Yesterday,   welcomed Provincial Grand Charity Steward Mark Duncan, Captain Bill Holland and Volunteer Coordinator Ewan Gordon.

They saw the new cuddle beds, which are used in the Hospice Inpatient Unit

In the Summer of 2023 Buckinghamshire Freemasons organised a 50-mile walk across Pilgrim’s Way to raise funds for the Hospice. Forty incredible walkers battled torrential rain and strong winds during the walk.

Initially, the team set out to fund one cuddle bed, but through generous donations and the commitment of the walkers to their fundraising, the walkers raised £31,000, enough to buy two beds !

Mark, Bill and Ewan were warmly welcomed by the Charity's CEO, Jo Turner and IPU Ward Sister Tracey Batt, who showed them how they worked and talked about their impact. The beds arrived in December, and the Hospice has already seen the wonderful difference they make to the patients, their families and pets, offering a place to cuddle up as a family in their precious final days together.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join?

Happy Valentines Day to our NHS

100 Doctors and Nurses at Stoke Mandeville Hospital received Chocolate Hearts or Chocolate Roses courtesy of Buckinghamshire Freemasons.

Bill Smithson, a member of   went on a shopping spree across Bucks from Milton Keynes to Aylesbury to buy the chocolates ready for Valentines Day.  Bill said “ In an overstretched NHS the staff don’t stop caring and neither should we”

The chocolates were donated to Elaine at the Hospital’s Acts of Kindness Team, for her to distribute, and later this morning she wrote “Thanks again Bill, I have shared them with A&E, the Medical Doctors team, the same day emergency assessment department, and wards 15,16,17 & 18….They were delighted !”

A further 20 gifts were left by Bill for The   staff to let them know they are always close to our hearts in Freemasonry.

 

Olney Masonic Club - Making Dreams Come True!

What started as a simple conversation led W Bro Eugene Matthias, our 'Freemasonry in the Community' coordinator, to the Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney and became something extraordinary.

The museum had long dreamed of a new kitchen and a beautifully redecorated shop to enhance the visitors' experience. Unfortunately, rising costs made those dreams seem unattainable.

But dreams do come true! The Olney Masonic Club stepped in, teaming up with Bathrooms by Harpers (Ed & Mario) to bring this dream to life. 

The museum needed £600 to reach its goal, and we were proud to cover the shortfall. Ed and Mario went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect.

To celebrate this special occasion, the museum staff and OMC (Freemasons) marked the presentation in style, dressing up to commemorate the moment.

The Olney Masonic Club is proud to  support our local community.

Stay tuned for updates on the shop’s transformation!

Pilgrim's Walk Benefits Florence Nightingale Hospice.

Buckinghamshire Freemasons, under the banner of Freemasonry in the Community, made a 50 mile Pilgrim's Walk in aid of the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.

The Hospice wished to purchase new Cuddle beds, which are Hospital-style double beds, enabling partners to sleep in the same bed as their loved ones during their final days and hours, to create an endearing and loving memory.

Just before Christmas, Tracey Batt, IPU Ward Sister said;
Here at the Hospice we never underestimate the power of touch and a hug. We see all the time how being near loved ones, offers comfort when it is needed most and we are so thrilled to have been given the opportunity to purchase two Embrace Cuddle beds which were installed this week.

Being able to now offer patients and those they love, the opportunity to lie side by side, to snuggle children up with parents or grandparents is simply wonderful.

Within hours of installing these new adaptable beds, we were able to use them to their full advantage when a couple stayed overnight together in the bed. We witnessed the emotional impact and benefit of being able to spend precious time, when time is short, hugging closely together and it provided us with an insight into how valuable these beds will really be to the care we provide to our patient and families.

We are so grateful to all those who walked many miles on the Pilgrim's Walk, through awful rainy conditions, to raise funds to enable us to purchase these beds, without them, it simply would not have been possible. Thank you to Buckinghamshire Freemasons for making this possible.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join?

 

Dagmar Rugby Lodge and MK Alliance Project.

