Derwent Lodge No. 4250

Masonic Charities

Durham 2021 Festival for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys

At our Lodge meeting on the 23rd March 2016 the Lodge Secretary informed the meeting that the Lodge had achieved their Bronze Award target of £4,134.00 and WBro K.Cook PPJGW Charity Steward received the Bronze Festival lapel pin badge

At our Lodge meeting on the 22nd March 2017 the Lodge Secretary informed the meeting that the Lodge had achieved their Silver Award target of £8,268.40 and WBro K.Cook PPJGW Charity Steward received the Silver Festival lapel pin badge

At our Lodge meeting on the 22nd November 2017 our WM WBro Tom Henderson PAGDC PPJGW presented a cheque for £4,250.00 to WBro John D.Watts PSGD APGM which was credited to the 2021 Festival. WBro John Watts then thanked the Lodge for the most generous donation and congratulated the Lodge for reaching their Gold Award target of £12,528.00. He then presented the W.M. with the Lodge’s Gold Award Certificate. He then presented WBro K.Cook PPJGW Charity Steward with a Gold Festival lapel pin badge.

At our Lodge meeting on the 25th September 2019 our WM WBro Bob Bennie PPJGW (N/land) then presented a cheque for £I,000 to the ProvGM RWBro John Arthur which was credited to the 2021 Festival. WBro Dr P.A.Mundell then presented £357.60 which had been collected by the Lodge members through the “Smartie Challenge” and credited to the Festival. Derwent Lodge has raised £17781.40 for the Platinum Award which will end up as £19,792.00. The ProvGM then presented WBro K Cook with the Platinum Badge and Certificate. WBro Kook then thanked W.Bro K.Walker for all the work he and his wife Hillary does for the Lodge BBQ’s and Socials which have raised a considerable amount of money. He also thanked Bro W.Ridley PPGPurs for organising the Lodge Summer and Christmas Grand Raffles over a number of years which have raised a lot of money. The ProvGM then presented the W.M. with the Platinum Plaque Award.

Non Masonic Charities

The Great North Air Ambulance Service

Derwent Lodge have held a Barbeque every June or July for a number of years at the home of Keith and Hillary Walker at Rowley Castleside, which is always a wonderful day with entertainment and the money raised from raffles and auctions going to the GNAAS.

At our Lodge meeting on the 22nd November 2017 our WM WBro Tom Henderson PAGDC PPJGW welcomed Mr. Ben McWilliams the Great North Air Ambulance Service Public Liaison Officer into the Lodge. Mr McWilliams then explained how all the money that they receive is used, he then showed a video of Dr Andrew Mawson Director of Operation who thanked Derwent Lodge for all the money they have raised and gave a very detailed explanation how the GNAAS operates. WBro John D Watts Asst Prov Grand Master then on behalf of the MCF presented Ben with a £4,000 grant and also an additional £1,000 on behalf of Provincial Grand Lodge, he then gave thanks to Derwent Lodge for the amount they have raised over the years which is £13.500. He also informed the meeting that Derwent Lodge is the most supportive Lodge to GNAAS in the Province of Durham. WBro K.Walker then presented a symbolical cheque for £5,319.00 to Mr Ben Mc Williams who thanked the Lodge. The W.M. then thanked Mr McWilliams for the presentation WBro K.Cook then thanked W.Bro K.Walker PPGSWks for all the work he and his wife Hillary does for the Lodge BBQ’s and Socials which have raised a considerable amount of money for Charity.

On the 28th September 2018 WBro Keith Walker was at Teeside Airport and formally presented the Great North Air Ambulance Service with £8779.50 which was raised at our Lodge BBQ on the 30th June.

At the Lodge Festive Board on the 25th September 2019 WBro K.Walker presented a symbolical cheque for £10,000 to the Great North Air Ambulance which was raised at the Lodge Annual BBQ. The Lodge has now raised over £32,000 for the GNAAS.

