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CelebrationsJubilees & Masonic milestones reached by our members
in Craft and other Orders in our wider Masonic Family across this Province |
 Aiding the Craft Aiders! Pictured behind the table and holding the cheque are, from left, Artizan International Founder, Suzie Hart, Harlow Lodge Immediate Past Master Leigh Eyles and volunteer Anne. A Harrogate charity which empowers and supports people with disabilities to meet their full potential through therapeutic craft activities, has been given a £2,000 boost from local Freemasons.
Members of Harlow Lodge, which meets at Harrogate’s Masonic Hall, successfully applied to the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund for a grant for Bilton-based Artizan International, formerly known as Craft Aid International. The charity runs free weekly craft workshops for differently-able adults in Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds, and also runs workshops for long-term hospital inpatients. This provides vital opportunities for people with disabilities to get out of their care homes or hospital beds, increase their social interaction, make new friends, build their confidence and learn new skills in a caring, supportive and creative environment. It also runs a “Mosaics for Schools” project, which involves training differently-able people in mosaics skills, and then taking them in to local primary schools, to teach the children how to make a large-scale mosaic for their school. Additionally, it has recently started new after school craft clubs for children with disabilities. Charity founder Suzie Hart said: “I would like to say a big thank you to the members of Harlow Lodge for this donation. As we are expanding our services, this money will allow us to purchase craft equipment and raw materials for the free therapeutic crafts sessions that we run in the community.” Harlow Lodge charity steward David Simister said: “It was our pleasure to nominate Artizan International for a grant and I’m delighted it was successful. “This is a great organisation that supports disabled people, not just in Harrogate, but in Ripon and Leeds too, and is now going into schools. “Each year, the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund gives grants totalling £200,000 to a wide range of charities, schools, community groups and hospices across the geographical area of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding. “And just like Artizan International, there are a huge amount of charities in the Harrogate District who could do with a financial lift to help them continue the great work they are doing within our communities.”  Ice One Loyalty Lodge! Pictured from left are Ed Morris, Loyalty Lodge Charity Steward; Lucy Vernon, St Gemma's Senior Fundraiser; and David Brazil, Master of Loyalty Lodge A Leeds Masonic lodge has received a very warm reception from a local hospice to a “cool” £2,500 donation!
Members of Loyalty Lodge, which meets in Castle Grove, Headingley, answered a call of help from St Gemma's Hospice, in Moortown, which was looking to purchase an industrial ice machine. Whilst ice is used by the hospice to not only to chill drinks - but to soothe patients’ mouths and throats, and to fill packs to cool those with high temperatures - the cost of a new unit came with a hefty price tag. For its part, Loyalty Lodge successfully applied to the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s (PGM’s) Fund for a grant of £2,500 to help buy the equipment. Each quarter, this fund allocates grants ranging from a few hundred pounds up to £5,000 to charities and organisations in its membership area, which encompasses West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and parts of East and North Yorkshire. Annually, it gives financial support totalling £200,000, which comes solely from the generosity of its members at lodge nights and from fund-raising activities. Loyalty Lodge Charity Steward Ed Morris said: “St Gemma’s is a much loved and valued hospice, and one that offers support and comfort to terminally ill people and their families from across Leeds. “When we heard they were looking to buy a new ice-making machine, we applied to the PGM’s fund to pay for one, and I’m delighted to say it was successful. “Charity has been at the very heart of Freemasonry since its foundation, which in this province dates back more than 200 years. “Our members, who all live and work in the local area, are incredibly community minded, and they like nothing better than helping support charities and good causes in Leeds.”  Financial donations of almost £25,000 have been handed to various organisations across the Yorkshire region by the Freemasons.
Amongst the recipients of grants raging from between £3160 and £750 are Down’s Syndrome North Yorkshire, Wakefield’s Standbridge Community Centre, and Clifton Rangers Youth Football Club in Brighouse. The donations come courtesy of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, which each quarter distributes tens-of-thousands-of-pounds to local good causes across the Province – whose geographically area ranges from Sheffield in the South to Ripon in the North, and Goole in the East to Waddington in the West. Recipients of this quarter’s grants include:
David S Pratt, Provincial Grand Master for the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said: “Once again it fills me with enormous pride that the Freemasons of Yorkshire West Riding can financially support various organisations across our membership area. “Each quarter, our members nominate good causes who need monetary assistance with various projects, be it new kit for football teams to new kitchens for community buildings. “Charity is one of the foundation stones of Freemasonry and it continues to be at the heart of what we do. “Each recipient - and I’ delighted to say that on this occasion there are 17 of them - will use their grant to continue the wonderful work they do in their local community.”  After receiving a request from Ecclesfield Spartans Junior Football Club, for assistance to purchase a much needed Defibrillator, Brethren from Welcome Lodge, who are based at Tapton Masonic Hall in Sheffield, secured a grant from the West Riding Provincial Grand Masters fund.
