MASONS IN THE SWIM

At their recent Ladies Evening the Francis Drake of York lodge raised no less than £405 from a raffle and this was subsequently presented to The New Earswick Swimming Club for the Disabled. The cheque was presented to Noreen Astbury, the Secretary of the Club by Malcolm Farrow, who is currently Master of the Lodge and his wife Janet. Much needed support for a group which helps a lot of people who would otherwise be unable to use a public pool.

Presentation of I.T. Equipment 

Caroline`s Rainbow Foundation received the gift of a Laptop Computer and a Projector to enable PowerPoint Presentations to be given by the charity to promote it’s good works for Gap-Year Students. The equipment was handed over to the founder of Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation, Marjorie Marks-Stuttle, by the Master of the Mitre Lodge of York, John Skeldon on behalf of the Freemasons of the Province of Yorkshire North & East Ridings.

Mrs Marks-Stuttle intends to give talks & presentations to student groups highlighting the aim of the charity, which is “to raise the awareness of the importance of personal safety for backpackers and young travellers”

“This will enable our presentations to be given in a more professional manner “ said Mrs Marks-Stuttle on receiving the equipment 

John Skeldon remarked that “I am pleased to have the pleasure of handing over this computer and projector of behalf of our Provincial Grand Charity which deemed that Caroline`s Rainbow Foundation was a very worthwhile Charity for the Freemasons of our Province to support” 

Alcuin Lodge is privileged to help

A donation of £500 has been made to the Special Care Baby Unit at the York District Hospital, to help pay for a new ventilation unit. The cheque was presented by the then Master of the Lodge, Bro Ken Pratt. Alcuin Lodge is not not new to this Unit, having previously purchased special adjustable seats to enable mums-to-be to sit near their babies in high level incubators.

A further donation of £500 was made to the Dales School for Autistic Children near Northallerton, to pay for additional multi-sensory components in the sensory hall. The children benefit greatly from the use of the equipment in this hall. The cheque was presented by the new Master of the Lodge Bro. John Back, who together with his wife Sylvia was taken on a tour around the school by the Head Master, Mr Frits Rab. The visit proved to be an emotional one and Bro John was able to learn at first hand of the work done at the school by its very caring staff.

On the 26th May 2005 a donation of £400 was made to the Candlelighters at the Children’s Day Hospital in St. James's Hospital, Leeds. This donation was to pay for the annual maintenance of the aquarium in the day room, where the children wait in turn for blood tests, chemotherapy and the many other tests that they are subject to.The cheque was presented by the Master of the Lodge Bro John Back, who along with his wife Sylvia was then shown around the various wards of the unit by Sally Amos, the local Candlelighters Organiser. Sally gave a very knowledgeable talk on the how the unit works and emphazied what a valuable piece of equipment the aquarium is, as it occupies the children during what is a very difficult time.

Old Globe Lodge and Provincial Grand Charity Aid the Community 

The Provincial Grand Charity was pleased to support a petition from the Old Globe Lodge 200 of Scarborough towards the maintenance of St. Helen’s and All Saints Church at Wykeham. 

Old Globe had made donations to the church in support of an appeal to raise £115,000 to restore the roof. John Allen Worshipful Master of Old globe presented a cheque for £250 to the Church Warden. 

The church which was built in 1855 has been reroofed with Westmoreland slate and had the guttering and drainpipes replaced.