Bridgwater Freemasons & Poppy Celebrate £13,343.00 in Charitable Donations.
Recently all Lodges and other Orders meeting at Bridgwater invited the Charities they have supported in the last year to join with them and celebrate the total sum of £13,343.00, donated to them between October 2023 and September 2024.
This well-attended event was held at the Bridgwater Masonic Hall. Stewart Morgan and Tony Saunter, Charity Stewards of their respective Lodges and Bro Les Pickersgill, Provincial Photographer assisted Norman Hucker with the organising of the event, following the success of last year.
Norman welcomed and introduced Adrian Robson, Prov. G. Almoner, Val Cooke, Prov. G. Charity Steward (Mark Degree) and Derrick Griffin, Deputy G. Supreme Ruler (OSM) together with other Masters and Rulers in attendance.
Tony Ward introduced Poppy, his guide dog of only 12 weeks and her first visit to any Lodge. Poppy was very attentive and looked interested in what was going on and no doubt will look after Tony and. given time, will, should the occasion occur, give him the proper prompts – if ever necessary of course!!
After briefly explaining how Freemasons operate and raise their charitable funds, Norman welcomed and introduced those in attendance that represented the 25 Charities that had already received funding before announcing a further 7 presentations which were made that morning. The representatives in turn gave short explanations as to how the Charities benefitted from the monies received.
Furthermore, he mentioned that an external cabinet and bleed kit will be purchased and fitted to house the defibrillator outside the rear end of the Lodge for use, should the occasion arise, by the general public. This being funded from the surplus from the joint Ladies’ Weekend at Torquay earlier in the year and the balance made up from the Bridgwater Masonic Hall Management purse.
Stewart Morgan and Val Cooke also gave a brief explanation regarding a separate and additional funding of £13,026.00 for a children’s wheelchair-enabled roundabout at Brainwave Huntworth, by the Mark Degree Benevolent Fund, the official hand-over being made a few days later.
Everyone then retired to the Dining Hall for coffee and a raffle which raised in excess of £300.00 to donate to Valley Kings, a local charity offering free boxing and gym facilities to local youngsters.
Article: Norman Hucker
Images: Les Pickersgill
