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.

Vitruvian and Ariconium Lodges as well as Vitruvian Chapter from Ross-on-Wye worked together to provide funding of £1,500 for Ross Community First Responders (CFRs) which will be used towards the ongoing costs of uniforms, medical equipment and vehicle costs. This is just one example of the local support given by Herefordshire Lodges to their local CFRs.

The Community First Responders across Herefordshire are a focus charity this year for Herefordshire Freemasons who have already donated two vehicles through the Arrive Alive charity as well as 100 bleed kits that the Herefordshire based CFRs have installed in defibrillators across the county.

Last Sunday saw the formal handover of first aid equipment to the Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force (ACF) at the county Training Centre in Besford, Worcestershire. This was a joint initiative between the Freemasons of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, who funded the equipment through a grant to the Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force Charitable Trust. The equipment will ensure all cadets have access to realistic, high-quality, and hands-on first aid training resources.  

The equipment consists of resuscitation dolls/CPR manikins and anti-choking training aid vests, that will improve the realism and quality of First Aid training. The manikins will be distributed to detachments across Herefordshire and Worcestershire ensuring every cadet has access to practical CPR training. The choking vests will be held centrally for use during collective training events and instructor courses. There are around seven hundred cadets across Herefordshire and Worcestershire supported by around one hundred and thirty adult volunteers, who can all take advantage of the new equipment.

First aid is a lifelong skill with real world relevance. Cadets can progress on to First Aid at Work qualifications. The importance of this training was demonstrated last year when a cadet received an award for providing life-saving assistance at a road traffic accident.

The handover event was attended by the Heads of Freemasonry in Herefordshire, Michael Holland, and Worcestershire, Stephen Wyer, accompanied by their Deputies. They were greeted by the Chair of Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Charitable Trust, Col (retd) D Head MC, and Lieutenant Colonel Gary Newbrook, the Deputy Commandant of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Army Cadets.

Following a demonstration of the equipment by the cadets and adult volunteers, the formal presentation took place where Col Head spoke about the useful skills learned in the cadets that can be transferred to everyday lives and help the community at large.

Col Head said:

“Your generosity is deeply valued. Your support strengthens a local youth organisation rooted in service, discipline and community. Most importantly it helps young people access experiences that can shape their confidence, character and future opportunity.”

The Head of Freemasonry in Herefordshire commented:

“We are delighted, in conjunction with the Freemasons of Worcestershire, to provide training aids that will help the ACF Cadets gain knowledge and hands-on experience, which will enable them to build confidence and develop transferable skills that can be applied in future employment opportunities, everyday life and service within the community.”

The formal presentation of the equipment is the culmination of the aligned vision of Freemasonry, the ACF Trust, and the Army Cadet Force, and is one of the highlights of the celebration of Armed Forces Week in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Loyal Hay Chapter recently donated £500 to Hay on Wye Dial-A-Ride.  Established in December 1994, the charity helps overcome transport problems for their members, young or old, with disabilities of all kinds and also those who simply do not have access to a car or to public transport as long as they are living within a 9 mile radius of Hay-on-Wye.

Their aim is to help customers maintain an independent lifestyle, reducing loneliness and social/rural isolation and enabling residents to feel part of a thriving community. They are more than just a transport service, access to health and community services is a vital part of physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The picture shows E Comp David Gwynne presenting a cheque to the Chairman and Team of Hay Dial-A-Ride