News Archive

Rodney Smallwood Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, on behalf of local freemasons, has sponsored the Marches Family Network’s Summer Play Scheme.

The charity supports families who have offspring with disabilities and special needs, by providing an inclusive play and family support service throughout the county.

At the Leominster Community Centre Rodney Smallwood presented Rachael Noble, Vice Chair of the Trustees, with cheques to the value of £1,060 to cover the cost of a day’s outdoor activity programme in the Forest of Dean area. Part of the donation was given by brethren of the Royal Edward Leominster Lodge.

The Marches Family Network aims at providing some 320 Summer Play Places during July and August for these children during eight activity days and three family trips such as that organised in the Forest of Dean.

Rachael Noble, in thanking the Herefordshire Freemasons for such generous support said that this financial backing would guarantee a much appreciated action packed visit for the youngsters and give parents some respite from their 24/7 caring routine.

The Marches Family Network also supports families at centres in Hereford, Kington, Ross-on-Wye, Ludlow and Bridgnorth.

Children pictured with Rodney Smallwood and Rachael Noble - left to right: Back row – Lucy, Matt, Vivienne, Megan. Front row – Clemmie, Michael, Arianna, Emily.

Rodney Smallwood, Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, has identified the next five year period of specific fund raising to supporting the Midlands Air Ambulance formally known as County Air Ambulance.

In his address to a packed annual Provincial Grand Lodge, supported by 56 distinguished visitors including 11 Grand Masters from other Provinces, Rodney Smallwood expressed his unreserved endorsement and backing of the local Air Ambulance which provides emergency cover for Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and the Welsh Border, and requested the full support of all Herefordshire Freemasons in this undertaking.

He reminded those Brethren present that Herefordshire had raised in excess of £580,000 for charity during the previous five year period. He also emphasised that the Freemasons’ Grand Charity had to date, donated £562,000 nationally to the Air Ambulance – to what is considered the busiest voluntary emergency service in the country.

On hearing about Herefordshire’s commitment, Annie Newell area fund raising manager for the Midlands Air Ambulance, said that it was “fantastic news” and praised local Freemasons for their continued support. The service receives no financial support from government, NHS or the Lottery.

The local Air Ambulance has to raise £5.6 million annually to cover the cost of its 3,500 `mercy’ missions made each year with its three helicopters - the maximum flying time to the nearest hospital from anywhere in the region is less than 15 minutes.

“All this is only possible thanks to the generosity of the public whose fund raising ensures the service continues to fly” says Annie Newell. The Provincial Grand Master emphasised the necessity of this service “bearing in mind the rural remoteness of the county and the nature of its country roads”.

Sunday after Provincial Grand Lodge, the Provincial Grand Master, accompanied by his Deputy the Reverend David Bowen, together with distinguished masonic visitors, Herefordshire Brethren and their families, attended Choral Evensong at Hereford Cathedral.

Freemasons in full regalia, having processed into the Cathedral under the banner of Cantilupe Lodge, were welcomed by the Dean of Hereford, the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor. Herefordshire Freemasons donated £3,000 towards the recent refurbishment of the St Thomas Cantilupe Shrine which is situated in the north transept of the Cathedral.

During the service, Prayers of Intercession, offered by the W Bro Edward Dilley, Provincial Grand Chaplain, included the words `Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us’.

The support of Herefordshire’s Freemasons for the local Air Ambulance is to be applauded.

Pictured at Strensham emergency helicopter base in Worcestershire: Annie Newell fund raising manager for the Midlands Air Ambulance and Rodney Smallwood Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire.

Freemasons’ Lodges in Herefordshire have a long history of donating equipment to Hereford Hospital.

W. Bro. Colin Tudor, Worshipful Master of Delphis Lodge No. 7769, recently presented four chemotherapy volumetric pumps to the Cancer Unit at Hereford County Hospital on behalf of the Lodge.

W. Bro. Tudor was joined for the presentation by The Reverend David Bowen, the Very Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire. Both Colin and David are outpatients of the Charles Renton Cancer Unit, both receiving chemotherapy treatment at the present time.

For many years cancer patients from Herefordshire and Mid Wales have had to take long and stressful journeys to Cheltenham for cancer treatment. Now more and more facilities are being provided at Hereford, including radiotherapy treatment by the year 2012.

This improvement is the happy result of a three year campaign spearheaded by the Provincial Grand Charity Steward, W. Bro. Allan Lloyd.

A new state of the art oncology unit is being built at Hereford with the backing of Macmillan Cancer Support, and Colin Tudor’s presentation on behalf of Delphis Lodge, will not only provide much needed equipment but also give a boost for the campaign to spare local patients from having to make the tiring journey to Cheltenham and back.

