Congratulations to Paul Harris who was invested as the Provincial Junior Grand Warden at the Essex Provincial Grand Lodge Annual Meeting on 23rd March 2023.

Paul with son Phil at Great Queen Street.

Paul, who has been a Provincial Group Almoner and Deputy Provincial Grand Almoner, is the Secretary and a Trustee, of the Essex Provincial Charity Fund, the Essex Freemasons’ Community Fund and the Essex Provincial Almoner's Fund. His Almoner role involved working closely with the Masonic Charitable Foundation and visiting Brethren, Widows and Orphans all over the Province providing assistance, where needed.

When Paul was appointed as Secretary of the Community Fund and Almoners Fund, he was involved in converting each to be a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.  When it was proposed that the Province create the Charity Fund he was asked to assist in its formation. Paul said, 

'I think it was an excellent idea as it has done a lot for Essex Charities particularly through the matched funding of donations from Lodges and Chapters as well as making direct grants.'

Paul has also been Secretary of his mother lodge, Hadleigh Castle Lodge No. 5447, and for a number of years was Secretary of the largest lodge in the UK, Essex Masters Lodge No 3256, a role that he has recently handed over.  With its introduction, Paul was appointed as the Hermes Chairman for Essex and works with an excellent team of volunteers who provide support and guidance to Secretaries and Scribes.

The introduction by UGLE of Hermes has not been easy and as with all new IT systems there have been some issues in adjusting to a new way of doing things, but these are being addressed and as the users become more familiar with the systems the feedback is becoming very positive.  It will be a very good system and is the way we will work in the future.

In his role as Secretary of Essex Masters, Paul enjoyed visiting many other Past Masters lodges in all the local Provinces and now in his new role as Provincial Junior Grand Warden, the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters will each allow him to represent them on a number of visits, so he is looking forward to making many visits to Essex lodges.

His son, Phil, newly appointed on 25th March 2023 as Inner Guard and Assistant Secretary at the Hadleigh Castle Lodge, was also at Freemasons’ Hall. Phil said, 

'I came to support Dad. I do enjoy the fact that we have a shared hobby.'

It was Phil’s first visit to Great Queen Street having recently been Raised and he was very impressed by the Grand Temple and the whole Provincial ceremony.  Phil added, 

'It was also great to see so many other brethren supporting those being appointed and promoted.'

Over the last few weeks Devonshire’s Freemasons Executive have presented £6,666 to each of Tavistock, Plymouth and Buckfastleigh’s Foodbanks. 

Devonshire Freemasons help ease the load for Foodbanks.

£10,000 has been donated by Devonshire’s benevolent fund to match £10,000 from the National Masonic Charitable Foundation. And as they found out chatting to the Volunteers it’s a significant social problem, that’s getting worse and with little prospect of it getting better in the foreseeable future. Food banks operate on a voucher system, families being put forward for help by Citizens Advice Bureaus, Social Services etc 

All these foodbanks are members of the Trussell Trust an organisation that strives to eradicate food poverty in the UK: 

'In the UK, more than 14 million people are living in poverty – including 4.5 million children. We support more than 1,200 food bank centres in the UK to provide a minimum of three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food to people who have been referred in crisis, as well as support to help people resolve the crises they face. Between April 2019 and March 2020, food banks in our network provided a record 1.9 million food supplies to people in crisis, an 18% increase on the previous year and during the coronavirus pandemic food banks have seen need rise even further”'.

Tavistock Foodbank

left to right: W Bro Reuben Ayres (Provincial Charity Steward Devonshire), Reverent Robert Weston (Acting Chair Tavistock foodbank and United Reformed Minister), W Bro Andy Vodden (Assistant Provincial Grand Master Devonshire).

Located in the United Reform Church in Tavistock, the foodbank and it’s cafe are a vital hub for many in the Town. Running since 2012 it currently supports 23 families (which can be from 1 to 9 people) with a basic 3 days of food a week, and that equates to around 7 Tonnes of food ! Figures for 2021/22 are 647 3-day food parcels issued. And in common with the other food banks there's demand for all the other items of living such as Nappies, milk, fresh vegetables, Toilet rolls etc.

Reverend Robert Weston (Acting Chair Tavistock foodbank and United Reformed Minister):

'Tavistock Foodbank is run entirely by volunteers and relies on donations of food and financial support from the local community. We have been in operation as a Trussell Trust Foodbank since 2012 and have seen a dramatic increase in demand for food parcels over the years. The Tavistock Foodbank is able to support clients in and around Tavistock with advice provided by Citizens’ Advice and fuel vouchers for those households on prepayment meters. On average we are currently supporting twenty households a week, some of these will be families with children, others will be individuals. Your generous donation of over £6000 will cover our running costs for about 4 months, which will enable the provision of food parcels, advice and support for over 350 households.'

 Tavistock Foodbank client:

'I am overwhelmed by the kindness and sincerity of all of those who have helped me and I will be forever grateful.'

W Bro Reuben Ayres (Provincial Charity Steward):

'Food poverty is everywhere, it’s not just an inner city problem. Pretty moorland Towns like Tavistock have significant social need as well. We hope that the money donated will assist the Foodbank in relieving some of that suffering.'

 

Plymouth Foodbank

Left to right: Maria Mills MBE (Project Manager), W Bro Nicholas Ball (Provincial Grand Master Designate Devonshire),  W Bro Andy Vodden ( Assistant Provincial Grand Master Devonshire)

They are a community project established in 2008 working to serve the community and fight poverty, the Plymouth Foodbank is helping people who are in financial crisis by providing them with much needed food and also a listening ear and useful advice. Services that are on offer at the centre Budgeting Help and Money Advice. They can help you to organise your money, communicate with bailiffs and creditors as well as looking at your day to day budgeting.

Advice and Support Support with form filling, liaising with other agencies, a listening ear and prayer can all be offered at the centre.

Training and Education There is a full training programme available weekly. They provide IT Training, Art Therapy,  Cooking Sessions, Job Club, Literacy and Numeracy Lessons.

Community Internet Cafe, Free use of computers with a small charge for printing.

People helped in the 2020/21 year? a staggering 7285.

Maria Mills MBE project manager :

'Currently Plymouth Foodbank is experiencing our highest demand since we opened our doors fourteen years ago. Sadly this has coincided with a decline in donations which we think is directly related to the cost of living crisis. This has meant that every week we are spending between 1.5 and 2.0 thousand pounds to top up our shelves and make sure that everyone who needs us gets the food they require. The grant from the Freemasons will help to keep the shelves full and keep the foodbank functioning in all the ways that people have come to rely upon. We are very grateful for the support that you have given over the past few years and recognise the hard work that makes this support possible. Our very best wishes to you all.'

W Bro Andy Vodden (APGM):

'The Plymouth Foodbank is in the heart of the Plymouth community and has been operating for 16 years with a devoted manager and staff of volunteers. The Freemasons of Devonshire have presented the charity with a cheque for £6,666. The Provincial Grand Master and Brethren of Devonshire recognise there has never been a more important time to support those that are in the greatest need.'

Buckfastleigh Foodbank

left to right: W Bro Clive Eden (Communications Officer Devonshire), Kevin Mitchell (Foodbank Manager), Richard Blight (Foodbank Volunteer), W Bro Andy Vodden (Assistant Provincial Grand Master Devonshire)

Having been in operation since 2013, and at their new base at St Luke's Church for 4 years, the Buckfastleigh Foodbank they only get around 30% of their food donated, that’s because they only have one small supermarket in the Town. So that leaves the other 70% needing to be purchased. The Freemasons grant of £6,666 will provide six to eight months of stock purchasing, a significant help.

Being in quite a rural community it’s not just food in demand, but bottled gas for cooking, pet food, washing and laundry products, and it all costs money. Last year they helped 1012 people with 3-day food parcels. [email protected]

Kevin Mitchell (Foodbank Manager):

'We help around 15 to 20 families each week. The area we cover is quite geographically large from isolated Dartmoor moorland communities down the A38 to South Brent and up to Bover Tracey and outskirts of Totnes. We hand out parcels on a Friday at the same time as we run a free cafe for anyone to come and chat , have a drink and keep warm'.

W Bro Andy Vodden (APGM):

'The Buckfastleigh Foodbank has been supported by the Freemasons of Devonshire with a cheque for £6,666. This will help those in need of support in the Town and its wider community. The Provincial Grand Master and Brethren of Devonshire recognise there has never been a more important time to support those that are in the greatest need. Something else i’ve learnt is how much our foodbanks offer advice as well on claiming for benefits and form filling etc'

 

The current strategy was formed in 2022 under the Pro Grand Master’s leadership to develop our approach for the next seven-year period. So why do we need one? While most major organisations have a public strategy, we can assure you this is not a tick-the-box exercise or to follow some trend or fad. Our aim is simple: to cement our reputation as a force for good in our communities and society at large, and as a thriving organisation with people aspiring to join us.