The cheque for £1000 was presented at the club grounds in Ecclesfield to the Club Treasurer Carol Brookes by Dave Staniforth and Tony Bartle, on behalf of the West Yorkshire Freemasons. The Club was started in 2011 by Craig Wainwright and Chris Eaton and now has a membership of almost 160 players between the ages of 7 and 16.  Pictured from left to right - |
| David S Pratt, The Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding |
“This money has all been raised by individual Freemasons from throughout our Province, and I am extremely grateful for their generosity and continued support of one of our three grand principles, namely charity.
“Charity is, and always has been, at the heart of Freemasonry, and it will continue to be so for as long as our ancient and honourable institution exists.”
Sarah Smith from Martin House said: “We are delighted to receive the support of the Freemasons, and this vehicle will make a huge difference to us. It will enable us to take children and young people on more trips and outings, helping them to enjoy more activities and make precious memories during their stays at Martin House.”
For Further Information, please contact:
David Simister, Different PR, on 08453 892 626
“Charity is, and always has been, at the heart of Freemasonry, and it will continue to be so for as long as our ancient and honourable institution exists.”
Sarah Smith from Martin House said: “We are delighted to receive the support of the Freemasons, and this vehicle will make a huge difference to us. It will enable us to take children and young people on more trips and outings, helping them to enjoy more activities and make precious memories during their stays at Martin House.”
For Further Information, please contact:
David Simister, Different PR, on 08453 892 626
Pictured from left are: Doug Mills, Freemason; Ellie Jackson, Harrogate Hospital Radio; John Birkenshaw, Freemason; Mark Oldfield, Harrogate Hospital Radio; Nigel Glew, Freemason; and Michael Baxter, Freemason.
Harrogate & Claro Freemasons have tuned into the needs of Harrogate Hospital Radio by securing them a £3,000 donation to help purchase hundreds of internet radios.
Last year, Harrogate Hospital NHS Trust’s strategic decision not to renew its contract with the provider of the bedside-entertainment system had a massive impact on the charity broadcaster.
As a result of the loss of facility, the only way patients can now listen to the in-house radio station is on smart phones and tablets via the internet or an app.
Harrogate Hospital Radio, which first took to the airwaves in October 1977, has had to radically rethink the way it provides its service to patients, and is now looking at broadcasting its services across the wards and public areas through wi-fi radios.
The charity was faced with a dilemma as the cost to achieve this was far outside its budget.
However, John Birkenshaw, Harrogate & Claro Lodge charity steward, became aware of the situation and made an application to the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, to help purchase sufficient radios for patients within the hospital.
Mark Oldfield, Harrogate Hospital Radio Chairman, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to pieces. This generous grant of £3,000 could not have come at a better time. We would like to pass on our thanks to all the Freemasons involved in this great act of kindness.
“They have certainly tuned into our needs and the needs of our listeners, namely patients within Harrogate District Hospital.”
Darren Bush, the Worshipful Master of Harrogate & Claro Lodge, said: “This is exactly the type of local charity that we, as Masons in Harrogate, want to support.
“The purchase of these radios will provide great comfort and support to patients in hospital on their road to recovery and means Harrogate Hospital Radio can continue providing the service it has done for more than 40 years.”
Last year, Harrogate Hospital NHS Trust’s strategic decision not to renew its contract with the provider of the bedside-entertainment system had a massive impact on the charity broadcaster.
As a result of the loss of facility, the only way patients can now listen to the in-house radio station is on smart phones and tablets via the internet or an app.
Harrogate Hospital Radio, which first took to the airwaves in October 1977, has had to radically rethink the way it provides its service to patients, and is now looking at broadcasting its services across the wards and public areas through wi-fi radios.
The charity was faced with a dilemma as the cost to achieve this was far outside its budget.
However, John Birkenshaw, Harrogate & Claro Lodge charity steward, became aware of the situation and made an application to the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, to help purchase sufficient radios for patients within the hospital.
