HEREFORDSHIRE PROVINCE IN ACTION

Jed wanted to help his local charities and also the MCF by taking part in the Frankfurt Ironman Mainova Triathlon. The event entails Swimming 3.8 KM, Riding 180 KM and Running 42.2KM. This is his Ironman story of how he made it through the event. We knew from the weather…

                  Delphis Donate to Local Charities.  On the 30th June David Knowles (Charity Steward of Delphis) organised a Charity Morning to pass on donations to 5 Herefordshire Local Charities, to assist with their recoveries from the Covid pandemic. Delphis Charity Steward presentation to the 5 Charities Each charity took the…

Herefordshire Freemasons held their annual Provincial Church service with Choral Evensong Sunday 26th June at Hereford Cathedral. The host Lodge Palladian Lodge 120, lead the procession into the Cathedral. With the sermon given by the Dean, The Very Revd Sarah Brown. The service was well attended by Herefordshire Freemasons and…

Herefordshire Freemasons joined in with the city on Monday 20th June to celebrate Armed Forces Day by signing the Armed Forces Covenant at Hereford Town Hall, in the presence of HM Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Edward Harley OBE, The Chairman of the Council, Cllr Sebastian Bowen, The Right Worshipful the…

Dementia is a debilitating disease and In Herefordshire alone it is estimated there are around 3,200 suffers and this is predicted to rise to around 4,100 by 2025. In the early stages, when dementia is mild, most people are able to carry out their usual activities either independently or with…

The team hosted our second match at The Bell Hotel and Country Club better known as The Forest of Dean Golf Club, against Gloucestershire Golf Section, now if you haven’t had the pleasure of playing this course it is well worth a visit, the last time I played there was…

Can you help the members of Eastnor Lodge with their collection of goods to support the Ukrainian refugees? The members of Eastnor Lodge will be manning a collection drop off point next Saturday 14th May at Kyrle Street between 10am & 12 noon, to collect donations that will be transported…

Palladian Lodge Phil Burgess and Clive Edwards made a donation of £1,085 to the The Born Sleeping Appeal to help with the running of the dedicated suite in Hereford Maternity Unit. Born Sleeping Suite The Born Sleeping fundraising appeal was launched in 2017, initially to build a dedicated bereavement suite…

Bill receives his 50yr Certificate from DPGM VW Bro Graham King At Palladian Lodge, the Deputy Leader of Freemasonry in Herefordshire Graham King presented a 50 year Certificate to Dennis King, aged 94 years. Dennis, more commonly known as Bill, was initiated into The Lodge of Temperance and Benevolence, No…

W Bro David Craner (Right) visiting Dunheved Lodge in Cornwall Can you help David Craner? He is a Dorset Freemason, who has embarked on a fund-raising mission to raise funds for the Dorset 2025 Festival. This is his way of saying thank you to the Masonic Charitable Foundation for funding…

The Caeruleum Club invite you to join with them for a fun days Clay shooting. 10:00am Saturday 23rd April. No experience needed. The event will be hosted by HS Activities, who run clay shooting experiences for all abilities. They will provide shotgun, cartridges and insurance, all for £30pp. Location will…

Can you help the Masonic Ladies Lunch Club? The ladies of the Hereford Masonic Hall Luncheon Club are supporting this appeal and have knitted several garments already. The picture shows Gill Tudor (L) and Diane Cox (R) with some of the garments knitted by members of the Lunch Club. Patterns…

The LifeLites team visited Herefordshire to show members of the Freemasons the new technology being used to help life-limited and disabled children using hospice services across the British Isles. The technology gives them the chance to play, be creative, control something for themselves and communicate, through the magic of assistive…

Sponsor Jed’s Triathlon in Aid of local Charities through his Just Giving Page via the MCF relief chest. To sponsor him click here or the image below.

