Delphis Lodge make a difference to dementia suffers across Herefordshire

W Bro David Knowles, Delphis Lodge Charity Steward, and the Worshipful Master W Bro Ian Warren met the Chief Executive of Dementia Matters (Herefordshire) at St John’s Church Hereford to see how the Lodge’s donation was helping the charity. There are around 3,700 people in Herefordshire with Dementia but only 1806 have been diagnosed.
Delphis Lodge donated £1,000, which had been match funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, providing £2,000 in total to this excellent local charity. David and Ian met up with Clare Powney, the Chief Executive to see first hand how the donation had helped the charity provide their valuable service to the Herefordshire community.

Dementia Matters (Herefordshire) is a Herefordshire wide independent charity that was set up in January 2020, to fill the gaps in service provision and opportunities for people who are affected by dementia or memory loss, their carers and families. They support people who may already have memory difficulties or are worried about their or a loved one’s memory and offer support and advise through the diagnosis process if necessary.
Dementia Matters (Herefordshire) offers a number of different services and projects, including developing social opportunities, across the county. They are a small friendly local team, experienced in offering support, information, advice and can signpost to other organisations to access their support. All of their services are free of charge.
Further details are on their website here https://dementiamattershere.co.uk

Herefordshire Freemasons and the Masonic Charitable Foundation have made a £33,644 grant to The Orchestra of the Swan.

Founded in 1995 and based on Warwick Schools Foundation, the Orchestra provides a wide range of musical activities across the region and are passionate about audience inclusivity.

Integral to the life of the Swan, is the music they bring to those living with dementia, PTSD, visual impairment and other conditions. It is moving to see the positive, transformational effect their players have on those who attend the regular dementia-friendly Café Muse in Hereford, while the players speak positively of the reward and specialist training they in turn receive. 

The session certainly encourage audience participation with dancing, singing and playing a variety of instruments.  The head of Freemasonry in Herefordshire Michael Holland, supported by Tim Bridgland Taylor and Andrew Moore were warmly received and able to see first hand the delight the session brought to the participants.

The MUSE sessions not only allow participants to explore musical instruments and rediscover any musical skills but also to make new friendships and reduce loneliness.

It was great to see the grant being put to good use and the looks of joy on the faces of those participating.  I think secretly we all enjoyed ourselves too!

Debbie Jagla, managing director of Orchestra of the Swan, said: 

“We’re very grateful to Herefordshire Freemasons for their generous grant which has secured the future of this important service for armed forces veterans or people with a link to the armed forces, whether through a partner who may have served in the forces or other family member, either living with dementia and/or other mental health challenges.  Over the last two years we’ve hosted well over one hundred Café Muse sessions at the Courtyard, helping to improve the emotional wellbeing of more than 1,200 attendees. All this was made possible through co-created musical workshops delivered by Orchestra of the Swan’s professional musicians.”

Freemasons from around the Province of Herefordshire remembered those that had paid the ultimate sacrifice by joining in acts of Remembrance in the city of Hereford and local towns throughout Herefordshire. 

As well at laying wreaths, Delphis Lodge met on Saturday November 11^th and so recited the poem “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon which was published in the Times on 21^st September 1914.  A bugler sounded the Last Post. 

The origins of the last post, which is now associated with remembrance, go back to the signal that the final sentry post had been inspected in a military camp inspection and the area was secure for the night.  It was also sounded at the end of battle so the injured on the battlefield knew it was safe to move and retreat back to their troops to get help. Six members of Herefordshire Freemasons lost their lives in the First World War and they are remembered in a tribute memorial at the Masonic Hall at Hereford.