A DINNER dance was held by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire Freemasons at the Chateau Impney in Droitwich.
During the event on January 21, attended by 680 Brethren and guests, the Worcestershire Provincial Grand Master RW Brother Robert Vaughan announced the group had been chosen for the organisation’s latest big fund-raising drive.
He added the branch had been set a target of raising £2million over the next four years as part of the Worcestershire Festival 2022 Appeal and, encouragingly, £321,136.36 had already been raised.
The cash raised will fund the upkeep and maintenance of the Masonic schools which, spread across England, offer educational opportunities for orphans and families who have fallen on hard times.
A recreational activities weekend which will take place in Stafford has already been organised as one of the big cash generating events for the campaign and the 115 lodges across Worcestershire will be organising their own fund-raisers for the cause.
After dinner key note speaker for the Masonic Charitable Foundation, President R W Brother Richard Hone QC spoke about the significant contribution from local and lodge organised events, along with regular charitable giving.
The MCF presentation included a short film on the organisation and illustrated the range of active involvement.
One family who had been supported was the Elcock family and singer Jasmine Elcock, a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent, performed during the evening, accompanied by Jon Scott and his band. The Freemasons had helped fund Jasmine’s singing lessons.
The dinner dance also featured featured a talk by Assistant Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England R W Brother Sir David Wootton on ‘The Strategy for Freemasonry 2020: now we’re going to deliver it’ – subtitled ‘Masonry is fun’.
As well as supporting the launch of the Worcestershire Festival 2022 Appeal, Sir David spoke about how he had previously visited Droitwich Brine baths in 1961 and was disappointed they were now closed.
