Dragons

Durham’s Masonic Dragons Roar

Four Teams from the Province of Durham competed in the 3rd Tees Dragon Boat Festival which took place on Sunday 1st September 2019, raising money for the Durham 2021 Festival.

Each Dragon Boat can carry a maximum of 16 rowers plus one drummer and is steered by a helmsman provided by the event operators. The format of the event involves each team competing in three races, with the four fastest teams then competing in the final. This year 20 teams took part.

Our Teams were: The Chester le Street Masonic Dragons 1 & 2, The Billingham & Castle Eden Freemasons Dragon Boat Squad and the Paddling Peddlers, a team drawn largely from those who completed this year’s 3 Province Charity Cycle Ride.

Incredibly, three of our Teams, CLS 2, the Peddlers and Billingham & Castle Eden managed to hold off the competition and reach the Final. In fact we also had the 5th fastest time from CLS 1, who only missed out on a place in the final by 4 hundredths of a second.

As the four boats lined up on the start line the Masonic Teams knew that Dave’s Dragons were the team to beat. There was also however some healthy rivalry between our squads as they all competed for the top spot. In what proved an amazingly close race (apart from Dave’s Dragons who, as expected, left the other three teams in their wake) it was the Peddlers who managed to steal second place with their fastest time of the day, 1 min 2 seconds, beating Billingham & Castle Eden by a very short nose and with CLS 2 very close behind.

After cheering their competitors and receiving their trophies from the Mayor of Stockton there was just time for our teams to cheer all of the supporters who had turned up, particularly those from Billingham who had manned a TLC Teddies stall throughout the day.

Freemasonry in the community at its most enjoyable - well done to all involved.

“Some healthy rivalry between our squads as they all competed for the top spot”

Epic Charity Donations at Beamish Museum

A cold but sunny winter’s morning on Monday 9th December saw the Provincial Grand Master, John Arthur accompanied by the Provincial Charity Steward, Andrew Thompson arrive at Beamish Museum to meet up with representatives of local Hospices to present them with grants awarded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF).

Arriving in the Old Town by tram they all made their way to the magnificent boardroom above Barclays Bank where the Assistant Director of Beamish, Sally Dixon gave a talk outlining the progress made by the Museum over the years and their development plans for the future.

John and Andrew then introduced themselves explaining the involvement of local Freemasons in fundraising for the help of their communities with particular reference to the Hospice movement which they

have supported for many years.

A brief outline of each Hospice by their representative gave everyone in attendance an insight into the way in which much needed funding was used to benefit their particular unit at the conclusion of which they were presented with their respective cheques.

“St Cuthbert’s Hospice are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support provided by the Masonic Charitable Foundation ......... and it is thanks to organisations like the Freemasons that we are able to make a very real impact to the lives of local families” Laura Barker St Cuthbert’s Hospice

“This donation is vitally important to Willow Burn and the services our nursing team provide to patients in Derwentside. Each year it costs £1.5million to operate Willow Burn and we need to raise 77% of this through donations, grants and fundraising. Our friends at the Masonic Charitable Foundation make this so much more attainable with their support – thank you” Rachel Todd Willowburn Hospice

60 YEARS CRAFT: Norman Hunter Constance 2135 Anthony Jameson Agricola 7741 Ian Muir Ryton St Marys 6550

50 YEARS CRAFT: John Praill Fawcett 661 Kenneth Howe Old Dunelmian 8100 Robert Bruce Ravensworth 2674 Brian Wood Earl of Durham 1274 Derek Bell St Marys 4864 John Hetherington St Aidan 4080 Alan Drummond Gateshead Fell 4349 David Graham Avalon 7647 Alan Kirkwood Sancroft 4347 Ralph Walton Sancroft 4347 Dennis Robinson Beacon 6891 Neville Curtis Civic 5841 John Hodgkinson Ryton Holy Cross 4231 Thomas Powell St Bede 1119 William Urwin Restoration 111 Norman Johnson Caradoc 4749 Barry Smiles Caradoc 4749 Alan Wright Mowbray 5373 John Joicey Achates 9465 Gamet Summerbell Moseley 3105 Albert Robinson Hetton Lyon 6533 Lawrence Bell Lord Barnard 2935 Frank Harrison Bernard Gilpin 3076

“We’re very grateful to Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham Freemasons for their generous grant, which will help to ensure we can continue to provide our range of services to patients and families living in the communities of Hartlepool and East Durham” Anita White from Alice House