Freeman Hospital Children’s Heart Unit

Derwent Lodge for a number of years have raised money for the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital who help to make lives better for children and young people who are born with or develop heart conditions by providing lifelong support to them and their families. Cantonese Socials have been held at the Pavilion Restaurant Iveston every September/October. In 2015 we donated £427. In 2016 we donated £650. On the 3rd October 2017 £1010.00 was raised with £505.00 donated to the Heart Unit and £505.00 donated to Willow Burn Hospice. On the evening of 1st October 2018 £945.00 was raised with £472.50 donated to the Heart Unit and £472.50 donated to Willow Burn Hospice.

Public Access Defibrillator

In March 2017 we were contacted by Carl Bell the Operations Crew Manager at Chopwell Fire Station informing us that they would like to kick start fund raising  for a Public Access 24/7 Defibrillator at the neighbouring village Blackhall Mill as they have recently had one installed at Chopwell Fire Station. We met the Crew Manager at our GP Meeting and our Lodge agreed to pay the total cost of the purchase and fitting of the Public Access 24/7 Defibrillator together with plaque entitled ” Donated by Derwent Lodge Freemasons of Chopwell to Celebrate 300 Years of Freemasonry” at Blackhall Mill Community Centre which cost £1300. The operations Crew manager has informed us that he is very happy with the defibrillator and it’s location. The CPR / Defibrillator training has taken place at Blackhall Mill Community Centre which was a success and he feels the community are now aware of the defibrillator and able to use it should the need arise. Derwent Lodge is very pleased indeed that we have been able to help the Community in this way especially on the Tercentenary Year of Freemasonry.

Willow Burn Hospice

At the Lodge festive board on the 27th September 2017 Emma Storey Senior Fundraiser for Willow Burn Hospice gave a most interesting talk on the services they provide. As only 33% of their income comes from Government Sources, they rely on charitable donations. Willow Burn treasures the lives of those affected by life limiting illnesses in the communities of Derwentside and Co Durham. During the evening a collection was taken which raised £161.00. On the evening of 3rd October 2017 the Lodge held a Cantonese Social at the Pavilion Restaurant and raised £1010.00 with £505.00 going to Willow Burn Hospice and £505.00 going to the Freeman Hospital Children’s Heart Unit. Emma Storey thanked the Lodge for supporting Willow Burn Hospice with their most generous gifts which will help them to build a world class hospice. On the evening of 1st October 2018 the Lodge held a Cantonese Social at the Pavilion Restaurant and raised £945.00 with £472.50 going to Willow Burn Hospice and £472.50 going to the Freeman Hospital Children’s Heart Unit.

Prostate Cancer UK

At the Lodge festive board on the 17th April 2019 our raffle raised the magnificent sum of £221.00 which was donated to Prostate Cancer UK. A letter was received from them thanking the Lodge for the donation received which they informed us that our generosity helps them find a better way to diagnose and treat prostate cancer sooner and helps them support more men and their families when they need it most.

At our Lodge Installation meeting on the 23rd October 2019 John Woods Secretary of the River Lodges Association who does a lot of work helping raise money for Prostate Cancer UK collected a collection box which had raised the sum of £100.00 to assist the treatment of Prostate Cancer.

Walking with the Wounded

At the Lodge meeting on the 25th September when the Lodge received the Platinum Award WBro Lt Col Tam Tervit, QGM,LGR gave a most illuminating talk regarding his experiences in being awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal during the Balkan’s conflict. Tam was also speaking in connection with the charitable work of ‘Walking with the Wounded’, a charitable organisation that provides a pathway for vulnerable veterans to re-integrate back into society and sustain their independence, particularly via employment opportunities. After a most interesting talk and presentation the W.M. thanked WBro Lt Col Tam Tervit on behalf of the Brethren. The Lodge raffle raised the sum of £600 to support the work of “Walking with the Wounded” in the future which Durham Benevolence kindly agreed to match.

On the 28th September the Lodge Master WBro Bob Bennie held a Ladies Night at Blackhill Masonic Hall and a raffle that evening raised the sum of £240 for Walking with the Wounded.

Daft as a Brush

On the evening of 30th September2019 the Lodge held a Cantonese Social at the Pavilion Restaurant and raised £775.00 for Daft as a Brush Cancer patient Care which provides a free transport service to and from the Freeman/RVI hospitals for outpatients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment.