Seven Kings Lodge Boar’s Head meeting smashes 28 year old record!
Over 600 toys received by brethren for distribution and £3,500 raised, setting new record
This now well-known event, which raises toys and monies for children in hospital at Christmas and other sick kids throughout the year, has now broken all previous records, and has Added another hospital (Southend) to our Santa Express, making a total of FIVE hospitals this year.
In addition, and setting a new 28 year long record, the Lodge collected over £3,500 for our Boars Head benevolent account for sick kids, which is a fantastic £750 up on last year’s amazing figure .
One hundred and forty brethren, travelling from as far as Cyprus, and our ever growing Isle of Wight contingent, witnessed an initiation ceremony carried out by W Bro Phil Lovelock PSGD APGM who, as expected, gave the candidate a wonderful welcome into freemasonry with a competent and sincere display of the work, ably assisted by many other distinguished brethren.
After a truly magnificent ceremony, the brethren dined to the sounds of the “Tilbury Brass Band” and sang Christmas Carols with exuberance during the evening, resulting in wonderful discourse and harmony.
These meetings, along with a number of other special events, have over the years raised well over two hundred and fifty thousand pounds and thousands of toys for children in Essex, and have also brought more than fifty new masons into the Craft.
The toys were taken to our five hospitals by Santa’s Seven Kings Lodge helpers and given to the ward nurses for distribution to the kids.
Long may it continue!
Photos
Top (L-R): W. Bro. Rob Eels (PSGD, AsstProvGM), W.Bro. The Rev Martin Howse (PSGD, AsstProvGM), V.W.Bro. Nicholas Franklin (PGSwdB DepProvGM), Seven Kings Lodge Secretary W. Bro Peter Banks (PJGD, PProvJGW), W. Bro Philip Lovelock (PSGD, AsstProvGM) and Colin Felton (PSGD, AsstProvGM)
Bottom (L-R): The smiles of all the nurses at the five supported hospitals, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Southend Hospital, Basildon Hospital, Queens Hospital, Romford and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow
