Waveney Masons donate £2,500 to local charities

charities / Waveney Valley February 4, 2009

Waveney Masons donate £2,500 to local charities

Four charities benefited from a share in £2500 of donations as a result of the generosity of Waveney Masons when David Thompson retiring Master of Waveney Lodge No 929 presented cheques to the following good causes:

Presentation of £1,000 cheque to Danielle Clarke of E.A.C.H.

A visit by David and the retiring lodge secretary (Mr E Whitlam) was made to the Children’s Hospice at Quidenham to present a cheque for £1,000 to E.A.C.H (East Anglian Children Hospice) which was thankfully received by Danielle Clarke who then gave a tour of the premises which demonstrated the valuable work they perform in caring for the children and the huge dependency they have on donations to enable their work to continue.

Presentation to Jess Down of East Anglian Air Ambulance

Following on from here a visit was made to the East Anglian Air Ambulance at Norwich Airport to present a cheque of £500 for this very worthy cause; the cheque was gratefully received on their behalf by co-ordinator Jess Down, who David learned on the day, is the daughter of a Mason and therefore had an insight into how Masons raise the monies that are presented to so many deserving causes which Countrywide amounts to several million pounds each year. In just one example, Masonic bodies have funded 13 RNLI lifeboats, which have saved more than 1,000 lives. Other

Masonic donations used for equipment, training and fuel have helped to save many more.

The Freemason was the first Mason-funded lifeboat way back in 1872 being the first for North Berwick, today there are two lifeboats stationed here on the south side of the Firth of Forth ready to respond to emergencies in that part of the North Sea east of Edinburgh

Presentation to Mr Alan Rushbroke, Bungay First Responders

Next to receive a cheque for £500 were the local Bungay First Responders, their cheque was received by Mr Alan Rushbroke the Bungay based First Responder who came to the Bungay Masonic Lodge Rooms in Chaucer St Bungay and gave a brief talk on his work and a demonstration of his equipment. All present were very interested which resulted in David taking a Heartstart course at the Bungay surgery which included the use of a defibrillator, a chance to take the Heartstart course should be taken up by any able person as the skills learned could be invaluable in saving a life should such a situation present itself. The local first responders are always very grateful for any donation however small in order to purchase more defibrillators and expand the small local team.

Presentation of £500 cheque to Sian Hill for Macmillan Nurses

The final cheque of £500 was presented to Sian Hill admissions co-ordinator at Pricilla Bacon Lodge Norwich for the benefit of the Macmillan Nurses who do a tremendous job in caring and supporting patients both in their own homes as well as in these hospices. David is well familiar with the work carried out at the Pricilla Bacon Lodge from his regular visits there to see his friend and business partner Gil who received such devoted care from 1988 till he sadly succumbed to the ravages of Motor Neurone disease five years later. Without such care that five years would most certainly have been considerably much shorter

Waveney Lodge No. 929 has been pleased to be able to help these good causes from the fund raising efforts of its members and if anyone wishes to know more about the Masonic movement or consider becoming a member David would welcome a call on 01986 896575 or check out the Suffolk Freemasons web site at www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk