News

£10,000 for Cumbria Flood Relief Efforts

In response to the extreme flooding which has taken place in Cumbria, the President of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has approved an emergency grant of £10,000 to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland who are directing the funds to the Cumbria Community Foundation.

It has been estimated that 1,300 homes across Cumbria have been affected by flooding, with several hundred people displaced and more than 1,000 households left without power.

Founded in 1999 by Cumbria Council, the Cumbria Community Foundation remains dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged people in Cumbria. The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund has been set up to provide financial help for people who have been affected. In parallel with support for wider relief efforts, The Freemasons’ Grand Charity will be assisting individual Masons and their dependants, who have been affected by these events, through Masonic Relief Grants which are given to relieve hardship

St Edmundsbury Cathedral

St Edmundsbury Cathedral was filled to capacity on Thursday evening 19th November 2009, when Suffolk Freemasons, friends and families attended a celebration Evensong, to coincide with the culmination of their Festival in support of the Masonic Samaritan Fund.

The occasion also provided the opportunity for members to view the Chapel of Transfiguration where the provision of furnishings have been supported by the Suffolk Freemasons, with a donation of £15000.

In his address the Acting Dean, Reverend Canon Michael Hampel thanked the Suffolk Freemasons for their continued support of the Cathedral and for the work that they carry out within the community.

Lessons were read by Provincial Grand Master, Barry Ross and Grand Superintendent, Dr David Watson.

Provincial Grand Master Barry Ross said that he was grateful for the support of the Suffolk Lodges in making this service such a success and especially to the Cathedral Chapter, Wardens, Choir and the Ringers for their kind invitation and support

Charitable Donations

Suffolk Freemasons have made donations of over £11,000 to Hospices throughout Suffolk.

Barry Ross, Provincial Grand Master for Suffolk presented a cheque for £2710 to Quidenham and £2140 to Ipswich Children's Hospice. He presented a further cheque for £3614 to Laura Backhouse Community Fundraiser for the St Elizabeth Hospice.

Another donation of £2743 was presented by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Barry Rackham, to Anna Hunt for the St Nicholas Hospice.

East Anglian Air Ambulance

Suffolk Freemasons have presented East Anglian Air Ambulance with a grant of £4000 from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity. The generous donation is part of over £500,000 donated by the Charity to air ambulances during the past three years.

In addition, £500 was presented from the proceeds of a recent Masonic golf tournament held at Hintlesham Hall Golf Club.

Somewhere in England and Wales an air ambulance takes off roughly every ten minutes, flying a total of over 19,000 missions every year and costing millions of pounds. The money to fund this important work is met almost entirely by donations from organisations like Suffolk Freemasons and the public.

Speaking about the donations, Barry Ross, Provincial Grand Master said :

“Air Ambulances play an important role in ensuring people get the medical help they need as quickly as possible. For those in life threatening situations this can dramatically improve their chances of survival. Suffolk Freemasons and the Freemasons’ Grand Charity are delighted to once again be supporting East Anglian Air Ambulance and contributing to the continued provision of this excellent service.”

2009 Festival Complete

A total of £2.47m was raised by the Suffolk Festival for the Masonic Samaritan Fund. About 800 members with their partners attended the celebration banquet held at the Suffolk Showground. The event was honoured by the presence of the Deputy Grand Master Jonathan Spence.

£15000 donation to St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Suffolk Freemasons assisted by the Grand Charity, have made a donation of £15000 to the St Edmundsbury Cathedral fund which has been used to complete the furnishings of the Chapel of Transfiguration. The PGM, his Deputy and Assistant together with the Provincial Chaplain attended the special Consecration Service held on Friday 5th June at the Cathedral, by His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.

Robert Lomas at Lowestoft

Robert Lomas the celebrated masonic author pictured with the Worshipful Master of Silver Jubilee Lodge No 8811 following the annual McCarthy Slatcher Lecture held at Lowestoft. Record numbers attended the inspirational lecture, and enjoyed a traditional Lowestoft fish and chip supper. Plans are already advanced for next year with an equally high profile speaker.

Surprise Visitors

A surprise visitor to the Provincial Office recently was WBro Bert Cornwall accompanied by his son Brian. WBro Bert had called into Soane Street on the off chance hoping to be able to look round. WBro Peter Peck duly obliged. During the visit it was learnt that WBro Cornwall was on a visit to Suffolk from his home in Victoria Australia, he is the IPM of Commonwealth Lodge No 186, Mirboo North.

His visit was arranged to endeavour to trace the relatives of his wife Gloria, whose Mother was Dulcie Potter, and her father was Arthur Potter and they originally came from Wortham, near Diss. Arthur emigrated to Australia in the late 1890's. If by any chance any information is known which could help we would be pleased to pass it on.

New banner for Hartismere

Hartismere Lodge dedicated it's new banner in a ceremony carried out by the Provincial Grand Chaplain W Bro George Pipe. The new banner replaced the one originally presented to the Lodge in 1881 by the wife of one of it's founder members, and is an exact copy. The arms are those of Lord Henniker Major, the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge who was Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Suffolk from 1886 to 1902.

New and Revised Website

In November 2008, the old website for the Suffolk Provincial Grand Lodge was revised and rewritten by a collaboration of Trevor White (Information Officer) and John Pitcher (Unique Websites).                                             (Unique Websites Web Design Bury St Edmunds).