Colin Tudor said that “the members of Delphis Lodge deserve considerable credit for their continued generosity in raising funds for the chemotherapy equipment, especially so soon after their success in raising the highest total any lodge in the Province for the five year campaign in aid of the 2008 Grand Charity Festival”.

During the past twelve months, local Freemasons have donated in excess of £100,000 to Hereford County Hospital for new equipment and support of the cancer campaign to get radiotherapy treatment at the hospital.

Presentation at the Renton Cancer Unit: W.Bro. Allan Lloyd; Very W.Bro. The Reverend David Bowen; Kate Reed Chemotherapy Nurse at the Charles Renton Unit; Peter Davies, Lead Cancer Nurse, and W.Bro. Colin Tudor.

David Sayers, Worshipful Master of Royal Edward Lodge of Freemasons, recently presented donations to local charities and good causes at a meeting at Brook Hall, Leominster.

The donations, which were allocated by the Lodge Charity Trust, represented funds raised during his year of office as Master of the Leominster Lodge.

Five presentations were made, with a further donation to be arranged for the County Air Ambulance at a future date.

First recipient was sixteen year old Girl Guide and Kingsland Ranger Stephanie Grant of Yarpole who had been selected to represent Herefordshire on an International Tour of North Island New Zealand 20th - 30th July for which she has to personally raise the sum of £2,000.

Martin Healey, Leominster Judo Club coach, is raising funds to assist local members to partake in an International Judo Competition to be held in Slovakia later this month [May] to which the Leominster Club has been invited. Martin said that “this is a once in a life-time experience for the members of the Club and I sincerely thank the Leominster Freemasons for their support”. Young Tabatha Jones, who will be one of the junior club members to attend the Competition accompanied Martin at the presentation.

On behalf of the Leominster Priory Restoration Appeal, Geoff Bricknell received a donation towards the repair of the important 18th century Nicholson organ which had suffered water damage. Geoff Bricknell stated that already £140,000 had been raised locally for restoration work to the Priory.

Riding for the Disabled, based at the Sue Adams Riding Stables in North Herefordshire, assist children who suffer from autism, cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome and all sorts of physical disabilities and behaviour problems. Penny Corbett, who built the indoor school for the RDA, said that the donation would benefit the 26 children at present attending the centre.

Volunteers Jess McKenzie and Kath Townsend received a donation on behalf of the `About Face’ Theatre Company based at The Forbury in Leominster. The theatre group is made up of adults with learning difficulties which tours schools in Herefordshire and the neighbouring counties. Donovan Lewis was in attendance representing the members of the theatre group of players. Jess McKenzie welcomed the support which would go towards the ever increasing transport costs for the Theatre Company.

David Sayers said that he and his fellow Freemasons were very mindful of the needs of local voluntary organisations and promised to maintain such support in the future.

Pictured from left to fight: Geoff Bricknell, Stephanie Grant, W Bro David Sayers, Tabatha Jones, Martin Healey, Peggy Corbett, Donovan Lewis, Jess McKenzie and Kath Townsend.

Martin Woodford, Chief Executive Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust, visited Dean Leigh Masters' Lodge and delivered an excellent presentation and overview of the responsibilities, achievements and targets of the hospital which has an annual turnover of £105m and a staff of 1400.

Pictured: Martin Woodford thanking Herefordshire Freemasons for their much appreciated, significant and continued support, flanked by the Master and Wardens of Dean Leigh Masters' Lodge: left to right W Bro Drew Lacey Junior Warden, W Bro Rodney Bowdler Worshipful Master, W Bro Ian Moseley Senior Warden.

W Bro Michael Morris, Coningsby Lodge (centre) being congratulated on achieving 50 years in freemasonry by W Bro Brian Lambert, Past Provincial Grand Master. In attendance Bro Ferguson who 'addressed' the haggis during the evening entertainment.

HMCA has again donated medical equipment to Hereford County Hospital, in this instance for specific use on Frome Ward. The Criticare unit will be used to monitor patients suspected of having a stroke. It measures blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood.

It is essential for such patients to be continually monitored. Frome Ward requires three Criticare units to be available at all times to monitor stroke patients.

On behalf of the Hospital Management, Sister Pauline Ellis conveyed thanks to Herefordshire Freemasons for their continued support.

Pictured with equipment left to right: W Bro Mike Hopkins HMCA Secretary, Sister Pauline Ellis, PGM

The January Widows' Luncheon was a success again this year with over 80 people in attendance.