“The donations are gratefully received and will go straight to the hospices allowing us to continue our work, by adding life to days when adding days to life is no longer possible” Patricia Boynton Fundraiser

15 50 YEARS ROYAL ARCH: David Grice Penshaw 3194 Brian Sutton St Helens 531 John Chisholm Williamson 949 Lewis Reed Williamson 949 Eric Nelson Babington Boulton 1121

Freemasons “Dive in”

Pioneer Care Partnership (PCP) is a leading third sector organisation working in the North East, primarily in the County Durham and Tees Valley Area. They focus on health improvement and reducing health inequalities. The Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe welcomed local freemasons to see at first-hand the work needed to renovate the centre’s Hydrotherapy Pool.

Carol Gaskarth, PCP Chief Executive said, “As a registered

“Every penny received takes us one step closer to making this ambitious project a reality”

charity without statutory funding, PCP is reliant upon grants, donations and community fundraising to help reach a target of £410,000 to replace the Hydrotherapy Pool. Every penny received takes us one step closer to making this ambitious project a reality. We have raised about £300,000 to date but cannot rest on our laurels; all contributions are very gladly received.”

After a chat with Robbie Davison, a local freemason, an application for a Community Support Grant was made to the freemasons of Durham. Barry Knevitt, PCP’s Chairperson added, “The hydrotherapy pool is particularly well-used by older people, those with physical disabilities, children, young people and adults with learning disabilities. After 20 years of use it is now in need of a total overhaul. Not only do we need to install a new pool and plant room, after listening to what users want the plans include a larger pool, more changing facilities, improved sensory equipment and better ceiling hoists. Not cheap but much needed.”

Christos Katsambis, Jack Richardson and Stewart Bell, representing local freemasons were delighted to present a grant of £1,000 to Carol and Barry. They were keen to hear about the therapeutic benefits of Hydrotherapy and to learn that during the period of 2018 - 2019 over 19,000 Hydrotherapy Pool appointments were offered to people without the need for a medical or GP referral.

Clip on and away we go

Cathrine Kirkston who lives in South Shields heard how the Durham Freemasons help local charities and individuals with assisted funding for good causes and to fulfil dreams. Catherine’s son-in-law Peter Craig, who lives in Grange Villa, Chester-le-Street is raising funds to purchase an electric wheelchair attachment. The Firefly is a powerful compact

electric power attachment for use with manual wheelchairs. It gives users the ability to go anywhere they want including over rough terrains and up steep gradients. It simply clips on to a manual wheelchair and converts it into a powered trike in seconds.

Peter applied to the local Freemasons of Durham for a Community Support Grant and was emotionally moved when local Freemason, Stewart Bell turned up with a grant of £500. Peter, wife Jemma, son James and Catherine were ecstatic with the generosity of the grant and sent grateful thanks to the Freemasons of Durham for making this a very special Christmas.

Woodwork and Crafts

“It is for adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues and provides training and education in woodwork and crafts”

Endeavour Woodcrafts CIC, is a day care service based in The Old Fire Station at Ferryhill, Co. Durham. It is for adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues and provides training and education in woodwork and crafts. This also includes designing, producing and marketing handmade, quality wooden items, while at the same time providing a safe and happy environment for all to work in. It enables attendees to develop and encourage respect and dignity for each other, promote equality, inclusion, the right to say, speaking up, and sharing skills, while being valued as an individual and as part of a team. These principles are an integral part of the working day and the mainstay of the business. Other activities include art, craft, gardening, cooking, numeracy and literacy skills

Local Freemason Norman Dunn had been speaking with a neighbour who happened to mention that Endeavour Woodcrafts, being a non-profit organization, were trying to raise funds to recruit an ‘Independent Living’ Tutor, to offer very vulnerable individuals specialist one to one support when required.

Following advice and direction from Norman, the Day Care Manager Louise Killip applied to the

freemasons of Durham for a Community Support Grant. It was with great pleasure that Norman, accompanied by Christos Katsambis, another Freemason, presented a grant of £750 to Louise. Norman and Christos were greeted by an enthusiastic workforce who were keen to show the visitors their own individual working area and exhibit goods which they are currently producing for the forthcoming festive period.

Centres like Endeavour Woodcrafts serve the local community by assisting adults who often find integration and social inclusion difficult and the local freemasons were delighted to be able to assist.