Herefordshire Freemasons have donated a further £5,000 via the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) to the British Red Cross who are gallantly supporting the Ukrainian refugees in their time of need. Thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of their country will be given food, warm clothing and a place…

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees will be given help and support from Freemasons in England and Wales, following a £50,000 grant to the British Red Cross. The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ Charity) and the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) have been monitoring the growing refugee crisis of over…

As we start to get back to normal a new wave of Lodge Masters are being invested. Vitruvian Lodge saw W Bro Nigel Donovan hand over the reins of the Lodge to the new Worshipful Master Billy Russell. The installation of the new Master also saw the first of the…

During the pandemic, Freemason Lodge meetings as with all other social gatherings had to be curtailed. As a result many of the Lodge Worshipful Masters had to stay in position for longer than expected. A term of office would normally be for one year only. W Bro Philip Burgess’s two…

Please see below a Christmas message from the Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, Michael Holland. Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire Dear Brethren, Michael Holland, Senior Freemason in Herefordshire As Christmas is once more upon us, one could be forgiven for feeling an element of déjà vu. No doubt we share…

Freemasons Support The Cart Shed The Deputy Head of Freemasonry in Herefordshire, Graham King, together with Nick Swan our Charity member visited The Cart Shed, to see first-hand how the Cart Shed are utilising the Freemasons donation towards a new minibus. The Cart Shed activities is based in their woodland…

This months edition of the Craftsmen looks at the Freemasons Annual Cathedral Service. The service was originally planned for June, but had to be postponed until November this year. How the Freemasons commemorated Remembrance Day around the county. Why the poppy is it used to remember the fallen. The story…

After a considerable delay Cantilupe Lodge receives its Centenary Warrant from the Senior Freemason in Herefordshire, Michael Holland. The warrant was issued following the 100th anniversary of the Lodge being formed on the 17th February 1920. The Lodge should have received the warrant last year 2020, but due to Covid…

Herefordshire Freemasons attended their annual church service today at Hereford Cathedral Choral Evensong. Remembering, particularly all those that had passed during the previous 2 years. The service was attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Col Andy Taylor OBE, The High Sheriff of Herefordshire Joanna Hilditch, The senior Freemason…

In our November edition of The Craftsmen newsletter, we look at the 2020 Festival Finale, following 5 years of fund raising. The Cathedral Trail and the Annual Provincial Communication. Read about it in the Craftsmen.

In this exciting edition of the Craftsmen, Herefordshire Masons launch a refreshed website. Read about it in the Craftsmen. Also read how Vitruvian Lodge got its number. The Craftsmen issue 61 Oct 2021

During the month of August, a team of four veterans of the Falklands war rode around the UK by motorbike visiting the graves and memorials of men who lost their lives in the Falklands war in 1982. A total of 2600 miles in 15 days, visiting over 80 graves and…

Match Report by Des Watkins, Society Captain.Pictures by Michael Holland, Society President. South wales provincial golf tournament Ten players from the Herefordshire Provincial Golf Society were really pleased to be invited to play in the South Wales Provincial Golf Tournament at Coed y Mwstwr golf club in Bridgend. With the…

Herefordshire freemasons came together at masonic halls around the county to celebrate the hard work that the NHS, social carers and frontline workers have done for us, the general public, during this awful pandemic and also to remember all those who have sadly lost their lives. The event in Hereford…

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) has launched its first annual report, in its 300 year history, marking another major step forward in its commitment to modernisation, transparency and normalization. The annual report includes the new mission statement, which sits alongside the UGLE’s four key values of integrity, respect,…

The 5th July 2021 will see Freemasons throughout England and Wales leading the worlds ‘first’ celebration of NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers Day.It will be a unique and special day dedicated to the NHS, Social Care and those that work on the frontline, workers who have saved so many…

A call to action from W Bro Nick Swan. As I’m sure you are aware the Midlands Air Ambulance helicopters and crews have been just as busy as ever during the pandemic – therefore the amount they need to fundraise has not fallen!The Midlands Air Ambulance has been running for…

We have all been suffering as a result of the pandemic, but what about the hidden army of unpaid carers both young and old? It cannot be denied they are nothing, if not resilient, and they’ve had their resilience tested over the past year for sure. But the Herefordshire Carers have stayed…

A quick note on the success of our fundraising for our last major campaign using the easyfundraising app to earn free donations for our charity every time you shop online, Chris Holt has now set up an Amazon Smile account to add additional free donations to the Herefordshire Masonic Charity…

We were all deeply saddened to learn of the passing of HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. The Provincial Grand Master expressed the condolences from the Province via Twitter saying.“Herefordshire Freemasons are deeply saddened by the news of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke…

The Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire / Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire, RW Bro / E Comp Michael T Holland delivers his Easter message. https://vimeo.com/532717814 The Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire delivers his Easter message to the Province.