Freemasonry has been an important part of the development of our society for more than 300 years. The impact of our charitable efforts and member contributions cannot be overestimated. However, a slow but steady decline in our membership numbers threatens our relevance to a wider society and our ability to have a positive impact on local communities. 

On average, there has been a 2.5 per cent annual decline in our membership each year across England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man since 2008, taking us from around 200,000 members 10 years ago to a little more than 150,000 today. 

While we have made great progress over the past year with initiations, this is really only reversing the impact of the pandemic. Even with this substantial increase, we still had a slight decline in members overall. Importantly, these losses are not coming from where you would think. Although we are, on average, an older organisation, death in this situation is not the enemy. We lose far too many members to resignation, cessation and exclusions, including those who quietly drift away. It almost completely negates all the excellent work we have done in bringing new initiates into the Craft and our membership challenge is to close this gap. 

At present, we either need to increase initiations by 46 per cent or reduce resignations accordingly. The ideal practical reality would be a mix of the two. 

One particular statistic is that 17 per cent of new initiates are lost within three years of joining. This is an average for UGLE. In some Provinces, the figure is 30 per cent. Others leave later for a number of reasons, including Lodge closures, usually because they have moved to a different part of the country and don’t rejoin a Lodge, or simply because they have stopped enjoying their Freemasonry. All of this is avoidable. 

The Temple is set upon strong foundations – these are the practical and logistical elements that UGLE and the Provinces need to deliver for you as a best-in-class organisation. There are three pillars. The first is Thriving Membership, which is critical to tackling the membership challenge and is about attracting new members and ensuring their experience keeps them in Freemasonry for life. It also sets out how we can engage with existing members, ensuring that Freemasonry remains relevant and enjoyable for them, particularly those who attend their Lodge infrequently. 

The second pillar, Coherent Organisation, sets out how we, across all levels of our organisation, must act as one in delivering the strategy. Everyone, from the Grand Master to the newest entered apprentice, has a duty and a responsibility to support the success of our organisation. Without our membership pulling in the same direction, the strategy will fail. 

The third pillar, Community Engagement, is what we already do so well. We must build upon our charitable works and member contributions to their communities and wider society as a whole, to ensure we continue to promote a positive and attractive profile and image for Freemasonry. To be clear, our ultimate goals are immensely achievable. We aren’t talking about setting unrealistic targets, such as 20 per cent growth in membership. Rather, our approach is for slow and steady increases in our numbers. 

The aim is to grow the membership by 1 per cent per annum by year three, and 2 per cent per annum by year seven – which marks the end of the strategy period. This should set us on a sustainable growth trajectory as a nationally relevant and thriving membership organisation for the next 300 years. 

Every Freemason has a part to play, no matter where they sit in our organisation.

Strong foundations

Implement an investment plan (people, capabilities and technology) to support delivery of the strategy
Tap into our talent base, identifying and using members’ skills and talents, whatever their rank
Update the Book of Constitutions, ensuring that it is fit for a modern membership organisation

 

Thriving membership

Constantly reinforce the concept of our unique combination of fun/sociability and serious and timeless core values
Address the ‘membership challenge’ at all levels, encouraging innovation, embracing change and spreading successful ideas
Further enhance our members’ understanding of our history and values

 

Coherent organisation

Communicate clear, concise and consistent messaging within UGLE and beyond
Empower and enthuse our members, supporting them with the tools and knowledge to act as ambassadors and become our future leaders
Further develop the RCG structure to maximise local impact across traditional provincial boundaries

 

Community engagement

Build on the recent success of our members’ response to the pandemic in their local communities and of our partnership with the MCF and other local and national charities
Identify new areas for engagement in our communities
Communicate more openly and explicitly the full scale and community impact of members’ current engagement through charitable donations and volunteering

 

On Saturday 11th February, Cadogan Court, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute Care Home in Exeter, Devon, played host to a special meeting of the Admiral Blake Lodge No 4692.

Member brought lodge furniture with them in order to have the meeting in one of the care homes day rooms.

The Lodge had met there on several occasions, pre-Covid, so that those residents who are Masons could enjoy a short Masonic meeting without having to travel away from the home. The meeting was held in one of the home’s comfortable day rooms, with Lodge furniture brought in for the day by the members of Admiral Blake and the other Bridgwater Lodges. Well over thirty Brethren were present to watch the Worshipful Master, Daniel Harding, open the Lodge, assisted by his Officers. 

