th June 1944, and so it is appropriate that the sponsor money from the parachute jump was to be donated for today’s Help for Heroes.

Meeting with Andy Trickett, County Volunteer Coordinator, at her home in Hereford, Teresa presented a cheque for £1,167 for this charity in ‘Support For Our Wounded’.

Teresa made public her intension to make this parachute jump at her Ladies Festival associated with Dean Waterfield Masonic Lodge, where her husband Tim was Worshipful Master. It has been a tradition within the Lodge that on these occasions the Worshipful Master’s wife receives a monetary gift in appreciation of her support.  In this instance Teresa used this gift towards the cost of the parachute jump.

Husband Tim emphasised that this “should not be a precedent for future Worshipful Masters’ wives”! Teresa completed her parachute jump on 6th June at Langer Aerodrome Nottingham.

Bob McDuff was a Past Master of Dean Waterfield Lodge.

Photograph above shows Tim and Teresa Bridgland-Taylor with Andy Trickett of Help for Heroes.

 

(July 2011)

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The Big Brew-Up Success

Fifty members and friends of Hereford’s Coningsby Masonic Lodge enjoyed a successful Mad Hatters’ Tea Party, raising in excess of £250 for SSAFA Forces Help Big Brew-Up, which is dedicated to improve the lives of our servicemen “for whom we all take our hats off” as quoted by Peter Simkins, one of the organisers of the ‘family’ event.

On this summer’s day occasion, dainty sandwiches, cup-cakes and cookies were served at Hampton Bishop Village Hall to the satisfaction of “Nippy” - the waitress Joyce Bumfrey. The Worshipful Master Nick Baker presented prizes for the best dressed table and most original hats – first prize won by Joan Simkins with her ‘ten gallon white teapot hat’. Other winners were Colin Tudor, David and Ann Bell, Sally and Victoria Edwards.

A strong bond exists between Coningsby Lodge and the armed services in which many members served.

Photograph taken by Mrs Chris Holt

(August 2011)

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Province represented at Cathedral Close refurbishment celebration

“All remain seated while the organist plays the processional march ‘Man of Honour’ composed by The Worshipful Brother Lieutenant-Colonel R G Tomlinson, Past Master of Coningsby Lodge”.

So stated an entry in the printed Service of Celebration at Hereford Cathedral, giving thanks to God for the restoration of the Cathedral Close –together with the recorded fact that Herefordshire Freemasons were among the fifteen acknowledged contributors to the work of restoration.

These entries underlined the support by Freemasons through the ages - with specific reference being made to the remodelling of the west front in 1908 following its collapse over a century earlier “which was made possible through the generosity of Local Freemasons under the leadership of Dean James Leigh”.

The Very Reverend Hon. James Wentworth Leigh was the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire 1906 – 1923, and The Dean Leigh Masters’ Lodge consecrated in December 1923.

It is appropriate that our official representatives at the Service of Celebration, who processed through the nave to the tune of ‘Man of Honour’, should have their photograph taken at the west front of the Cathedral which displays many Masonic emblems and a representation of Dean James Leigh.

A donation of £15,000, from the Province and from Grand Charity, has been agreed for the Cathedral Refurbishment project.

Pictured left to right are W Bro Don Preddy, WM of Arrow Lodge; the Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro Rodney Smallwood; and W Bro Mike Hopkins, Provincial Grand Secretary.

(October 2011)

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"No one has to face Parkinson's alone"

"No one has to face Parkinson's alone" was the slogan used during the recent Parkinson's Awareness Week. Every hour, someone in the UK is told they have Parkinson's - a degenerative neurological condition for which there is currently no cure. Therefore, it was not surprising to learn that The Freemasons' Grand Charity had awarded Parkinson's UK a national grant of £250,000, to be distributed through each of the 48 Metropolitan and Provincial Grand Lodges across England and Wales.

Amanda Elliott, Regional Fundraiser Parkinson's UK West Midlands, commented "We are overwhelmed and immensely grateful for this generous pledge of support, which will have a significant impact on those affected by Parkinson's across the country."

At a presentation held in the Provincial Grand Lodge Kyrle Street Hereford, Rose Martin, Chair elect of Parkinson's UK Hereford Branch, stated that it had been decided to use the local donation of £5,000 "to provide a much needed new service which will provide respite for the carers of the 450 people affected by Parkinson's in the Herefordshire area."

Worshipful Brother Terry Neate, Provincial Grand Almoner, in presenting the cheque for £5,000 emphasised the importance of increasing awareness and understanding in Herefordshire of the condition of Parkinson's, as well as supporting those in need.

The National Grant is just one of the grant-making initiatives driven by The Freemasons' Grand Charity, which donates upwards of £8 million to national charities every year.

Parkinson's UK is totally dependent on such donations: Teresa Forgione, Major Gifts Manager at Parkinson's UK said "We are delighted that The Freemasons' Grand Charity is joining us and supporting our work throughout the country with this generous donation."

Photograph taken at the Provincial Grand Lodge, Kyrle Street, Hereford - left to right: Worshipful Brother Terry Neate, Provincial Grand Almoner: Amanda Elliott, Regional Fundraising Manager Parkinson's UK West Midlands; Rose Martin, Chair elect of Parkinson's UK Hereford Branch; Worshipful Brother David Knowles, Provincial Grand Charity Steward.

