Engayne Lodge celebrate and donate a bumper £5,000 for Charity

Engayne Lodge proudly celebrate their 75-year anniversary with Charity firmly in mind

The Provincial Grand Master (PGM), Paul Tarrant, accompanied by the Deputy PGM (DPGM), Nick Franklin together with a full Provincial retinue, attended the Engayne Lodge No. 6831, that meets at Upminster Masonic Centre on Saturday 4th May to celebrate their 75th Anniversary.

The lodge was particularly honoured as this was the first time both the PGM & DPGM had attended the lodge together.

The celebration included the Rev. Martin Howse, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, who blessed the Lodge, Peter Lark, read a short, detailed history and Terry Thurley described some of their successes and future aims.

The 38 members of Engayne Lodge chose to support the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) to commemorate their special year. Paul Reeves, the Chairman of TLC Essex Appeal in presenting the Charity’s Patron certificate said, “Already £250 had been donated and with £500 on the night they are well on the way to raising £1,000 to qualify as a Bronze Patron.” Later at the Festive Board a visitor from Little Heath Lodge No. 5935 presented a further £125 - which he had won as one of four £125 raffle prizes for donating to a charity of their choice.

In total £5,000 was donated to a variety of charities including the Masonic Housing Association, Hamilton Court and the Essex 250 Appeal celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex during 2026.

The celebration cascaded into an equally delightful Festive Board culminating with the newest initiate of the Lodge presenting a birthday cake in which the PGM and Worshipful Master, Daniel Coleman, both blew out the candles.

TLC, launched by Essex Freemasons in 2001, now provides about 20,000-24,000 Teddies in Essex each year to hospital A&E departments in Southend, Basildon, Harlow, Chelmsford, Redbridge, Havering & Leytonstone together with five Walk-in/Minor Injury Centres in Essex, the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance and the NHS Child Death Review Team which adds up in total, since the charity started to some 500,000.

The charity has now expanded beyond the borders of Essex and globally the total passed ‘3.5 Million’ in 2022. Teddies are given to children who have suffered a trauma, so the Appeal has not just given away 3.5 million Teddies, it has helped more than three and a half million children at a time of significant distress in their lives.

Photo

Top: The Provincial Grand Master (PGM), Paul Tarrant, accompanied by the Deputy PGM (DPGM), Nick Franklin together with Engayne Lodge members and other special guests

Bottom (L-R): Paul Tarrant, Paul Reeves, Ashley Coleridge, Terry Thurley, Daniel Coleman and Lee Zetter.