Finding the perfect new owner for a very special chair
This feel-good story hi-lights how teamwork and charity go hand in hand to achieve something truly special
Martyn Tillett is the Essex Provincial Almoner’s Team, Motorised Equipment Officer. You may have seen his posts on the Essex Masons Facebook page as MedicMart.
Since taking on the role, Martyn has joined forces with John Heron and Roy Squibb at the Southend and Essex Masonic Welfare Trust (SEMWT), so much so, nearly all the phone calls he receives begin with, “I’ve just spoken to John Heron at Southend.”
On a visit to see these outstanding gentleman at Saxon Hall one day, John said, “I’ve got this chair which isn’t like any wheelchair that we use, can you do something with it?”
So, challenge accepted, Martyn set out to find this amazing chair a new home.
As always, he first offered it on the Essex Mason Facebook page which got no response.
He then went out to disability centres around Essex, with little luck as they passed him onto commercial companies that supply these chairs which wasn’t the route he wanted to go. His plan was to gift this to a family who would have need of it rather than to a commercial company who would then make money from renting it out or selling it.
A few weeks passed and Martyn was invited to visit the Little Havens Children’s Hospice with some of the Brethren from his lodge. While there he took the opportunity of showing the nurses some pictures of the chair and they immediately said we know of two families that would love this.
They passed his details to one of the families who made contact and asked if their son could try the chair before committing to having it. During the chat the Mum said about getting a taxi to Southend, and this is when Martyn found out she didn’t drive. For him this was not an option and so he offered to go to Southend, collect the chair for them and then drive it to their house so her son could try it in the comfort of his own home.
A few days later this took place and he delivered the chair to 14-year-old Harry. Harry immediately fell in love with it, while his very proud Mum looked on.
Martyn was overjoyed with the outcome and said, “I love being able to help other Masons but being able to help a child and his family who are under the care of a children’s hospice is just on another level I have never felt or experienced before.
All of this comes down to teamwork between the Almoners team and the SEMWT and in particular John, Roy and myself.
Teamwork really does make the dream work!”
You can read more about the SEMWT and the great work they perform by clicking this link: https://essexfreemasons.org.uk/about/clubs/semwt
Photos
Left: John Heron demonstrating the chair
Right: Photo taken by Mum of a very happy Harry using his chair
