Loughton and Upminster Freemasons give £2,850 to CHAPS Charity
Worshipful Master of Janus Lodge grateful for screening test which helped save his life
On the 18th December 2023 at Upminster Masonic Hall two presentations were made to Chris Booth in support of the CHAPS Charity. John Johnson presented a cheque for £300 on behalf of the members of the Bishop of Barking Lodge No. 3050. Following this, and as a nice surprise, the Provincial Grand Almoner, Gary Hostler, presented a cheque for the staggering amount of £2,550 on behalf of Janus Lodge No. 4456 of which he is also the Lodge Festival Secretary.
Ken Nutt, the Worshipful Master of Janus Lodge decided to make CHAPS his chosen charity for the Janus Ladies Festival, this was following a positive test he had during one of the CHAPS prostate testing events which are regularly held by Essex Freemasons at some of their Masonic Centres, including Upminster. Ken said “The test literally saved my life and I hope the donation will go some way to enable more Freemasons and members of the public to be screened for early diagnosis of prostate cancer which if detected is fully treatable.”
Chris Booth, a retired consultant urologist and the Clinical Director of CHAPS, a registered charity which he helped to found in 2000, was delighted to receive the joint donations that will contribute towards encouraging men to be tested for prostate cancer thereby enabling early diagnosis leading to a long and healthy future.
Janus Lodge meets at Loughton Masonic Hall and has a membership of around 30. It is a Temperance Lodge but that has never inhibited it attracting new members throughout its 102-year history. The Bishop of Barking Lodge, celebrating its 120th Anniversary this year, with around 20 members meets four times a year at Upminster Masonic Hall. Both are part of the Province of Essex which has about 8,000 members in nearly 300 lodges meeting at 26 Masonic centres across Essex and regularly donate over £1 million each year to local good causes.
Discover more at:
Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex (essexfreemasons.org.uk) and
Photo
Top (L-R): John Johnson – Bishop of Barking Lodge, Chris Booth -CHAPS Charity and Gary Hostler – Janus Lodge.
