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Southwell Minster Lodge of Freemasons celebrate 150 years of charitable endeavours




Southwell’s Minster Lodge of Freemasons will be celebrating 150 years of charitable endeavours this June as they host a fete to raise money for local foundations, writes Will Hugall.

Taking place on the afternoon of June 18, from 2pm to 5pm, the event hopes to see up to 30 local charities attend to either fundraise or spread awareness in the town.

It will take place at Southwell Rugby Club, whose own significant anniversary fits in nicely with the plans.

Southwell’s Minster Lodge of Freemasons.
Southwell’s Minster Lodge of Freemasons.

Roy Sharp, chairman of the Minster Lodge of Freemasons, said: “I thought, rather than having some ladies’ night or something like that, I’d talk to the local rugby club as it’s their centenary.

“It’s also 150 years since freemasonry started in Southwell. So, I thought, we’d take the rugby club field and just ask any local charities, voluntary organisations, whatever, if they wanted to set up a village fete-style stall.”

The charities being approached to take part are predominantly local, and it is hoped that the afternoon will provide an opportunity for them to maintain good work in the area while offering a different way to raise funds from the Lodge’s donations.

“It also bypasses us taking money in, so it takes the middle man out,” said Roy.

“It gives people the opportunity to show off themselves a bit and raise some money or even just raise some awareness.

“It’s really, trying to, after two years of not being able to fundraise, give them a short afternoon of being able to do it.”

Freemasonry has existed in Southwell since 1872, and while Southwell Lodge moved to Nottingham in 1880, Minster Lodge — which was formed in 1972 — still enjoys very close links to the original Southwell Lodge.

Every year, the Masonic Charitable Foundation makes grants totalling more than £5.5m to charities.

Those grants are in addition to the charitable giving by individual Freemason Lodges to charities in their localities, which is central to their work.

Ahead of the big day in June, the Minster Lodge is in the process of securing stallholders.

“We’ve managed to get the Guides, and the Southwell and District Lions and the Rotary Club involved, we’ve got the Children’s Bereavement Centre who’ve said they’re interested,” said Roy.

“It’s just really a chance to help the local charities.

“Whatever they raise is theirs and it won’t cost them anything to do it.

“If we can get 25 or 30 organisations on the field, I think it should be quite a nice day.”

With a range of activities, a public raffle with prizes donated by businesses in aid of the Masonic Charitable Foundation Ukraine Crisis Appeal and the rugby club bar open to those attending, it is hoped to be a fantastic day.



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