At Northampton General Hospital on Thursday 2 April 2015, WBros Les Robjohns and Stephen Hardy were delighted to present a cheque for £1,500 to NGH Chemotherapy Suite Appeal on behalf of England’s Centre Lodge 2555.

The department, which cares for people receiving treatment for all types of cancer, plans to rejuvenate the whole suite as part of a £350,000 project.

Fundraisers have so far raised almost £200,000 towards the significant alteration works required for this busy department which treats over 450 day patients each month.

WBro Geoff passed to the Grand Lodge Above in March aged 84. 

Born in Northamptonshire, he attended Wellingborough Grammar School and St Peter’s College, Oxford. 

A teacher at Kimbolton School, he was a housemaster, taught geography, coached sports and commanded the school’s Combined Cadet Force for which he received an OBE. He and his wife met through the Huntingdon branch of Macmillan cancer charity and inspired that Branch to raise over £300,000 for the Charity.

He joined Old Kimboltonians Lodge in 1965, served as its Worshipful Master and was Lodge Secretary for over 20 years. He became PPSGW in 1994, PPGSN in the Holy Royal Arch in 1995 and received the PGM’s CoM in 2000.

He leaves three daughters and five grandchildren as well as three stepchildren and three step-grandchildren.  He will be sadly missed.

For the first time Waynflete Lodge held its festival in Bournemouth. Festivals have usually been held locally but this time the WM WBro Kevin Rush PPGSwdB received direction from higher authority. Mrs Alison Rush had her wishes fulfilled and a weekend away to remember as did all the families, guests and brethren.

£800 was raised for breast cancer and S.A.N.D.S (Still birth and neonatal deaths) charities and a brother in the real spirit of Masonry won a weekend break in Bournemouth auction and immediately donated it to a family who were not able attend this festival.

At the England’s Centre Lodge March meeting the WM and the DPGM presented a cheque for £1,500 to John Helm who is the Fund Raising Manager for the Cynthia Spencer Hospice. The Lodge contributed £1,000 and the Provincial Grand Charity £500 towards the donation.

Mrs Z Bowers, wife and Gareth Bowers son of the late Bro John Bowers also attended the presentation.

Last year two of The Lodge members were nursed by the Hospice before departing to The Grand Lodge Above. The WM said that the Lodge has been delighted to support such a worthy cause.

From left to right: WM WBro Rob Walker, Mrs Z Bowers, John Helm of Cynthia Spencer Hospice, DPGM VWBro Viv Thomas and Gareth Bowers.