Mark Oldfield, Harrogate Hospital Radio Chairman, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to pieces. This generous grant of £3,000 could not have come at a better time. We would like to pass on our thanks to all the Freemasons involved in this great act of kindness.
“They have certainly tuned into our needs and the needs of our listeners, namely patients within Harrogate District Hospital.”
Darren Bush, the Worshipful Master of Harrogate & Claro Lodge, said: “This is exactly the type of local charity that we, as Masons in Harrogate, want to support.
“The purchase of these radios will provide great comfort and support to patients in hospital on their road to recovery and means Harrogate Hospital Radio can continue providing the service it has done for more than 40 years.”
Youth groups, a charity broadcaster and a Sikh society are amongst 19 Yorkshire organisations to receive a share of £33,000 - courtesy of the Freemasons.
The donations, ranging from £500 to £3,000, come from the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, which each year gives grants to good causes in West, South, East and North Yorkshire, totalling some £200,000.
The donations, ranging from £500 to £3,000, come from the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, which each year gives grants to good causes in West, South, East and North Yorkshire, totalling some £200,000.
 Harrogate Hospital Radio chairman, Mark Oldfield |  The Sikh Soldier Organisation celebrating the role the turbaned soldier |
In addition to “minor” grants – which range between £500 and £5,000 and are given on a quarterly basis - “major” grants, which can be in excess of £30,000, are awarded once a year and presented at the fraternity’s annual May meeting at Harrogate’s Royal Hall.
Those to benefit from the latest round of grant giving include:
David S Pratt, The Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said: “Once again, I’m delighted that our society has been able to benefit no fewer than 19 different organisations across Yorkshire.
“These donations are only possible thanks to the continued generosity of our members, and to them I’m eternally grateful. Charity is one of Freemasonry’s three great pillars, and it’s wonderful that we can help so many different community groups in their own fund-raising activities.”
The Province of Yorkshire West Riding is based on the old West Riding, geographically ranging from Sheffield in the South to Ripon in the North and Goole in the East to Waddington in the West.
Additional information regarding the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding is available from its website https://www.wrprovince.org.uk/
For Further Information, please contact:
David Simister, Different PR, on 08453 892 626
Minor Grants Recipients
Total awarded: £33,535
Those to benefit from the latest round of grant giving include:
- Harrogate Hospital Radio - £3,000 to continue providing service they need by install Wi-Fi radios to each hospital bed
- Crowlees CE Junior & Infants School, Mirfield - £2,925 to purchase a high-quality marquee to be used as an outdoor classroom
- Headway Rotherham (a brain injury support group and a registered charity) - £2,000 to replace their obsolete photocopier essential for providing information to their clients
- Leeds Regional Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis & Respiratory Centre - £2,250 to buy TV/DVD, Xbox and iPads for children in isolation during their treatment. These items will ease their anxiety and stress
- Sikh Soldier Organisation, Huddersfield - £1,000 to provide a bronze statue as a memorial to the Sikh soldiers who died in both World Wars
David S Pratt, The Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said: “Once again, I’m delighted that our society has been able to benefit no fewer than 19 different organisations across Yorkshire.
“These donations are only possible thanks to the continued generosity of our members, and to them I’m eternally grateful. Charity is one of Freemasonry’s three great pillars, and it’s wonderful that we can help so many different community groups in their own fund-raising activities.”
The Province of Yorkshire West Riding is based on the old West Riding, geographically ranging from Sheffield in the South to Ripon in the North and Goole in the East to Waddington in the West.
Additional information regarding the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding is available from its website https://www.wrprovince.org.uk/
For Further Information, please contact:
David Simister, Different PR, on 08453 892 626
Minor Grants Recipients
Total awarded: £33,535
Freemasons Donation Helps Pinderfields Hospital Complete £10k Upgrade of Bereavement Viewing Suite
28/2/2019
Pictured from left are: Ian Lewis, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding; Jules Preston Chairman of The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust and Gerald Hancocks from Rectitude Lodge
A cash injection by the Freemasons has helped Wakefield’s Pinderfields Hospital complete a major upgrade to its bereavement viewing suite.
And to mark the conclusion of the £10,000 refurbishment scheme which saw the Freemasons contributing £6,000 -, The renamed Oakleaf Suite was officially opened at a ceremony attended by representatives from the fraternity and Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust.
