NEWS AND VIEWS
WELSH FUND GIVES GARETH INDEPENDENCE
Gareth with his father Bill
The North Wales Masonic Benevolent Fund has helped Gareth Pritchard, 31, of Gwynedd, with a grant for a powered wheelchair and ramps. Gareth, whose father Bill is a member of Beaumaris Lodge, No. 5347, suffered a severe brain haemorrhage in February 2010. After 10 months in hospital, he made a slow recovery but remained considerably disabled. The local health board was unable to provide a motorised wheelchair and Gareth could not propel himself in a manual chair. The new powered chair has made a huge difference to Gareth and his wife, with increased independence and improved quality of life.
GHANA DISTRICT SPONSORS UNIVERSITY CHAIR
Widow Rachael Phillips with (l to r) Kow Abaka Quansah, the Most Rev Prof Emmanuel Asante and Rev Prof Samuel Kwasi Adjepong
Working with the District Grand Lodge of Ghana (English Constitution), the Phillips family has presented GH¢20,000 to the Methodist University College Ghana to create a Chair in mathematics. It will be known as the JVL Phillips Chair of Mathematics, after the former District Grand Master of Ghana. Presenting the cheque at the university campus in Dansoman, Accra, District Grand Master Kow Abaka Quansah said the doctor had served Freemasonry by establishing masonic charities such as the Samaritan Fund to cater for the poor and needy in society. ‘The late Dr James Villers Legge Phillips, affectionately known as “Uncle Jimmy”, was an icon who was eminently admired and respected.’
LEAVING OLD SESSIONS FOR PASTURES NEW London masons are vacating their 18th-century Clerkenwell home at the Old Sessions House and moving to another local site. Four years ago, when the current Board of the London Masonic Centre became responsible for the Old Sessions House, it made an early decision that the cost of maintaining and running the 250-year-old Grade II*-listed building was too great. After much discussion it was agreed to sell the Old Sessions House and acquire a new centre nearby. In a statement, the Board said: ‘Such a new venue, to be called the Clerkenwell Centre, would be, and will be, the most
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A VOLUNTEER WITH CALIBRE Over 50 years, Richard Simpson has volunteered 4,500 hours to record 150 books for the national charity Calibre Audio Library. Calibre provides audio books for people unable to read due to sight loss, dyslexia or physical disability. A member of Lumley Lodge, No. 1893, Province of Lincolnshire, Richard is an actor whose appearances include being on Broadway with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In recognition of his contribution, Richard received a Silver Centurion accolade from the 1992 Whitbread Children’s Novel winner, Gillian Cross, at a special party. Christine Ronaldson, head of literature and audio book production at Calibre, said, ‘We were given the wonderful news that Calibre was one of only 60 charities to receive the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award. This is a fabulous recognition of all the time our readers, book reviewers and audio book checkers give to our charity.’
Masons are vacating the Old Sessions House
modern centre in the country.’ Not only is it designed for masonic use, but is also capable of attracting commercial business, which will be of long-term advantage to the lodges, chapters and other masonic units. ‘The Board’s planned aim is to make the Clerkenwell Centre the best value masonic venue in the London area.’
Shown (l to r): Richard Simpson, novelist Gillian Cross and Calibre Audio Library chairman Ian Yeoman
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