Malcolm Davies, the Provincial Grand Almoner attended a Masonic Training event in London and travelled back with Steve Thraxton his counterpart from Somerset who is also Lodge Almoner for St George Lodge No 3158. He told Malcolm that they could not get enough mobility scooters as there was such a big demand for them. Malcolm replied that we had a spare in Hereford. As no one in our Province was currently in need of it, then it would be better to go to a new home.
After having it repaired, Malcolm invited Steve to pick it up which he did by travelling to Hereford on Saturday 12th April when it was handed over.
By then end of the day it was already in the hands of its new keeper and in use!
The picture shows the two Provincial Grand Almoners, Malcolm Davies (left) from Herefordshire handing over the Scooter to Steve Thraxton (right) from Somerset.
Eastnor Lodge have partnered with Ledbury Rugby Club and ‘Talk Community’ to provide a regular Breakfast Club for ex-services personnel (forces or blue light).
This will be launched at Ledbury Rugby Club on Wednesday 7th May between 09:00 and 10:30, with the intention that it becomes a regular fortnightly event.
Talk Community provides online services to find helpful information and advice, discover hundreds of local groups and activities, and find out what events are happening across the county. https://www.talkcommunity.co.uk
Aimee Williams from Talk Community commented:
“I’ve been supporting Ledbury Rugby Club and Eastnor Lodge, who have worked in partnership to develop a new offer for ex-services veterans in the area and I’m very pleased to say that we are soft launching a new Services Breakfast on 7th May.
The breakfast will be held every other week, and is open to all ex-services personnel, including blue light services. In time, as attendance increases and we understand a bit more about the attendees needs, we’ll be looking to incorporate information sessions, talks and visits from people and services of interest too.
For now, and as we get going, we’d love for you to join us at the first session so we can connect with other people and services supporting veterans and ex-service personnel and share any thoughts and ideas you might have about how we can develop the offer.
Please also do invite along any ex-services people you’re working with and/or supporting; they’ll be really welcome (and fed! Important!).“
Paul Finlay the Charity Steward of Eastnor Lodge commented:
“We are excited to bring together this partnership for the benefit of ex-services personnel around Ledbury and look forward to seeing what opportunities develop over time. This further cements our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant signed by Herefordshire Province in July 2022.”
The second Herefordshire Freemasons Charity Presentation was held on 21st March, celebrating the fantastic work of local charities across Herefordshire.
Herefordshire Freemasons have donated over £125,000 to more than 60 local charities and provided over 4,300 hours of community service since November 2023. A fantastic night! Thank you to all those that came to celebrate community service across Herefordshire. The total in donations was made up of donations before the night as well as donations made by Lodges at the event.
Further large donations were made to celebrate the newly formed Herefordshire Masonic Charitable Trust (HMCT) which combines the assets and activities of the HMCA and HMHT and allows for a broader set of objectives to support charitable causes in our local communities whilst still covering the existing objectives.
These donations were made to the following charities:
Yeleni Therapy and Support
Herefordshire Prostate and Support Group
The Royal National College for the Blind
The Hub CIC
Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre
We Are Farming Minds
The Not Forgotten
We received some great feedback from local charities who have let us know how they intend to use the money to benefit communities across Herefordshire.
Royal National College for the Blind (RNC We are incredibly thankful for your support. These vital funds will directly contribute to the general support of our students. Thank you for recognising and celebrating the work of local charities across Herefordshire
Be More Frank Thank you so very very much for the Be More Frank support, it makes so much difference to our childhood cancer families and I cannot express how much we appreciate it.
HVSC This donation is very much appreciated, and I would like to offer my thanks to all of the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire.
The Hub Ross on Wye We were so thrilled to hear the news about the donation you are making to @The Hub, that is so kind! It will make a huge difference to us, to the clients we are currently helping, and to our future clients.
Even the weather behaved for the initial Ride Out of the Taurus Chapter of the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association. The newly formed Chapter met with members of surrounding Chapters, including Worcestershire and Shropshire, to ride from Hereford to Shobdon Airfield where they enjoyed a hearty breakfast at the airfield café. Often used as a meeting place for bikers, Meg’s Hotspur Café proved a fitting venue for the occasion.
Around thirty Brethren attended enjoying the companionship of fellow members of the WSMBA and catching up with friends.
Anyone interested in joining should contact the Club President and Founder Jim Turpin, a member of Dean Waterfield Lodge. It is open to all Masons, and friends and family, as either a Widows Son or an Associate.
Details can be found on the Provincial members Website under the Social Pages (Taurus Chapter)
The goal of the association is to introduce the pleasures of motorcycling to Brethren by raising Masonic awareness in the world of motorcycling. This is done by supporting the regular Masonic Lodges through regular attendance and assisting with or attending Lodge events.
The Widows Sons have raised over £140k year on year to support Masonic and local charities as well as helping to increase the numbers joining Masonry by creating a visual presence. They are required to always represent the fraternity in a positive light.
There are forty-five chapters, Taurus being the newest, covering every Masonic Province in England as well as overseas. With over one thousand members, number have increased year on year.
The Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association is the only Masonic Bikers Association fully recognised by UGLE. You can listen to the UGLE Craftcast Here.
The ‘Ride Out’ included members of Worcester, Meridan, Hallstone, Brycgstow, Oxonians and Shropshire Widows Sons, with just over forty members attending to support the inaugural Ride Out for Taurus.
Earlier in March, W Bro Billy Russell of Vitruvian and Delphis Lodges became a member and was ‘Patched’ and Ewan Craig became the first ‘Greenhorn’ to be patched.
