THE MASONIC PROVINCE OF YORKSHIRE WEST RIDING

Jason Mallinson, Internationally acclaimed Cave Rescue Diver and recipient of the Queen's Gallantry Medal, recently gave a captivating and illustrated talk chronicling his exploits in Thailand in June 2018 to a two hundred strong audience at Greenhead Masonic Hall.

Jason spoke of his role in helping rescue twelve Wild Boars football team members from a flooded underground cave in Tham Luang Non in Chiang Rai Province.

The brave but unassuming 50-year-old hero from Oakes, provided a graphic description as he re-lived the epic rescue involving himself and colleagues dubbed by the press as “International Rescue”, a hand-picked team from across the globe flown to Thailand and charged with what was thought to be an impossible mission.

Before Mallinson’s arrival at Tham Luang, where the boys were trapped deep inside the vast cave system, the rescue seemed near impossible giving the authorities cause to consider leaving the football team and their coach there for months until water levels dropped making for a safer rescue attempt.

The youngsters were stuck with very little hope for 18 long days and nights before the dramatic rescue.

Malcolm Jenkinson, from Newsome, who organised the evening on behalf of Unity Masonic Lodge, explained that he had been a friend and caving colleague of Jason’s for over 30 years.

“Potholing and caving in the Yorkshire Dales are where we began and as the years went by Jason became known worldwide as a leading cave diver with many underground, underwater world records achieved."

“Missions to Norway, Mexico and now Thailand have begun with a call for me to provide extra gear and I am so proud of his achievements, always with minimal concern for his own safety.”

Proceeds raised on the evening amounted to £1,000 for the Freemasons’ Teddies For Loving Care initiative which provides a cuddly bear at Accident and Emergency units at hospitals, including HRI and Calderdale.

Jason, along with other members of the rescue team, were recognised by Her Majesty The Queen in the 2019 New Year's Honours List.

A group of volunteers that service Harrogate as Harrogate Community First Responders (CFR), demonstrated effective CPR to members of The Spa Lodge at the Masonic Hall.
 
They also brought with them the three kit bags, each having a defibrillator (AED) and a wide selection of basic life support equipment including oxygen cylinder, oxygen masks, bandages, purchased with a Provincial Grand Master’s Fund (PGM) Grant and a donation from the Lodge.
 
Although not able to deal with road accidents /trauma cases they are generally first on scene to assist someone with a heart problem, epileptic seizures or other medical emergencies. The additional bags enable them to ensure that multiple CFRs are on duty to respond 24/7 to emergency calls allowing greater coverage of Harrogate and surrounding villages.
 
Damian Bowen, team leader, in thanking the PGM Fund Committee and the Lodge brethren went on to say: “This essential additional equipment will make a real difference to people’s lives in their time of need when we attend medical emergencies in the local community on behalf of Yorkshire Ambulance Service.”
 
Several brethren later tried their hand in giving CPR but were advised to stop before creating a real emergency!

​Schools, village halls and research organisations across Yorkshire have been honoured with New Year grants from the Freemasons totalling £28,950.
 
A total of 19 organisations, from North, West and South Yorkshire have received donations ranging from £500 and £5,000 via the Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s (PGM) Fund.
 
Every year this fund – which has been supporting community organisations since 1987 – awards grants totalling £200,000. Nominees are selected by individual Masonic Lodges with grants presented four times a year.
 
Those to benefit from the latest round of grant giving include:
 
·       St George's Crypt – a charity giving care and support for homeless, destitute and disadvantaged in Leeds, received £5,000 towards buying an industrial washer/drier machine
·       The PPR Foundation, based at Leeds University doing research into brain tumours, have received £3,000 towards buying a Semidry Blotter and a laptop computer
·       Cullingworth Village Hall Management Committee Ltd has received £3,000 to be used towards fitting out a kitchen in the new village hall           
·       Baildon C of E Primary School has been given £2,500 to replace current condemned Trim Trail with new
·       Paperworks – which provides educational and vocational training for those with learning/physical disabilities in Harrogate, has received £2,500 towards buying a “talking mat” and Macbook                
 
David S Pratt, The Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said: “As ever it gives me much pride to award these grants to different organisations and charities across our Province.
 
“They say that charity begins at home, and these recipients, who are all based within our region, have been nominated by either a local lodge or chapter.
 
“Thanks to the generosity of individual members, we continue to be able to administer these grants on a quarterly basis, and these 19 different organisations are having an excellent start to 2019.”
 
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.