The Taurus Chapter of the Widows Sons MBA recently held its long-awaited Hog Roast evening at Hereford Rowing Club — and what a tremendous success it proved to be.

Bringing together Widows Sons members, Freemasons, friends, families, non-Masons and children, the event welcomed a full house of 120 attendees for an evening centred around friendship, community spirit and charitable giving.

The event had been in planning since February, with the chapter’s social committee working hard behind the scenes to create an enjoyable and affordable evening for everyone attending. Originally capped at 100 tickets, demand quickly exceeded expectations and, after discussions with the venue, a further 20 tickets were released. These additional places also sold out, with the event reaching full capacity four weeks before the night itself.

The primary aim of the evening was to raise funds towards a special Taurus Chapter Christmas initiative later this year, which hopes to provide 60 Christmas dinners to individuals and families within the community who may otherwise go without during the festive season.

The evening also welcomed visiting brethren from several other Widows Sons chapters and associated groups, including Celtic Knights, Pilgrims, Worcestershire, Shropshire and South Wales, alongside supporters from across the UK.

Following the hog roast meal, a charity raffle was held, raising an impressive £770 alone. Combined with ticket sales and additional fundraising throughout the evening, the event generated nearly £2,000 towards the chapter’s Christmas fundraising target.

As the formal fundraising concluded, the evening continued with music, dancing and a lively social atmosphere which kept the dance floor full well into the night.

Members of Taurus Chapter expressed their sincere gratitude to everyone who attended, donated, supported the raffle and helped make the evening such a success.

The event once again demonstrated the strong community spirit that exists within the Widows Sons and Freemasonry alike — bringing people together not only for fellowship and friendship, but also to make a positive difference within the wider community.

The Taurus Chapter of the Widows Sons recently attended the popular Bobbers & Cruisers Day at HR4K, joining bikers and visitors from across the region for what proved to be a fantastic day celebrating motorcycling and community spirit.

With excellent weather throughout the day, the venue was packed with motorcycles of all styles, including Harleys, Indians, Triumphs and many more. Cheltenham Harley-Davidson brought along an impressive display of bikes, while live music from The Road Knights helped create a lively atmosphere enjoyed by all in attendance.

During the event, members of the Taurus Chapter were proud to present a cheque for £1,300 to West Mercia Women’s Aid. The funds had been raised earlier this year through the Chapter’s Lip Sync Battle fundraising evening held in February.

Taurus Charity Steward Steve “Craiger” Craig arranged for representatives from West Mercia Women’s Aid to attend the event, where Taurus Chapter President Jim “Chippy” Turpin spoke during the cheque presentation. Sue, representing the charity, thanked the Chapter not only for the donation and gifts received over the past year, but also for the continued support shown by members of Taurus.

During conversations on the day, two representatives from West Mercia Women’s Aid mentioned that they had missed out on the pillion ride experiences auctioned during the Lip Sync Battle fundraiser, but would still have loved the opportunity to experience a ride on the back of a motorcycle. In response, Steve “Craiger” Craig and Billy “Joker” Russell were more than happy to take them out for short rides — something the ladies thoroughly enjoyed.

As the afternoon continued and more motorcycles arrived, HR4K was buzzing with activity, making it a memorable day for everyone involved.

The Taurus Chapter would like to thank HR4K for hosting another excellent event and extend their appreciation to everyone who attended and supported such a worthwhile cause.