Cadogan Court’s Summer Fair

Cadogan Court’s annual Summer Fair was held on Saturday 17 June on a glorious sunny, summer day, the hottest Saturday of the year so far.   The Fair was opened by Rt. W. Bro Ian Kingsbury, Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Devonshire.  The Fair was well attended, including a visit by members of the Widows Sons whose bikes made an impressive display.

 

W Bros Viv Carton, Mike Saffin, Gordon Long and Frank Lewis
Members of the Widows Sons

As usual St Thomas Lodge were responsible for the bar and once again we are grateful to Exeter Brewery who supported the bar with two barrels of ale.  Along with the ale there was wine and Pimms for sale, along with soft drinks.  The bar took just over £600 on the day.

The brethren come down to W Bro Gary Hunter’s level!

Next year will be the 30th anniversary of the Fair so we hope that will be a very special event.

The view from the Chair – June 2017

June’s lodge night saw the first of this year’s candidates become a Fellowcraft.  Thanks to all the officers and other brethren who took part in ensuring the ceremony ran smoothly and the candidate answered his questions well with no prompting.  The WM and officers were praised for the excellent ritual.  It was good to see a large number of visitors, old and new, in attendance, with a total of almost 50 brethren at the festive board.  I hope our visitors enjoyed their time with us and will come back again soon.

On Saturday, 17 June, after spending much of the day at Cadogan Court’s annual Summer Fair, the WM and a few other brethren from St Thomas with their partners attended a Salmon and Strawberries Charity evening arranged by Lopes Lodge (No. 5526) held at the home of Lopes’ WM.  It was a very enjoyable evening with excellent food and great company and raised a large sum to be split between Lopes Lodge’s charity fund and Devon Freewheelers.  Many thanks to Denis and Harlene and “Team Arden” for their hospitality.

 

Visit from north of the Border

On 3 June the Worshipful Master and W Bro Walsom attended a special meeting of St John the Baptist Lodge (No. 39), along with a number of brethren from other Lodges.  Brethren from Craigends Lodge (No. 1042) from Glasgow had been invited to attend and demonstrate a first degree ceremony for which one of St John the Baptist’s brethren volunteered to take the place of the candidate.  Craigend’s ritual differs in a number of aspects from our own and was superbly performed.  The afternoon was both enjoyable and informative, with the festive board giving opportunity to socialise with our Scottish brethren.

St Thomas Masons donate Spirometer to Bolham Ward in memory of Patrick

Patients on Bolham Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are set to benefit from a new mobile machine to measure lung function thanks to a £500 donation by the St Thomas Masonic Lodge.
The Lodge made the donation after being made aware of the efforts of Barbara and David Tilbury, who have been fundraising for the Bolham Ward Trust Fund over the last year in memory of their son Patrick who sadly passed away in 2016.
St Thomas Lodge Worshipful Master Tim Caldwell, said: “We were made aware of the Tilbury’s appeal by Occupational Therapist Sarah Lonton.  At the time, they were fundraising for reclining chairs for the ward, however these have since been purchased and we are more than happy for the ward to use our donation for anything else that would be of most use.”
The new machine, a digital Spirometer, is used to record how well a patient’s lungs are working by measuring how much air is being inhaled and exhaled. It is used on the neurological ward to regularly monitor patients with degenerative conditions such as motor neuron disease or myasthenia gravis, which can cause difficulties breathing.
The hand-held Spirometer replaces a large and cumbersome mechanical spirometer, which was difficult and unwieldy for some patients to use.
Bolham Ward Matron Anny Willett, explained: “The small and compact electronic spirometer which we have been able to purchase with the Lodge’s very generous donation will be more accurate and much easier for both patients and staff to use. I would like to convey the thanks of the patients and staff of Bolham ward to the St Thomas Lodge and its members and to Mr and Mrs Tilbury for making this donation happen.”
Barbara Tilbury added: “I would personally like to thank the St. Thomas Masonic Lodge, for their generosity in helping me with this appeal, especially their Charity Steward for all of his help – I know what a difference it will make to Anny and her team to have their own instrument.”