Top marks to Essex Royal Arch

Thanks to the generosity of the Province’s Royal Arch Freemasons, children in 20 Essex primary schools had a little more Christmas cheer

Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch Freemasons in Essex, Paul Tarrant, ticked all the right boxes in the run-up up to Christmas 2022 when he and his Royal Arch Companions approved a grant of £10,000 to support 20 local primary schools that are facing cost-of-living challenges.

All the schools are near to a Masonic centre and each received a £500 grant to give them a helping hand in what should be a time of happiness for everyone.

With around 7,500 Freemasons in Essex, more than half are also members of the Royal Arch – a connected organisation whose members are known as Companions that meet in Chapters at Masonic centres across Essex, like their Masonic brothers who meet in Lodges.

Helping local communities is at the heart of Freemasonry, and at the end of every Royal Arch meeting there is always a focus on peace in the world and goodwill to all.

Elliott Chevin, the Deputy Grand Superintendent in Essex, reflected on these values when he said, ‘We consider these especially for younger children and wanted them to share in the excitement at school leading up to Christmas.’

Restraints on school budgets meant that some planned activities and celebrations had to be cut back as schools battled with increased costs. Elliott said, ‘The children would have lost out through no fault of their own. The extra money helped schools with activities that would have been trimmed to save money. The feeling among the Royal Arch Companions in Essex was that giving some additional joy at this time of year was so important, especially for children,and we are all pleased we did this.’

THE MASONIC CENTRES AND THEIR LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE:

Braintree Great Bradfords

Chelmsford Maltese Road

Chingford Whitehall

Clacton St Clare’s

Colchester St Thomas More’s

Frinton Kirby Primary Academy

Grays Chadwell St Mary

Halstead Holy Trinity

Harlow St James’

Harwich Mayflower

Loughton Staples Road

Maldon Wentworth

Manningtree Highfields

Orsett Orsett Primary

Rochford Stanbridge

Saffron Walden St Mary’s

Southend-on-Sea Kingsdown

Tollesbury Tollesbury

Upminster Branfil

Witham Chipping Hill

BY ALBERT B ROTHER