We are all suffering as a result of the pandemic, unfortunately our young carers more than others. They are the youngsters caring for a family member with an illness, disability, mental health issue or problem with drugs or alcohol. It is estimated that there are up to 4000 Young Carers…

Brethren, this week the Senior Warden of Cantilupe Lodge witnessed over 1100 people being vaccinated at Millennium Point in Birmingham. The grace, calmness and gratitude of our senior members of the population was a joy to see. The elderly who were a mix of the ‘over 80’s’ and the vulnerable, had…

Due to the pandemic the Herefordshire Freemasons have been approached by the Severn Freewheelers, a volunteer group who deliver blood and other emergency equipment for the NHS both in and out of working hours to park their Skoda Yeti vehicle in their rear car park, so it is near the…

Eastnor Lodge No. 751 members have been very busy during the last months of 2020 and have made several donations through the Lodge’s Charitable Trust to assist Herefordshire based organisations. These were identified by the Lodge Charity Steward and the Worshipful Master (elected leader of the Lodge) in conjunction with…

Following a further donation to the Hereford Food Bank the senior Freemason in Herefordshire, Michael Holland met with Jacquie Alsop to see how they were coping during the run up to Christmas. We know that the majority of the £6,000 that the Herefordshire Freemason have donated during the year has…

Our Charity Steward, Nick Swan wanted to share the following message that he received from Simone Enefer-Doy, Chief Executive of Lifelites. You can see more from Lifelites on their website by clicking here Dear Nick I hope that you and your family are keeping well and safe. As the year is coming…

The Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire / Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire, RW Bro / E Comp Michael T Holland delivers his Christmas message 2020. https://vimeo.com/493095445

As we remember all those that have given the ultimate sacrifice. The senior Freemason in Herefordshire lays a wreath on behalf of Freemasonry in general. We will remember them.

The Hereford County hospital’s Children’s Ward recently put out an appeal for Toys on Your Herefordshire. The protocols in dealing with covid have meant that they have run out of toys for the children as they can no longer be shared and must be cleaned between each patient. The Club…

Dedication of furnishings for the Booth Chapel, Hereford Cathedral A special service was held at Hereford Cathedral on Friday 2nd October to dedicate some new furnishings for the Booth Chapel above the north porch, following its recent refurbishment. Herefordshire Freemasons with donations from other Provinces and Orders supported the Cathedral…

Herefordshire’s Senior Mason, Michael Holland met up with Peder Nielsen at Fromes Hill to carry out a social distanced presentation of the first prize for the Provincial Gardening Competition. At the Hop Pocket were (L) John Pudge the secretary of St Peter’s Lodge, (C) Michael Holland and our prize winner…

During the past six months, Herefordshire Freemasons have been busy working hard to support various organisations throughout the county with donations totalling in excess of £24,000. This brings the total donated to local charitable causes in 2020 to over £114,000. Michael Holland, the senior Freemason in Herefordshire said, “Like everyone…

Many thanks to all those brethren who submitted entries to the Provincial Gardening Competition 2020.  When we suggested this competition, we were uncertain as to whether people would respond in any number.  However, we have been encouraged by the number of participants and by their efforts.  We feel and hope…

The submissions for the gardening competition are all in and the judges, RW Bro Rodney Smallwood PPGM and Mrs Christine Holland the wife of RW Bro Michael Holland our Provincial Grand Master have a very hard job to do sorting out from the diverse selection below 1st, 2nd and 3rd…

Recent events mean that we have not been able to meet face to face at Lodge meetings, but the flipside being there has been more time to spend in our gardens. By now, I am sure many of you will have gardens to rival the National Trust! As a reward…

Herefordshire Freemasons have been called into action to help the children of Burghill Community Academy play safe. With a donation of £1,500 which was match funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, the Freemasons’ charity, thus providing £3,000 for the school. The funds will help head teacher Mr Alex Davies set…

Herefordshire Freemasons received a plea to provide financial support for Vennture Street Pastors in their work with distressed individuals on the night-time streets of Hereford. Vennture are funded totally by grants and donations and as with many voluntary organisations a significant number of their funding streams have dried up, particularly…

The Herefordshire Masons have donated £1,000 to the Ross Community Development Trust to help with the bulk buying of face masks and their distribution to the Ross community and to assist the production of a newsletter that will be delivered to all households in Ross. The aim of the newsletter…

Two new refuges for vulnerable and abused women and children have been furnished and fitted out with essential electrical equipment, thanks to a £1,000 grant from Herefordshire Freemasons. The coronavirus lockdown has led to vulnerable women and children being forced to stay inside with abusive partners, and a consequent sharp…

Chris Holt is a member of Coningsby Lodge and is also a key worker with Western Power Distribution, ensuring that the lights stay on! Has found three great causes and reasons to go for a sponsored head shave!! Chris said “I have never been brave enough to have my head…

Herefordshire Free Masons support “For the love for scrubs” by donating £2700. Which will buy enough raw materials to this industrious group of volunteers to make 180 sets of scrubs, scrub caps, headbands and laundry bags for the Wye Valley Trust healthcare workers, together with Nurses from GP practices. The…

I built a 3 wheeled kit car called a Pembleton with my son, which we finished in 2008. We have taken it on many road trips and rallies both nationally and abroad. This is us at Prescott hill climb a few months after it was finished. On the hill climb…

Pete delivers Doctor Pete White, is a mason and a member of Herefordshire 4×4 Response  https://www.herefordshire4x4response.org/ . They are a self-funded group of just over 50 individual 4×4 owners. They provide backup in adverse weather conditions to the local community. During the heavy snow conditions in March 2018 the group provided…

Herefordshire Freemasons, through the Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association, have donated £1,000 to Hay & District Dial-a-Ride. At a presentation ceremony by the clock tower in Hay on Wye the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Michael Holland, presented a cheque to the Chair of the charity, Mary Fellowes. From left: W…

Herefordshire Freemasons, together with the Masonic Charitable Foundation, have donated £10,000 for the relief of people in Herefordshire who have suffered loss and damage as a result of the floods caused by Storm Dennis. The money has been donated to the Herefordshire Community Foundation, a charity set up to support…

The quiz night was well supported again this year, during which a presentation of a cheque for £2000 was made to West Mercia Women’s Aid who do such valuable work here in Herefordshire. This was the charity chosen by W Bro Paul Chambers during his year as Master. Amber Coates,…

At a memorable event at the Masonic Hall in Hereford, on 30th January 2020, the new club for Herefordshire Light Blues was launched, in front of around 60 members and guests. The club is called ‘The Caeruleum Club’ (Latin for light blue) and is especially for those members of Herefordshire…

Coningsby Lodge in Herefordshire has carried out what must surely be a unique Initiation Ceremony, to welcome a new member. The Worshipful Master, Junior Deacon and Candidate were all blind, and all played their parts to a very high standard in a most impressive ceremony. To make it an even…

People who have lost everything in the catastrophic Australian bushfires will be among those to benefit from a grant of AUS$150,000 (£79,000) from The Masonic Grand Charity to the Disaster Relief Funds set up by Freemasons in Australia. The grant from the English and Welsh Freemasons’ charity will see AUS$50,000…

Thousands of people at risk of starvation in Southern Africa will be receiving emergency food packs and urgent humanitarian assistance, thanks to a grant of £50,000 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation to Plan International UK. An estimated 45 million people across Southern Africa are likely to be affected by record…

Far too many older people spend Christmas entirely on their own, never receiving a single card or present. This past year, however, saw around 2,000 isolated and lonely older people who have contacted The Silver Line Helpline receive a gift and a card, thanks to a grant of £7,500 from…

The Province has completed its support for Hereford Cathedral’s refurbishment of the Booth Chapel with a final donation towards an altar and benches as a permanent memorial to our Past Provincial Grand Master, the late RW Bro The Rev’d David Bowen. The refurbishment is to mark the 700th anniversary of…

The Masonic Charitable Foundation, through the Province of Herefordshire, has donated a further £4,000 to the Midlands Air Ambulance. The Provincial Grand Master, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Provincial Grand Charity Steward and Provincial Communication Officer went to visit the Strensham Air Base in Worcestershire on a wet and blustery…

Thousands of people whose lives have been devastated by three major earthquakes in the Philippines will be given urgently-needed humanitarian assistance, thanks to a grant of £15,000 from The Masonic Charitable Foundation to Plan International UK. Massive damage on the southern island of Mindanao has seen an estimated 188,000 people…

Bill Hurst, of Dean Waterfield Lodge and Royal Edward Chapter, has moved to Pencader, Carmarthenshire, and drove his vintage tractor to his new home from Howle Hill, near Ross. He came up with a way of doing it which would give support to the 2020 Festival, by asking people to…

In a most impressive ceremony the new Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, Right Worshipful Brother Michael T Holland, was Installed on Wednesday 30th October 2019 at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford, by the Pro Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Peter Lowndes, aided by his team from Grand Lodge. The Pro…

Two members of the Dean Waterfield Lodge 8089 in Hereford visited the Maternity unit of Hereford County Hospital on Friday 18th October, to present a cheque to Maxine Chong, Head of Midwifery. Paul Sabel, the Immediate Past Master, and his wife Wendy, along with Tim Bridgland-Taylor, the Lodge Charity Steward,…

At their September 2019 meeting, Ariconium Lodge in Ross on Wye made two donations to Provincial causes. Pip Thomas, Charity Steward of Ariconium Lodge, presented the cheques to Chris Burrow, Provincial Director of Ceremonies, who was present as the Representative of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge, Michael Holland….