In his welcome to all present, the PGM highlighted the fact that the Herefordshire Masonic Housing Trust intended to purchase possibly two flats in Leominster and encouraged everyone who may be interested in hearing more about these flats to contact the Almoner.

The PGM also introduced Denise Goode of the RMBI who gave a presentation on the work of the Institution and benefits available. Several ladies took advantage of the Presentation Packs available.

W Bro Terry Neate, Provincial Grand Almoner, thanked Denise on behalf of everyone present.

Mrs Mary Thomas gave an entertaining response, thanking the Province for an excellent lunch and W Bro Peter Watkins for organising the event.

A donation of £1,900 was presented to the Riding for the Disabled Association by Nick Swan on behalf of the members of Vitruvian Lodge of Freemasons, Ross-on-Wye.

Riding for the Disabled at Holme Lacy has been generally supported by Herefordshire Freemasons since 2000. Nick Swan specifically selected this charity to support during his year as Master of Vitruvian Lodge with money raised locally which was then match funded by the Freemasons Grand Charity.

In expressing her thanks Mrs Sally Stubbs, Chief Executive of the local Association, said that the money would be used to sponsor the upkeep of 'Monty', a twelve year old skewbald pony, and the purchase of a specialist saddle and tack for the pony. 'Monty' was purchased by the local Association in 2007 and has proved to be of ideal shape and size, and with a most acceptable temperament for the job in hand.

Herefordshire Freemasons are also sponsors of the horse 'Gypsy' at Holme Lacy for Riding for the Disabled.

Picture: left to right: W Bro Martin Thorne, Lodge Charity Steward; Mrs Sally Stubbs; W Bro Nick Swan, Immediate Past Master of Vitruvian Lodge.

March 2009

John Knight, Immediate Past Master of Dean Waterfield Lodge presented a donation of £1,000 to Sense, a charity for people with deaf blindness and associated disabilities. This was match funded by the Freemasons' Grand Charity.

The money was raised by lodge members during his year of office by holding events including a pig roast and an old time music hall evening.

John Knight said: - “I chose Sense as they cater for deaf and blind people and as my own wife is in this category it felt very appropriate when I was in my year of office to support this very worthy cause”.

Sense supports people who have sight and hearing difficulties, and face huge challenges every day, and yet, given the right services and support, each individual can develop their talents and choose how they wish to live their lives.

The charity has worked with deaf and blind people and their families for over 50 years. It has set up services where they are needed, campaigned for change, and built a world-wide reputation for its pioneering work.

Pictured left to right: Brother Tim Bridgland-Taylor, Lodge Social Secretary; Mr. Shad Everett, Regional Fundraising Manager for Sense and Worshipful Brother John Knight.

FURTHER SUPPORT FROM CANTILUPE LODGE FOR MACMILLAN RENTON CANCER UNIT APPEAL, HEREFORD

March 2009

Members of Cantilupe Lodge have specifically supported the campaign to get access to comprehensive cancer facilities at Hereford County Hospital with total donations of £1,100. Herefordshire Freemasons generally have supported the appeal with a further £5,000 donated during the three years of the campaign. This support will assist in the success of the campaign in the provision of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment locally: such success will greatly reduce the time and distance of patients' journeys to access present cancer treatment at Cheltenham.

Pictured left to right: Allan Lloyd, leader of the cancer campaign, acknowledging the support of Cantilupe Lodge through W Bro Peter Hawkins, Lodge Charity Steward.

Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association sponsored a pantomime for 60 children at Brookfield School and Specialist College, Grandstand Road, Hereford, which provides special educational needs for 5 to 16 year olds from Herefordshire.

Oremi Evans, head teacher said that "The school was delighted that Herefordshire Freemasons were able to sponsor this year's pantomime The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which was very professionally performed and enjoyed by all."

The Hospice service in Hereford have received an early Christmas present with the award of £2824 by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, an organisation that distributes money raised by Freemasons and their families to support people in need.

The grants will help St Michael’s continue providing free physical, emotional, social and spiritual care to patients and their families.

Complementing funds raised by Masons for services in their local areas, The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, which is supported by all Herefordshire Freemasons, has been making regular donations to Hospices since 1984, helping to provide care to people of all ages. This latest award brings the support for St Michael’s to date from the charity to £61,354.

Ruth Denison, Head of Fundraising at St Michael’s said: “Hospices play a vital role in our community. From the very first day the Hospice opened, St Michael’s made a commitment to provide quality care for patients who have progressive, life-limiting conditions and to offer support to their carers and families during the patient’s illness and in their bereavement.

