Fifteen Yorkshire hospices have received donations totaling £21,920 from the Freemasons.
The grants from The Province of Yorkshire West Riding came through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF). Those to benefit are:
In total 237 grants have been given to hospices around the country totaling £600,000. This includes £300,000 which will be distributed to each hospice that receives less than 60 per cent funding from the NHS. A further £300,000 will be provided to individual hospices across England and Wales via Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice care. Additionally, MCF is partnering with Hospice UK to develop and extend bereavement support services in hospices. Contributions from Freemasons to hospices have exceeded £13m in England and Wales since 1984 and are continuing to increase at a rate of £600,000 a year. David S Pratt, the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to assist these 15 hospices. “They do an outstanding job helping people with terminal or life limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families through very difficult times.” On the 11.11.2018, the Brethren of Royal Yorkshire Lodge 265 formed up on Parade in Keighley, this year being a special year for all, the brethren were adorned in their masonic aprons but also their beret's and proudly displaying personal medals from conflicts passed. On early parade at the Keighley Cenotaph before the main event were [left to right] Bro. Dave Connor, Bro. James Aslam-Armitage, W Bro. Edward Sissling PGSW, W Bro. Andrew Harrison. PPSGD, Bro. Mike Moran, W Bro. Neil Armitage, Bro. Peter Karkoszka, with Lodge Liaison Officer; W Bro. Graham Lake, PAGDC, PPSGW
Flying High! Yorkshire Air Ambulance Chief Pilot Steve Waudby, far right, is pictured with, from left, Very Worshipful Jack Pigott, Chair of West Riding Masonic Charities Limited; Joanna Pigott; Worshipful Roger Newhouse, Assistant Provincial Grand Master; Fiona Newhouse; Bob Smailes, Fund Raising Manager Yorkshire Air Ambulance; Rita Pratt, and Right Worshipful Bro David S Pratt, Provincial Grand Master For several years the Yorkshire Air Ambulance has held an Annual Recognition Awards Dinner at various prestigious venues across the county, to say thank you to their staff, volunteers and sponsors, for their help in keeping the county’s two air ambulances in the air for the last year.
For the first time representatives of the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, were invited to attend. The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, David S Pratt, attended this year’s event, which was held at the Mercure St Paul’s Hotel, in Sheffield city centre, together with his wife Rita, accompanied by Very Worshipful Bro Jack Pigott, Chairman of West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd, his wife Joanna, and Worshipful Brother Roger D Newhouse, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, and his wife Fiona. The evening was hosted by ITV Calendar presenters Gaynor Barnes and Jon Mitchell. For many years The Grand Charity (now the Masonic Charitable Foundation) has made annual grants to all the Air Ambulances across the country. The cost of operating the two YAA helicopters is £12,000 a day! The Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding and the Masonic Province of North and East Yorkshire, each give £4,000 each, and West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd have always match funded the £4,000 grant from the MCF, giving an annual grand total of £12,000. |