Dean Leigh Masters’ Lodge in Hereford has received the great honour of being one of the four Lodges throughout UGLE to be invited to host the 2019 Prestonian Lecture. Each year Grand Lodge nominates a Brother to prepare and deliver that year’s Prestonian Lecture, and it is the only lecture…

Arrow Lodge has again held a very successful opera evening, featuring W Bro Terence Payen’s niece Felicity and friends, this time in the newly refurbished Hereford Suite at Hereford Football Club. Terence himself, owner and chef of The Corners Inn in Kingsland, cooked another excellent meal, carved and served at…

Royal Edward Lodge in Leominster have held their annual charity morning, making donations to a variety of local charities. Gareth Prosser writes: Royal Edward Lodge has had another interesting and successful year with respect to Charity Donations. Alfgar Royal Edward Lodge and the other orders using the Leominster Masonic Centre…

Four members of Eastnor Lodge have completed the Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge in aid of three local charities. This is a demanding route of 135 miles, to be covered in three days, starting in Whitehaven, Cumbria and ending in Sunderland, taking in the Lake District, Eden Valley, the Pennines…

Eastnor Lodge recently took part in Ledbury’s Community Day, and here’s a report from David Sparrey, Charity Steward of the Lodge: Ledbury recently hosted a Community Day in the Town, when more than 80 local organisations came together to tell the general public just what they all do. Eastnor Lodge…

Dean Waterfield Lodge, one of the Lodges meeting in Hereford, has donated £500 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of a former member. Ron Griffiths died in 2017 of a particularly aggressive form of the disease, only four months after first diagnosis, at the age of 73. He…

On 25th May St Peter’s Lodge held its annual clay pigeon shoot at The Hill Farm, Castle Frome. On a glorious summer day 40 individuals of varying standards took part under the supervision of Bob Latimer, and the Fir Tree Clay Pigeon Club, who are based in the wood on…

Blackmarston School has unveiled its new bus, in front of an audience of donors, staff, and children at their premises in Hereford. Nearly half of the £60,000 cost of the bus was provided from Masonic sources. The school, for children with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties, received £25,000 from…

The Province is delighted to be able to continue its support for Breast Cancer Haven in Hereford, with a further grant of £1,000 from the Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association. Rachael Manacchini-Godfrey, of Breast Cancer Haven, Hereford, showed the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge, Michael Holland, and the Provincial Charity…

Horizon Training in Hereford is part of the Plynlimon Trust group of local charities, which provides a range of services for disadvantaged, elderly or disabled people, including Hereford and Malvern Dial-a-Ride. Horizon Training focuses on the needs of young people, aged 16-23, who have often had a difficult start in…

Local Freemasons have continued their long-standing support for Hereford Riding for the Disabled with a donation of £1,100. £1,000 of this comes from the members of the Herefordshire Province as a whole, through the Herefordshire Masonic Charity Association, and £100 from the members of Coningsby Lodge in Hereford. Hereford RDA…

The George Long – Tunnard-Moore Golf Competition is played for annually by two members from the same Lodge playing a four ball game against a pair from another Lodge.   It is open to pairs from every Lodge within our Province.   The competition was inaugurated in 1925 and a silver trophy…

The Masonic Charitable Foundation has issued the following press release: Thousands of people across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe whose lives have been devastated by Cyclone Idai will be given access to clean water, as well as tarpaulins, plastic sheets and other emergency supplies, thanks to a grant from the Masonic…

At their April 2019 meeting, Palladian Lodge presented a cheque for £600 to MacMillan Nurses. The photo shows the Worshipful Master, W Bro Paul Chambers, shaking hands with Paddy Nugent, fundraising manager for MacMillan Nurses. On the left is W Bro Phil Burgess and W Bro Robert Hughes-Cound is on…