The annual Buckinghamshire Provincial membership scheme, the 12 Days of Christmas (12DX) this year included Dagmar Lodge, which is a Special Interest Lodge with a rugby theme.

At their 12DX meeting, the members and visitors of Dagmar Lodge donated to support the MK Alliance Project, a school and community-based initiative to improve access to high quality rugby in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas for children of all backgrounds.

It currently involves over 16 Schools and around 70 players, giving both new and experienced players the opportunity to be given free coaching and play competitive rugby. All the coaches and first aiders generously give their time for free.

The donation from Dagmar Lodge enables the players to be provided with a warm meal after games. This also helps them build new bonds and friendships, allowing them to grow their social skills and improve their confidence.

The Alliance is also a 'Safe Place' which gives players the opportunity to share any issues or problems they might have outside of the game in confidence, knowing it is safe to do so.

This is an example of grass roots rugby at its finest and with the help of Dagmar Lodge and Buckinghamshire Freemasons, the Alliance will help to grow the love of the game in its basic format and make a huge difference within the local community.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join?

After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

Calibre audio: Charity Number 286614 was founded in 1974 to provide audio
Books for people of all ages who are unable to read the printed word which can
be due to visual impairment, special educational needs or challenges in
dexterity with conditions such as dyslexia, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease.
Many are children with SEN and older members with age related visual
impairment which can lead to isolation, their service brings comfort and
companionship and a connection with the outside world. They also supply
streaming and download options and support 396 Members across
Buckinghamshire.

BMCF have Donated £1,000 to buy new memory sticks and were sent the
following Testimonial:

“Our current crop of memory sticks is starting to show their age, so we thank
Bucks Masonic Centenary Fund who very generously awarded us a grant of
£1,000 which will help us to continue our quick turnround of audiobooks. Many
thanks, we really appreciate your support and so will our beneficiaries in the
country.”

Carol Hart

One Can Trust, Registered Charity Number 1148626 has operated a Food Bank and offer advice to struggling families in high Wycombe since 2011 to serve the Town and the wider area of South Buckinghamshire. They have since expanded to hold two Toddler Groups, a Children & Adults Clothes Bank, Community Café and Anti Natal Class

BMCF have donated £2,000 which will go towards ensuring that deprived families with children receive support including Children’s Presents over Christmas and have recently received the following Testimonial:

Christmas is a particularly difficult time for many of our clients and last year so many asked for help with Christmas decorations, food and even gifts for their children. We found the Buckinghamshire Masonic Centenary Fund on-line. The application process was very simple and we were delighted to hear back quickly that our application of £2000 had been granted. This money will allow us to have a Christmas Fund that we can draw upon to provide much needed gifts and festive items for the many families who simply cannot afford Christmas this year.

We cannot thank the Buckinghamshire Masonic Centenary Fund enough for their support this year. It is going to make such a difference to so many.

Thank you

Kim, Carrie and Shannon. 

Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research Charity Number 1183744 was founded in 2006, (SMSR) is an independent, national charity seeking to promote quality of life in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) through research. Our vision is to enable people with spinal cord injury to have life after paralysis without the setbacks of debilitating health complications. They work closely with the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) and other healthcare settings to help deliver the best research outcomes that will improve the quality of life for those living with SCI.

BMCF have donated £1,000 towards new equipment for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) functions controlled by the cerebral cortex and have recently received the following Testimonial:

The research team is using ‘transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)’, a non-invasive medical procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain in order to determine how well TMS can assess the extent of damage to the neural pathways. The upgraded equipment for which Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research has been raising funds will allow them to do this in greater depth and with greater accuracy, thus helping them tailor activity-based rehabilitation to each individual’s need . We are most grateful to the Trustees of the Buckinghamshire Masonic Centenary Fund for their interest and support of our efforts to improve the quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury. Your generous gift of £1,000 has gone towards the purchase of new equipment for a study involving 44 patients with tetraplegia at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke.

