Delphis Lodge, based in Hereford, recently donated £2000 to the Hereford Veterans Support Centre (HVSC) based in Widemarsh Street in Hereford.

The picture shows the Lodge Charity Steward, David Knowles, and the Worshipful Master, James Taylor, himself a veteran, with Emma O’Hare of HVSC.

The Manager of HVSC, Sean Gane, commented:

“We are very grateful to Delphis Lodge for their generous donation as this will enable us to continue our work across Herefordshire. All donation money stays in the county and is used for the Armed Forces community – this includes veterans, partners and children. Not one pound is used for wages as this is all grant funded.”

The money will be used towards some of the current HVSC initiatives that include, in no particular order:

• ‘Starter packs’ – if someone is found accommodation we help with basics including washing powder, toothpaste, shampoo, washing up liquid, etc
• Brunch – weekly free sandwich, cake, tea and coffee
• Out-reach ‘coffee mornings’
• Day trips – we arrange minibus trips to places such as the National Memorial Arboretum
• Volunteer expenses for our growing request for county wide social support
• Emergency second-hand mobiles
  

James Taylor from Delphis Lodge commented:

“It is great to continue to assist HVSC in their great work in supporting the veteran community across Herefordshire. We have several veterans in our Lodges across the Herefordshire Province who are proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant.”

This donation is just one of the ways Herefordshire Freemasons are supporting our Armed Forces veterans across Herefordshire. We recently donated to Orchestra of the Swan for the weekly Muse workshops at the Courtyard Theatre and have also continued with the fortnightly Services Breakfast Club in partnership with Ledbury Rugby Club, read more here.

Herefordshire Freemasons have been supplying Teddies For Loving Care (TLC) teddies to Hereford Hospital’s A and E department for some time. The teddies were recently extended for use in the ENT medical facility in the hospital.  

TLC delivers very special bears to hospitals, bringing relief and a smile to children in distress.

The cuddly bears are used by medical staff to calm children down, reward them for being brave or to demonstrate procedures. Often the bears distract poorly children so nurses and doctors can get their jobs done quickly and efficiently.

The TLC teddy has become an invaluable tool for medical professionals and a real comfort for children, helping to reduce the shock and distress of their experience. Every child that receives a teddy gets to take it home.

Paul Finlay looks after the TLC bears for the Province of Herefordshire and thought they should have an outing. He says:

“We wanted to celebrate our 25^th Anniversary and as we were feeling very ‘bullish’, we decided to ‘hoof around’ and take the ‘bull by the horns’ and share it with our world-famous Herefordshire bull, based in High Town, Hereford. Here they are having a fantastic Teddy Bear’s Picnic!!”

Dean Waterfield Lodge No. 8089, based in Hereford, recently donated £1,000 to the Orchestra of the Swan, a leading chamber orchestra based in the Midlands. The donation will go towards the weekly Café Muse sessions, which are a fun and friendly place where participants with mild to moderate dementia, and their family members are supported to live independently within Herefordshire. Each session is themed, with participants invited to explore musical instruments, rediscover musical skills, sing along, dance, share their memories, discuss current affairs, and most importantly, enjoy a free group lunch!

 The Orchestra run two cafés in the region, in Hereford and Warwick. The weekly Café Muse session in Hereford is aimed specifically for Armed Forces Veterans and their families in Herefordshire and takes place at the Nell Gwynne Studio at The Courtyard, Hereford. The team in Hereford includes two specialist facilitators, a Registered Mental Health Nurse working with Veterans, and a SSAFA caseworker. The Orchestra are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and have achieved Bronze Employment Recognition Scheme status, the first orchestra in the UK to do so.

“A huge thank you to Dean Waterfield Lodge No. 8089 for their generous donation towards Café Muse Hereford.
 The donation was presented by Stuart Powell following the completion of his year as Worshipful Master of the Lodge. Support like this makes a real difference, helping us reach more people through the power of music.
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our work.”

Claire Atteck, Head of Operations and Finance at the Orchestra of the Swan

The partnership between Eastnor Lodge and Ledbury Rugby Football Club is celebrating the continued growth of its Services Breakfast Club, which brings together veterans and members of the Blue Light Services in a welcoming and informal setting. 

With attendance continuing to rise, the club has become an increasingly valued meeting point for people to share experiences, build friendships and maintain the sense of camaraderie associated with service life.

Ledbury RFC says the partnership is about more than simply supporting a breakfast gathering for the local Armed Forces and Blue Light communities. It represents a shared commitment to bringing people together, recognising the contributions of veterans and other service personnel, and creating opportunities for community connection.

The strengthened relationship between Ledbury RFC and Eastnor Lodge Freemasons demonstrates what can be achieved when local organisations work together to support the wider community.

The Services Breakfast Club meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 9:00am, and new members are always welcome.