Local Bowls Club ‘bowled over’ by Essex Freemasons

Two Burnham-on-Crouch Lodges combined their efforts in providing a generous donation supporting the provision of vital Defibrillator equipment

Two Burnham-on-Crouch Lodges combined their efforts in providing a generous donation supporting the provision of vital Defibrillator equipment for a local community club between Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023.

Originally proposed by Tony Rowling back in April 2022, Corinthian Centenary Lodge No. 8488 started an appeal to provide funds for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), at the Burnham Hillside Bowls Club.

The need for this equipment was motivated by the distance Burnham lies from the nearest main hospital at Chelmsford. An ambulance can take up to 18 minutes to reach the hospital, so provision of the AED has the potential to save lives.

The need and siting of the AED was also influenced by the age of some Club members and the Club’s location adjacent to sheltered housing. With Corinthian Centenary Lodge meeting in summer, the appeal was held between autumn 2022 and Spring 2023, enabling the other Masonic units meeting in Burnham to be involved. As a result, the Royal Burnham Lodge No 4904 also made a donation, which, together with that of Corinthian Centenary, raised the sum of £650.

The two Burnham-on-Crouch Lodges were able to assist in providing over half the cost of this vitally important piece of life-saving equipment.
A representative for the Bowls Club said, "We wish to express an extremely big thank you to the local Freemasons for providing a donation to the club towards the purchase of a defibrillator. Well done to the two Lodges and keep up the good work."

Photo: Tony Rowling presenting the £650 cheque to Mrs Joy Campbell, the Club Chairperson.