The Photos include Dr. Paul Sutton and Rowan Boyles both of Imperial College London

Karen Favell    

On a wet Saturday morning, the luminaries of the Paralympics and the world's media descended on humble Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympics, for a far-from-humble event: the lighting of the Paralympic Flame.

Buckinghamshire Freemasons were asked to volunteer to aid in the organisation and running of the event; taking up positions as marshals, traffic wardens, stewards and even diplomats.

We're very proud to have been in attendance of this ceremony of global significance and of the praise received from those in attendance, with one member of the press remarking "I've completely changed my mind about what you are!" In a world of scepticism and cynicism, this is among the finest of compliments a Freemason can receive from their community.

But the day was not one for sceptics nor cynics; even as the rain lashed and the winds howled, the spirit of hope, togetherness, and strength extolled by the Paralympics could not be extinguished. The flame was lit to rapturous applause, the torch carried with due reverence, beginning its journey to Paris and drawing onlookers and excitement from every quarter.

The Paralympic flames will make their final appearance during the Opening Ceremony, where they will be used to light the cauldron to symbolise the start of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games tomorrow, 28th August.

Aylesbury played its part well, and the Buckinghamshire Freemasons will forever be proud to have helped it in doing so.

Why Stoke Mandeville?

The small village on the edge of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. It is where Dr Ludwig Guttmann first dreamt of a sporting event for World War II veterans with disabilities to aid in their physical and mental rehabilitation in a fun, but competitive way. A mindset & idea to push the recovery process.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

The playground is set back from the road and enclosed with traditional children’s play equipment, adult fitness equipment and picnic benches.  

After the BMCF Contribution, the Roundabout which had been condemned, is now working again with new parts, seats and fibrefall resin bound recycled rubber mulch surfacing also new surface under the swings and new steel feet added to the chain traverse, the wooden activity trail and climbing post.

BMCF have donated £400 towards the renovation and resurfacing and the following letter of thanks was received from Helen Holman: "We found the funding application process very straightforward and after completing a grant application form online I was kept updated by emails of the application’s progress and EPC received the funding within a couple of months to use towards our playground repairs."

A "Wee Stroll" Through the Province of Buckinghamshire in aid of the British Heart Foundation and Brain Cancer Trust

David Clark, Steve Pratt and Andrew Murray have undertaken this challenging task and have committed to walking the full length of 68 miles and they need your help.

They are looking for enthusiastic ramblers to join them, just for part, or even the whole length, this will be a gruelling 22 miles each day totalling 68 miles, which is two and a half marathons! There will be many stops along the way for refreshments and break stops detailed in a schedule below. 

Day 1 - Bletchley to Aylesbury Masonic Centre - (22.8 Miles)
Stops include- The Three Locks pub, Toot Toot canal parking, Gables Masonic Hall, Cook's Wharf car park, The Red Lion, finishing at Aylesbury Centre.

The all-Important Link is as below.
https://donate.givetap.co.uk/.../a-wee-stroll-through-the... 

Newton Longville Primary School - Charity No 310535 is based near Milton Keynes and their motto is as above.

The children thrive, blossom and leave this school ready for their next stage in life. This is supported by values of Compassion, Respect, Aspiration, Friendship and Thankfulness. The varied and active curriculum is based on sticky knowledge, so that the children know more and remember more, ready to help them be successful and make a meaningful contribution to the community.  

The school is set on large grounds in the heart of the village with a fantastic playing field, playgrounds, gardens and outdoor learning areas for reception and year one children. We are currently raising money for an outdoor classroom in order to enable even more outdoor learning. 

BMCF have Donated £4,000 to help the school achieve this and the following letter of thanks was received from Ben Dimmock:

  “On behalf of the students, and staff at Newton Longville Primary School, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the BMCF for their generous financial donation to build the new ‘Forest Shelter’ outdoor classroom.
The BMCF support has made a significant impact On, providing the school with a unique space that will enhance their educational programs and bring learning to life in a natural setting. The new outdoor classroom will serve as an inspiring environment for hands-on learning, environmental education, and creative exploration”.