The money from the Freemasons has been donated in the memory of David Pickover MBE, a former chairman of the Wakefield and Pontefract MacMillan Appeal Fund, and a member of Rectitude Lodge in Wakefield, who died in June 2017.
Twelve months after his death, the Lodge received a plea for financial support from the Palliative Care Team to support the refurbishment of Pinderfields’ mortuary viewing room.
It responded by successfully applying for £5,000k from the Freemasons Provincial Grand Master’s (PGM’s) Fund – which each year gives £200,000 to good causes across the region – and further boosted this by a £1,000 donation from lodge members.
Artist Stella Corrall, from Lucentia Design, who together with art project manager Helen Kitchen, was commissioned to transform the mortuary suite - said: “The success of this project has to a large extent been due to people’s willingness to give feedback and share their experiences and reflections.
“Talking with a broad cross-section of people we found that many individuals had been touched by loss and bereavement and that they had insightful suggestions for enhancing the mortuary environment.
“We want to thank everyone who participated in this project, for their openness and generosity of spirit.”
Jules Preston, chairman of The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust, who formally opened the suite and thanked all the contributors for their help in making it possible, said that as a result of the fantastic outcome of the project, a further viewing room at Pinderfields Hospital would be refurbished in a similar style
Jeff Beevers, a past master of Rectitude Lodge, said: “Thanks to the £6,000 from the PGM’s Fund and our own members the hospital has been able to finish this worthwhile project.
“There is no doubt that the transformation of the viewing room will enhance the experience of bereaved relatives.
“The former rooms were cold and lacking any comfort at all, unwelcoming for relatives who would not have wanted to stay for any time, whereas the Oak Leaf Suite now provides a warm, welcoming calm and comfortable environment where relatives will want to spend time with their dearly departed.
“The main aim of the project was to create a calming and beautiful space, to help mitigate the distress and anguish of those visiting, so mission accomplished!”
And to mark the conclusion of the £10,000 refurbishment scheme which saw the Freemasons contributing £6,000 -, The renamed Oakleaf Suite was officially opened at a ceremony attended by representatives from the fraternity and Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust.
The money from the Freemasons has been donated in the memory of David Pickover MBE, a former chairman of the Wakefield and Pontefract MacMillan Appeal Fund, and a member of Rectitude Lodge in Wakefield, who died in June 2017.
Twelve months after his death, the Lodge received a plea for financial support from the Palliative Care Team to support the refurbishment of Pinderfields’ mortuary viewing room.
It responded by successfully applying for £5,000k from the Freemasons Provincial Grand Master’s (PGM’s) Fund – which each year gives £200,000 to good causes across the region – and further boosted this by a £1,000 donation from lodge members.
Artist Stella Corrall, from Lucentia Design, who together with art project manager Helen Kitchen, was commissioned to transform the mortuary suite - said: “The success of this project has to a large extent been due to people’s willingness to give feedback and share their experiences and reflections.
“Talking with a broad cross-section of people we found that many individuals had been touched by loss and bereavement and that they had insightful suggestions for enhancing the mortuary environment.
“We want to thank everyone who participated in this project, for their openness and generosity of spirit.”
Jules Preston, chairman of The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust, who formally opened the suite and thanked all the contributors for their help in making it possible, said that as a result of the fantastic outcome of the project, a further viewing room at Pinderfields Hospital would be refurbished in a similar style
Jeff Beevers, a past master of Rectitude Lodge, said: “Thanks to the £6,000 from the PGM’s Fund and our own members the hospital has been able to finish this worthwhile project.
“There is no doubt that the transformation of the viewing room will enhance the experience of bereaved relatives.
“The former rooms were cold and lacking any comfort at all, unwelcoming for relatives who would not have wanted to stay for any time, whereas the Oak Leaf Suite now provides a warm, welcoming calm and comfortable environment where relatives will want to spend time with their dearly departed.
“The main aim of the project was to create a calming and beautiful space, to help mitigate the distress and anguish of those visiting, so mission accomplished!”
Another fabulous evening of spectacular entertainment, great company, good food and phenomenal fundraising for Masonic Charities took place at the second Area 4 Gala Dinner on Saturday 9th February 2019, held at Magna, Rotherham. This year it was the Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr. Steve Green’s chance to see the total amount for his chosen charities, which are Barnsley Hospice and Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support (BIADS), boosted by a massive £2500 presentation from the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro. David Pratt. A further £2000 was raised at the event for other local Masonic Charities and the whole evening was again an outstanding success.
