Surrey Mason
Semper Fidelis have a good summer recruiting Another year passed by and another splendid SEMPER FIDELIS Lodge No.5867 ‘Ladies’ Luncheon’, again enjoyed by some 60+ comprising members, wives, and relatives complete with families attended at The Drift Golf Club, East Horsley on Sunday 30th June 2013. Sunny weather prevailed all day and attendees enjoyed a menu of prawn cocktail/ beef/ carvery and fresh fruit salad, all being prepared in excellent taste. Several small ‘fund raisers’ occupied the lunch time – popular amongst these – Name the age of the teddy bear; Ladies quiz; Heads or tails; and Number of sweets in the jar. (W.Bro John L Stewart organised these time-fillers most successfully.) Our MC, W.Bro Mike Millership kept a keen eye on all the movements, including the popular raffle, thus the event raised the sum of £610 and a cheque donation for this sum, in favour of The Princess Alice Hospice, Outdoor “Recruitment Mode” by Semper Fidelis Lodge. Good weather also ensured a high attendance at the 30th Anniversary of Ashtead Village Day on Saturday 8th June 2013. Participating for the first time Semper Fidelis Lodge, arranged, through the combined service of Provincial office and valued assistance from W.Bro Jim Barnes, to hire a stand at the show. The photograph shows the valued potential of such an organised arrangement, as several important aspects of Freemasonry are freely displayed, including various jewels, aprons, a ‘broken column’ charity box and collars. These items encouraged various questions from interested persons! The show opened at 12.30pm with the usual procession and music, however, it was not long before we were able to record the first of thirteen names and prime details of possible candidates. An informative team of five PMs from the Lodge were actively engaged all afternoon to explain the basic aspects of becoming a Freemason and the UGLE booklet What’s it all About was presented to each interested person. Having successfully recorded the thirteen person details, we now need to promptly and systematically effect a follow-up upon each, so as to further interest, answer any relevant questions, then if found suitable, recommend them into the next stage in Freemasonry. W.Bro Neville West Almoner and Charity Steward was presented by the Worshipful Master, W.Bro Mark Ryder to Mrs Jane Formby. Jane being a special guest of the Lodge and a long-serving trustee of this valued registered charity. Jane provided us with a most interesting account of the work of this modern hospice and out-patients clinics. Each year they support over 2,600 patients and their families; they care for people with illnesses, living in a large part of Surrey, South West London and Middlesex – wherein they care for over 800 patients at any one time! It costs over £8 million a year to provide their valuable services – for free! Yet, they receive less than 25% of funding from the NHS, thus relying on the support of the local community, to ensure they can ‘be there’, caring when it matters. Support includes emotional, practical and financial advice. It was interesting to hear from their representative that for every £1 donated, they spend 85p on charitable activities, 10p for fundraising and only 5p to cover management and administration. Volunteers cover a large part of the daily work load, such as reception, café, tea for patients, book trolley and gardening to name a few. For every £1 spent on fundraising, they raise over £6! They support our loved ones – we should most certainly consider supporting them! Contact them on 01372 461869 or email fundraising@pah.org.uk or view their website www.pah.org.uk. Finally, we must indeed remind ourselves of the forthcoming Surrey Provincial Festival (2019) in favour again of the RMBI. The scheduled initial Festival Launch Seminars are to be held within three centres – Croydon, Surbiton and Guildford, all commencing at 19.00 hours, and respectively are on 25th, 26th & 27th February 2014. 29