The next big Buckinghamshire Craft and Royal Arch joint charitable event is here.

On Friday 26th July, through to Sunday 28th July, a group of intrepid walkers will be joining the Worshipful Master of Stephens Lodge, on a journey through the province, starting at Bletchley Masonic Centre and finishing at Slough over three days.

David Clark, Steve Pratt and Andrew Murray have undertaken this challenging task and have committed to walking the full length of 68 miles and they need your help.

They are looking for enthusiastic ramblers to join them, just for part, or even the whole length, this will be a gruelling 22 miles each day totalling 68 miles, which is two and a half marathons! There will be many stops along the way for refreshments and break stops detailed in a schedule below. We would appreciate any support on the day, whether you are rambling or could assist our support team along the way.

A member of the lodge suffered a heart attack in April, inspiring the team to take positive action by supporting the British Heart Foundation, as well as supporting the Brain Cancer Trust. We are hoping to raise £5000 in aid of these great causes.

Day 1 - Bletchley to Aylesbury Masonic Centre - (22.8 Miles)
Stops include- The Three Locks pub, Toot Toot canal parking, Gables Masonic Hall, Cook's Wharf car park, The Red Lion, finishing at Aylesbury Centre.

Day 2 - Aylesbury to Beaconsfield Masonic Centre - (22.8 Miles)
Stops include- The Five Bells Pub, Boug's Meadow Great Missenden, The Old Oak Holmer Green, Penn Street Village Hall, Winchmore Hill Village Hall, Beaconsfield Masonic Centre.

Day 3 - Beaconsfield to Slough Masonic Centre - (22.1 Miles)
Stops include- The Royal Standard, Marlow Masonic Centre, Jenners Riverside Cafe, Slough Masonic Centre (The Finish Line).

The all-Important Link is as below.
https://donate.givetap.co.uk/f/masonic-charitable-foundation/l3089-stephens-lodge/a-wee-stroll-through-the-province 

Saturday night through to the early hours of Sunday morning saw Buckinghamshire Freemasons step forward to marshal the local Florence Nightingale Charity Hospice  Midnight Walk.

Over 400 walkers took to the streets of Aylesbury to either complete a 5 or 10 mile route while raising money for the charity.  To guide the routes through the night, over 40 Freemasons from 20 different lodges of Buckinghamshire stood at points to cheer the walkers on and ensure their safety.

The Midnight walk was first established with the Hospice in 2010, with the exception of the CoViD lock down years, and has raised over £1million pounds from its start, it is the largest fundraising event that they carry out each year.

Buckinghamshire Freemasons have proudly put themselves forward to be involved since its inception, a true Freemasonry In The Community event.

If you would like to be part of a global community that has has hand and still has so many famous members, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch. 

Magiovinivm Lodges Charity Steward, W.Bro Mark Dennaford, and their IPM W.Bro Brian Sweet, had great pleasure in presenting a cheque for £2,000 to the Milton Keynes branch of the Motoneuron disease support group.

This is a small charity with an annual budget of around £12,000, so they know this will make a positive impact on the fretwork they do.

In the first meeting in 2024, it was a double celebration at the Lodge of St Barnabas No. 948 on Thursday evening. Not only did the lodge raise Bro Catalin to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, but they also presented £500 cheques to three very worthwhile organisations. Seen here receiving them are Bro Terry representing the Prebendal Close Masonic Housing Association, Bro Bob, a member of St Barnabas Lodge who accepted the cheque on behalf of ,where he volunteers; and W.Bro Paul Halfhide, the Buckinghamshire co-ordinator for .
Also pictured were St Barnabas's newly-raised Bro Catalin, on the right by St Barnabas Charity Steward W.Bro Andy, and at the back by W.Bro Chris Soper, who acted as Master for part of the evening's ceremony. An excellent meeting all round, completed by a Festive Board of roast lamb with all the trimmings!

If you would like to be part of this lodge and a global community that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link:
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1787 with the Assistant Grand Master of Freemasonry.