The working tools of each Degree were thereafter explained by Ian Billington (1st), Sam Brown (2nd) and Hedley Price (3rd), all of which were presented extremely well. Then to the main business of the meeting, which was the presentation of a certificate to John Lendon in recognition and celebration of his sixty years in Masonry.

John moved to Cadogan Court two years ago when his health started to fail and he felt he could no longer cope living on his own. He has nothing but praise for Cadogan Court and the wonderful staff who work there. 

John was Initiated into Freemasonry by Exmoor Lodge, No 2390, in Minehead, Somerset, on 21st February 1963 and he remains a subscribing member of that Lodge to this day. During his short presentation to John, The Provincial Grand Master for Somerset, Ray Guthrie, lauded John’s considerable contribution to Freemasonry in general and to Exmoor Lodge in particular, having been Master there twice, Secretary for more than twenty years and having served in almost every other office in that Lodge throughout the years! 

In response, John shared a few anecdotes from his 60 years in Masonry and thanked all who had attended, particularly the members of the Exmoor Lodge.

Another Cadogan Court resident present at the meeting was Malcolm Elder, who was the Master of the Forest of Selwood Lodge in Frome in 2019. Malcolm underwent surgery for cancer soon after relinquishing that position, becoming unable to live on his own without help. Wearing his newly-appointed Provincial regalia for the first time, he was obviously delighted to be at the meeting.

Thanks are due to Home Manager, Clare Walker, and her staff for facilitating the meeting, making us all welcome and ensuring that residents attending the meeting were all ready and waiting! 

Thanks also to Dave Smith, Secretary of Admiral Blake Lodge and all the members who made the meeting possible. 

It was a very special day for those residents of Cadogan Court who were able to attend.

For more information about Cadogan Court, please take a look at their website. 

Suffolk Freemasons have made a £12,000 grant to ‘Maggie’ The Ipswich Community Playbus, a not for profit, equal opportunities charity, run by a board of Trustees for families with children under 5 years in Ipswich.  

The funds will help 'Maggie' to continue providing early educational support to families in need.

‘Maggie’, who is celebrating 20 years of being a Playbus this year, is a mobile double decker bus converted into a pre-school/parents-toddler-baby group on wheels offering quality Early Years education and bringing children and families together.   The Playbus travels to 6 set locations each week, term time, visiting areas where there is the greatest concentration of social housing, where many families are from low socio-economic backgrounds and where there are no similar facilities nearby. 

The Facilities

People from all backgrounds make use of the service offered,

The Playbus has on board 2 baby areas, one downstairs, one upstairs, together with a sand pit, craft and paint areas, in-built slide, home corner, small world sets, book corner with leading library, puzzles and jigsaws, themed area and imaginative play. There are toilet facilities and a generator which provides the heating and lighting.  All play sessions are free of charge and accessible to everyone.

The staff on board follow the Early Years Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum in planning various and different themes each term to engage young children and develop their learning skills, increasing communication and vocabulary range, interaction and social awareness and behavioural issues.  It also brings families and communities together.  

Combating Loneliness

One of the goals of the Playbus is to reduce isolation.

Reducing isolation has been a major part of ‘Maggie’The Playbus’ work this past year.  Young families have had the added worries, over the past 2 years, of dealing with the Covid19 Pandemic and the Lockdowns of the whole country.  This all has added to the greatest feelings of isolation, loneliness and being cut off entirely from everyone.  

All activities on board ‘Maggie’ are aimed at encouraging participation and interaction. Last year ‘Maggie’ The Playbus helped address the isolation experienced by 360 pre-school children living in these areas by providing somewhere safe for them to play away from the family home, but within their immediate community. Their siblings and parents/carers also benefited from being able to meet their neighbours and others in a similar situation creating community cohesion.

Mandy Potter, Playbus Co-ordinator commented;

'Maggie, all the families, staff and the Trustees are absolutely overwhelmed with this Grant and we are so very grateful to the Suffolk Freemasons for their great support.  I would like to thank them very much, it means so much to us!'

Rick Orme from Suffolk Freemasons, added;

'Having visited ‘Maggie’ and seen for myself the range of activities they offer, I’m delighted that we are able to offer support to this fantastic charity in Ipswich and therefore help them to continue with the valuable work they do for the community'.