(October 2011)

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“Taking surgery beyond the limits of the human hand”

Mr Graham Sole, Consultant Urologist at Hereford Acute Trust, meeting with local Freemasons, has welcomed the lead taken by Masons from Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and South Worcestershire in the launch of the "Robocap" appeal.

This is a newly Registered Charity set up to generate funds to purchase a ‘da Vinci’ surgical system which uses the latest robotic technology to provide the most up to date and advanced form of treatment for prostate cancer. Approximately one thousand men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the three Shires.

Graham Sole, speaking with Herefordshire Freemasons at Kyrle Street Hereford, supported the fact that such state-of-the-art robotic surgery will offer surgeons superior 3D HD imaging and magnification, with greater precision for the optimal performance of minimally invasive surgery, resulting in a quicker recovery and reduced incidence of complications.

The initial target of £400,000 would allow delivery and installation of such a unit at a location within the 3CCN area. The full cost of the robotic system is £1.6 million.

To date in excess of £100,000 has been raised, following the lead taken by Freemasons from the three counties. Worshipful Brother David Sparrey of Eastnor Lodge in Ledbury is a Fundraising Trustee of the Charity.

Very Worshipful Brother The Reverend David Bowen, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire, welcomed the opportunity given to local Freemasons to be in the vanguard of this public appeal, and ultimately achieving the appeal’s slogan “Taking surgery beyond the limits of the human hand” for local people.

Photograph: V W Bro The Reverend David Bowen, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire, with Mr Graham Sole, Consultant Urologist, Hereford Acute Trust at Kyrle Street, Hereford.

(October 2011)

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A True Celebration

Fifty years on from the Consecration of Delphis Lodge on 14th October 1961, the Worshipful Master Tony Weal welcomed as Founder Members Right Worshipful Brother Shotton Blench and Worshipful Brother Alwyn Williams to the Golden Anniversary Meeting held at Kyrle Street, Hereford.

As Founder Junior Warden and Master of the Lodge in 1963, Shotton Blench recollected with pride and pleasure his involvement during the early days of Delphis Lodge following his move to Hereford as a Metallurgist for Henry Wiggin. The Lodge Warrant, issued in March 1961, lists the names of 21 founder members, six of whom had moved to Hereford with Henry Wiggin & Co Ltd.

Presiding at the Consecration in 1961 was R W Brother Right Reverend Bishop E W Sara, Provincial Grand Master, Rector of Ludlow and Assistant Bishop of Hereford. Appropriately, Very Worshipful Brother The Reverend David Bowen, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, presided at the Anniversary Lodge Meeting.

Worshipful Brother Paul Young presented members with a “Golden Jubilee” history of Delphis Lodge 1961 - 2011.

The presence of W Bro John Galt, Past Master of Lodge St John Kilwinning, Kirkintilloch, reminded the brethren of  Delphis Lodge of their strong links with this Scottish Lodge.

Photograph above, left to right: W Bro Alwyn Drumond Williams PJGD, R W Bro Anthony Shotton Charlton Blench PPrGM [seated], W Bro Anthony Alan Weal, Worshipful Master of Delphis Lodge, cutting the Celebration Birthday Cake.

Photograph right, left to right: W Bro  Anthony Alan Weal Worshipful Master of Delphis Lodge, with W Bro John Smart Galt, PM Lodge St John Kilwinning from Kirkintilloch.

(October 2011)

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(July 2011)

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Breakthrough in MS treatment funded by Grand Charity

A message from Right Worshipful Brother Rodney Smallwood, Provincial Grand Master for the Masonic Province of Herefordshire:

“A medical breakthrough has been announced for multiple sclerosis.

On Monday 14th November 2011, it was announced that trials into a new drug, alemtuzumab, have been successful – a significant development for those suffering from multiple sclerosis.

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity gave £100,000 towards this research in 2010. The grant specifically helped fund research into the side effects of the new drug in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common neurological conditions among young adults, affecting around 100,000 people in the UK.

Since 1991, research has taken place at the University of Cambridge on the development of the revolutionary drug alemtuzumab as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.

It is hoped the drug will be approved by the UK and US regulatory bodies in the next two years, thus concluding the 36 year epic journey from fundamental research to a new effective treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Freemasons in Herefordshire applaud the success of this most welcomed research.”

For more details please go to the Grand Charity website here, and for their full report click here.

(November 2011)

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The Haven’s newest Guardian

Manager Frankie Devereux has welcomed Freemasonry in Herefordshire as the latest Guardian of The Haven in St Owen Street, Hereford.

Entirely dependent on charitable giving, The Haven which provides, completely free of charge, support to those affected by breast cancer, invites individuals and corporate bodies to become Guardians by donating £1,000 a year.

The Very Worshipful The Reverend David Bowen is most anxious to maintain the long standing support of The Haven by Herefordshire Freemasons, and initiated this desire among Freemasons to become a Guardian. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Masonic Province of Herefordshire is a true supporter of local charities and welcomes this opportunity to support The Haven on an annual basis.

Frankie Devereux welcomes visitors to The Haven Centre. Those visiting should note the following words written by a patient, which can be seen on the Centre’s colourful Tree of Life ‘Fear will take you a prisoner. Hope will set you free’.

The Haven, with the backing of its Guardians and the host of local supporters, will continue to give that fundamental hope to those who cross its threshold.

Photograph set in front of the Tree of Life, left to right: David Knowles, Provincial Grand Charity Steward; Frankie Devereux, The Haven Manager; The Reverend David Bowen, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire.

(December 2011)

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Winter Cheer

In the winter sunshine, a donation of £2,772 was presented to St Michael’s Hospice as part of the continuing annual programme of support awarded by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity to hospice services throughout England and Wales. Freemasons have a long tradition of funding adult and children’s hospices, with the Grand Charity donating £9.3 million since 1984.

This ongoing support is of special significance to St Michael’s Hospice, Bartestree, as it continues to raise much needed awareness of the planned refurbishment and re-development of the Hospice which will maintain the Hospice’s national and international recognition as a provider of Specialist Palliative Care, and regional centre of excellence in the delivery of Palliative Care Education.

Individual Masonic Lodges in the Province of Herefordshire give additional support to St Michael’s Hospice throughout the year following the example and wishes of Right Worshipful Brother Rodney Smallwood, Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire.

With only 10% of its expenditure received from the Primary Care Trust, St Michael’s Hospice has to raise over £3.5 million annually through charitable giving. Such is the responsibility of Ruth Denison, Head of Fundraising, and Chief Executive Nicky West.

Photograph taken at St Michael’s Hospice: left to right: Ruth Denison, Head of Fundraising; Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Rodney Smallwood; Alister Walshe, Chairman St Michael’s Hospice, Nicky West Chief Executive.

(December 2011)

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Royal Edward celebrates 150th Anniversary

Congratulations to Royal Edward Lodge, which celebrated its 150th Anniversary at its December meeting. Photographs taken at the event are shown below.

To read about the history of Royal Edward Lodge please go to their page here.

(December 2011)

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“Thanks” Macmillan Renton Unit

£3,600 raised by a sponsored walk across central Wales has contributed towards the purchase of two Ambulatory Infusion Pumps for patient use at new Hereford Macmillan Renton Cancer Unit.

Freemasons Colin Tudor, his walking companion Ian Talboys, and Trustee Cliff Burkett, presented the equipment to Chemotherapy Staff Nurse Helen Blundell and Macmillan Cancer Support Facilitator Alison Stemp, at the Cancer Unit in Hereford Hospital.

Worshipful Brother Colin Tudor has agreed to relate his experiences during his recent and successful course of cancer treatment to fellow patients about to commence their own treatment. Alison Stemp describes Colin as "inspirational - an example to others".

This donation is the latest example of the continued support of Hereford Hospital by Freemasons of the county.

Photograph taken in the Macmillan Renton Cancer Unit, left to right:
W Bro Cliff Burkett; Helen Blundell; W Bro Colin Tudor; Alison Stemp; Bro Ian Talboys

January 2012

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The Widows’ Lunch

The annual Widows' Lunch was held at Kyrle Street on Saturday 21st January 2012. A total of 47 widows of Herefordshire Masons attended, accompanied by their Lodge Almoners, Worshipful Masters or other Brethren. There were 47 Brethren, wives and guests in all, making a total of 94 sitting down to lunch. As always, the Kyrle Street caterers, Terry and Claire, provided an excellent meal.

The RW Provincial Grand Master, Rodney Smallwood, addressed the gathering, and reminded the widows that the Freemasonry Cares initiative was now launched and there to help them, as well as the Brethren and their families, whenever the need arises.

The Herefordshire Masonic Choir, under the direction of W Bro Roger Tomlinson, then provided excellent entertainment, including some solo work from Roger himself, and his version of the Drinking Song from The Student Prince cleverly arranged to include the names of all the Herefordshire Lodges.

It was altogether an enjoyable and happy occasion, and on behalf of the widows the PGM extended his warm thanks to all those who had made the event possible.

January 2012

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Epic journey raises over £8,000 for Smile Train

W Bro Kip Waistell, DC of Vaga Lodge, and his wife Carmen have completed an epic road journey from Beijing to Paris to raise money for Smile Train, a charity which treats children throughout the world who are unfortunate enough to be born with cleft lips or palates. So far they have raised £8,665, enough for 58 operations, and their target is to raise £10,000, which will pay for 67 operations.

What makes their journey even more remarkable is that they completed it in two Austin Seven cars. This is not the first time they have undertaken such journeys. In 2007 they drove a single Austin Seven from Peking to Paris, raising £10,000 for Unicef, and in 2005 they raised £5,000 driving two scooters back from central Asia.

They are working towards reaching their target for Smile Train by presenting talks about their recent trip, and the two earlier ones. More details can be found on their website at www.pekingtoparis2011.co.uk , together with the story of the journey, more photos, and details of the Smile Train Charity. Kip and Carmen can be contacted by email by clicking here .

(February 2005)

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