It was more than 200 years ago that the first university Lodge – Apollo University Lodge – was founded at Oxford in 1818.
Isaac Newton University Lodge soon followed at Cambridge in 1861 and since then many thousands of young men have been introduced to Freemasonry through these two Lodges.

It was these very foundations that led to the United Grand Lodge of England establishing the Universities Scheme in 2005 and introducing Freemasonry’s important values to a new generation.

There are now 87 Lodges and seven Chapters pursuing a similar, yet distinct, course across England and Wales, where towns and cities have universities. Based at Yeomanry Hall in Buckingham, Grenville Lodge No. 1787 is partnered with Buckingham University as part of the scheme. 

At last night's meeting of Grenville Lodge No. 1787, they welcomed Yaneesh Jingree, a student at Buckingham University into Freemasonry.

During a wonderful ceremony, well executed by the WM, Secretary and the team at Grenville, Yaneesh was initiated in the presence of his father and over 50 other Brethren.

The meeting was supported by the Assistant Grand Master. RW.Bro David Medlock, the Provincial Grand Master RW.Bro. John Clark, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master V.W.Bro Neil Robertson and a number of Provincial Grand Officers.

If you would like to talk to one of our team members about becoming a Freemason, just follow this link and fill out the short form: https://buckspgl.org/join 

On Thursday 26th October Thames Mariner lodge performed a raising for Bro Kamandeep Singh Brar, assisted by the Provincial Grand Master and the Light Blues Brothers.

The Light Blues Brothers are a demonstation team comprised of newer brethren before the chair with excellent working skill, all of which have only been members for less than three years.

After matters were conducted the lodge was adjusted, the Light Blues taking all the offices in Bro David Clark(SW), Jordan Parmenter(JW), Ashley Dunnicliffe(SD), Charlie Bitowt(JD) and Chris Richardson(IG). 
An exemplary demonstration of the third degree was conducted finishing with the Traditional History by Bro Clark and the third Tools by Bro Bitowt.

Congratulations Bro Brah on taking your Third step in Freemasonry and for being an excellent candidate.

If you would like to be part of a global community, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
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On Wednesday 25th October, Buckinghamshire hosted a bring a friend event at Slough Masonic Centre. There were over 75 filling the centre to the brim with masons and families in attendance, 44 of which being interested candidates.

After a short reception we sat down for a presentation from a wealth of experienced speakers that are Freemasons. The first of which being an introduction by Deputy Provincial Grand Master Neil Robertson, who explained who he is and gave a great insight into what Freemasonry is. The Assistant Provincial Comms Officer Lee Buckingham, followed, explaining the details of who we are, our beliefs, rules and priorities that are so important to us. Provincial Membership Officer John Palman followed explaining the details of what goes on at lodge meetings, including the meeting agenda, ceremony and the all important festive board (dinner!).
PAPGM Phil Blacklaw followed explaining the vast amount of contribution Freemasonry in Bucks has made in recent years, also emphasising that your time is just as important as your donation when trying to make a difference. The evening was rounded up with a closing speech and Q&A with PGM John Clark.

The evening was then finished with an exciting tour of our temple, showcasing the recently installed Project Transform lights, which are now at most of our centres. Every single attendee signed up on the evening making this an outstanding success. 

Buckinghamshire will be holding a similar event in Bletchley soon, so stay tuned!

If you would like to be part of a global community, that has its roots firmly in the ground in Buckinghamshire, please join us by following this link: https://buckspgl.org/join
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An enjoyable Sunday morning of incredible views and landmarks such as Culham Court on the Thames path, followed by a lovely lunch in the Stag and Huntsman.

The lodge would like to take the time to thank every person who has come along to support the lodge and it’s special interest by laughing, eating and rambling with us for an entire year.
Here’s to another 🍻

The next walk will be on Sunday 19th November and will be another scenic tour around Frieth, with a *free* bacon roll and drinks at the end.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get involved!!

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After filling in the short form, our Membership Team will be in touch.