The grant from Suffolk Freemasons has been made through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

For more information about the charity please email Mandy Potter, Playbus Co-Ordinator.

At a presentation at Colchester Garrison on the 9th March 2023, Essex Freemasons gave a total of £26,390 to the Army Benevolent Fund Soldiers’ Charity and the Personnel Recovery Centre. 

Outside the centre (L-R) Lt Col. Ed Rankin, Steve Harris, Paul Tarrant, Nigel Seaman, Maj. Colin Peall, Dave Hawtin, Chris Hicks and  Simon Ferrier

These donations were made in the spirit of the Armed Forces Covenant that Essex Freemasons signed with the Army, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, in March 2022. This collaboration will be ongoing and will continue to support other activities associated with the Military and transitioning Service Men and Women. 

The Projects Supported

£15,000 to the Army Benevolent Fund for ‘Operation Camouflage’

This is an Out of School Adventures programme at Woodbridge, Suffolk. It is run in conjunction with Army Welfare Service and the East Suffolk and Coastal council, to provide various activities for 40 children per day. The children come from military families at the Colchester Garrison, Wattisham and Woodbridge as well as from local underprivileged families.
The programme offers support to families during the summer holidays, parents have a rest and children experience outdoor and adventure activities, that can help them with their personal development.
Activities include outdoor projects as well as arts, drama, dance and sports in a safe and positive environment. 

£11,390 to the Personnel Recovery Centre to deliver courses and qualifications to transitioning service personnel, to help them adapt to civilian life.

These courses will allow over 50 personnel to gain useful qualifications to enable them to be employed and use other transferable skills.
These courses will supplement the Core Foundation Courses offered by the Centre and will work hand in hand with other business partners. 
The courses that will be supported here are:
First Aid at Work – at least two courses of 12 delegates
Level 3 Health & Safety in the Workplace - at least two 3–day courses of 10 delegates 
Security in Action - at least two courses of 12 delegates

Paul Tarrant, Provincial Grand Master of Essex Freemasons, said that 

'I am pleased that Essex is the first of the Masonic Provinces which have signed up to the Covenant, to make a significant contribution to H.M. Armed Forces. These projects fit in with Essex Freemasons’ core support for the young the community and those in service and we will continue to support these and other service projects in the years to come.'

Lieutenant Colonel Ed Rankin, Garrison Commander, said that 

'This support from Essex Freemasons is a valuable contribution to the well-being and future of transitioning soldiers as well as for the welfare of families stationed here in Colchester.'

The Fund

The Army Benevolent Fund is the Army’s national charity for soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. They stand at the forefront of support for the Army family, last year supporting 65,000 people in 48 countries around the world with donations totalling over £8 Million. 

As one of the largest funders in the sector, the ABF awards grants to individuals and families and funds leading organisations that support soldiers, former soldiers and their families. When they hear of a person or family in need they aim to respond within 48 hours.

Simon Ferrier, Briefing and Liaison Officer London and East Anglia, said that 

'This donation will go directly to support those children from military families, as well as under privileged children in the area, to enable them to have experiences in the summer vacation that will be safe and help their personal development.'

The Recovery Centre

The Personnel Recovery Centre at Colchester is one of four Centre’s in the UK 

Tedworth House, Tidworth, Wiltshire
Phoenix House, Catterick, North Yorkshire 
Chavasse VC House, Colchester, Essex
Erskine House, Edinburgh, Scotland

Each Centre is a dedicated residential or day visitor facility designed to provide an appropriate environment for Service Personnel on Recovery Duty to take part in a variety of recovery activities that are designed to deliver successful outcomes in the following areas:

Individual recovery planning
Support
Career transition
Wellbeing
Signposting

Chavasse VC House offers 27 bedrooms, with Equality Act compliant en-suite wet rooms, a family room with additional sleeping area is also available.  There are various facilities available including kitchens, fitness areas and gym, games rooms, studies and lounges. All personnel attending are entitled to participate in a series of professionally delivered Core Recovery Events to support their recovery. In addition to these, there are additional vocational and external courses and programmes that are supported by national and local companies and organisations.

Major Colin Peall, Officer Commanding the Personnel Recovery Centre,  Colchester, said that, 

'The support for the courses from Essex Freemasons will add real value and opportunities for those attendees who are in recovery and are transitioning. The training provides valued qualifications that will supplement their transferable skills as they enter into the civilian workforce and continue to add value to society.'