As St Michael’s looks to celebrate its 25th Anniversary next year the services that we provide for our patients and their families remain of paramount importance to us and the focus of all we do. Each year St Michael’s has to raise over £3 million from voluntary sources to fund its work. I am delighted that the latest grant from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity will, in addition to funds raised by local Masons, help to continue running these excellent local services.”

Pictured are from left:- Ruth Denison, Rodney Smallwood Freemasons' Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire who presented the award, and Nicky West Chief Executive of St Michael’s.

HEREFORDSHIRE FREEMASONS SUPPORT THE BRITISH RED CROSS IN HEREFORDSHIRE

December 2008

The Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association has donated £1000 to the British Red Cross “Support at Home Service” in Herefordshire, and this will be match funded by the same amount from the National Freemasons Grand Charity.

This service for vulnerable people was launched in Herefordshire in 2006. The scheme was set up to enable the Society to respond to people's crises, appropriately as and when needed.

Whilst the service is available for anyone experiencing or approaching a health or social care crisis situation, older people will be the predominant recipients. This is because mobility and resilience reduce with increasing years leading to increased isolation at a time when people have a greater need for practical and emotional support.

In Herefordshire, 52% of the population live in a rural area, of this figure 20% are aged 65 or over. In these rural areas there is a culture of self-reliance and stoicism, a general lack of knowledge on how to access local low-level preventive services and a reluctance to contact an unknown organisation based some distance away.

Seven Village Wardens have been employed (funded by Primary Care Trust and Herefordshire Council) and BRC are actively seeking locally based volunteer 'ambassadors' to expand the scheme into other areas.

Their main brief is to:

The Red Cross have reached capacity and more external funding is required. New Village Wardens and volunteers need to be recruited, managed and trained. Once in place their expenses have to be covered and their roles promoted.

Speaking on behalf of the Red Cross and in thanking Freemasons for the local support, Alison Hatton who is the Support at Home Service Development Manager said, “We regularly receive comments in respect of the work that we do as the following example illustrates”: “The ultimate in community service, which has been so helpful in a variety of ways, always prompt, with thoughtful suggestions and out-of-her-way care”.

Pictured are :- from left Michelle Tilbury, Support at Home volunteer and John Preece, Hunderton Village Warden, Rodney Smallwood, Tracy Baker, Newton Farm and Golden Post Warden and Alan Lloyd, Freemasons Provincial Charity Steward.

Rodney Smallwood Provincial Grand Master for the Masonic Province of Herefordshire on behalf of the Hereford Masonic Charity Association has presented a further £1900 to the Riding for the Disabled centre at Holme Lacy.

Currently sponsoring “Gypsy” Freemasons have supported the centre for the past 9 years, and were pleased to hear from Celia Baker, Centre Manager & Chief Instructor that at the RDA National Championships held at Hartpury College Gloucestershire, Gypsy and rider Daniel Bailey came 2nd in the Junior Dressage Championship.

Celia Baker said “I was very excited about the generous and continued sponsorship from Herefordshire Masons in these troubled times - which disabled people often don't understand. Gypsy will continue to have the best of care and attention in order for her to provide a very worthwhile therapy for many disabled riders in Herefordshire."

Officially opened by HRH the Princess Royal in 1992 the centre is one of twenty purpose built for the RDA in the UK and the only one in the West Mercia region. There are currently 12 horses/ponies, 75 voluntary helpers, 3 instructors and a specially trained physiotherapist, each week enabling 250 riders and drivers, aged from 18 months to over 70 years, to enjoy riding or driving or to receive valuable Hippotherapy.

The Centre also trains special needs students and riding therapists, and costs £130k per year to run.

Pictured left: Rodney Smallwood, Gypsy, Yard Manager Helen Chamberlane and Celia Baker.

Three Provincial Grand Masters, Rodney Smallwood for Herefordshire, Richard Goddard for Worcestershire and Adrian Davies for Gloucestershire recently visited the emergency helicopter base at Strensham in Worcestershire to meet the air crew and present £4,000 each to the County Air Ambulance.

During 2008, Provincial Grand Lodges across England and Wales were invited by the Freemasons Grand Charity, to nominate an air ambulance charity to receive a share of a total grant of £180,000.

In presenting the grants the Provincial Grand Masters said that the County Air Ambulance provides such a vital service to the local community, they were pleased to be able to make these additional awards on behalf of the Grand Charity, which is supported by all Freemasons, to such a worthy and local cause.

Annie Newell, area fundraising manager for County Air Ambulance, was delighted to be considered by the Grand Charity and said:-

”County Air Ambulance is grateful to the Herefordshire / Worcestershire / Gloucestershire Provinces for this award. Freemasons raise large amounts of money for local, national and international charities and therefore we were delighted to invite representatives from the Provinces to visit our base to see for themselves the work of the air service”.

County Air Ambulance operates across the Midlands and Welsh border region and receives no Government or lottery funding. The Charity needs to fundraise £5.6 million each year to ensure the life saving helicopter service continues to fly across the region.

To date, nearly £400,000 has been donated nationally by the Freemasons Grand Charity to what is considered the busiest voluntary emergency service in the country.

Pictured at Strensham are from left;- Adrian Davies, Annie Newell, Rodney Smallwood and Richard Goddard.

On 20th September Freemasons from throughout the Masonic Province of Herefordshire gathered in the Feathers Hotel Ledbury for a special meeting and dinner to mark the 150th Anniversary of Eastnor Lodge. The meeting was attended by the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, Rodney Smallwood, his Deputy the Revd. David Bowen, and his team of officers.

Mike Roff the Provincial Director of Ceremonies and a member of Eastnor Lodge gave an entertaining talkon the history of Ledbury and Eastnor Lodge and said:-

“The Lodge first met at the Feathers on 20th September 1858, and has been in continual existence since then”.
He then went on to paint a picture of life in 1858, what was happening in the world in general and Ledbury in particular. “Victoria had been Queen for nineteen years and Britain was establishing herself as the greatest world power. Brunel's Great Eastern was launched and the first message was sent via the Atlantic cable. In Ledbury no less than five coaches ran through the town situated as it is on an important crossroads. The railway did not arrive until 1861. In fact the last horse drawn passenger coach from Ledbury to Gloucester survived until 1885 when the Great Western branch line from Ledbury to Gloucester opened. Ledbury owned one coach, the Paul Pry which ran to Worcester three times a week returning the same night.

In the town there were in 1858 five coopers, three curriers, four tanners, one artist, one portrait painter, seven schools, ten people who made boots - and about thirty seven pubs!

The Post Office, Customs and Excise and Revenue offices were also within the Feathers Hotel at the time.”

He concluded his talk by saying “Today Eastnor have a flourishing lodge attracting new members. We are back to our original home here in the Feathers Hotel and look forward to many years in the future flying the flag (or should that be banner) for the old town of Ledbury and Eastnor Lodge”.

During the last century and a half, many thousands of pounds have been donated by Eastnor Lodge to local charities, and to mark this special occasion the current Master of the Lodge Neil Hood presented a cheque for £1,500 to Graham Lloyd Chairman of the Ledbury branch of Age Concern with the best wishes of the members.

At the dinner following the meeting each lodge member received a commemorative whisky tumbler, and Rodney Smallwood praised the Lodge for its continuity over 150 years and hoped that it will continue to go from strength to strength.

In addition to supporting local charities The Freemasons Grand Charity which is supported by all Herefordshire Freemasons 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 Michael's Hospice, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust, and the County Air Ambulance are among the beneficiaries.

September 2008

John Tupper a Hereford Freemason and member of Palladian Lodge, at the age of 78 yrs committed to walk alone, the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path from Amroth to Cardigan, as a personal challenge and to support the recent 2008 Herefordshire Freemasons Grand Charity Festival Appeal, by gaining sponsorship from all Herefordshire Lodges to the total value of £2500.

However half way into the walk disaster struck when John suffered an accident breaking one of his toes, which put him out of action for several weeks.

Not to be deterred and to ensure that he earned his sponsorship support as soon as he could, back he went, together with his trusty camper van driver and cook for the expedition Graham Millichip, and continued where he left off to a successful conclusion.

The feat is highlighted by the fact that overall to complete the walk he ascended more than the height of Mount Everest.

John said:- When the accident happened I was concerned that I would let my sponsors down but my toes, and Graham and I, are now pleased to have completed it and we can all rest a while!

Pictured:- John (left) at Poppit Sands Cardigan, at the completion of the walk after being congratulated by a staff member of the National Trust.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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:

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 16th 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

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.

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.”

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.

Joined	Queensway Craft Lodge Liverpool	1959
”	Queensway Royal Arch Chapter	1962
”	Loxfield Craft Lodge in East Sussex, becoming Assistant Secretary	1969
”	Thornton Royal Arch in East Sussex, becoming Secretary	1969
”	Thornton Lodge Mark Master Masons, becoming Secretary	1972
”	Thornton Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners	1985
”	Dean Waterfield Lodge Hereford, becoming Assistant Secretary then Almoner, Junior Warden 2006, Senior Warden 2007	1986