Page 20 - Essex Mason Issue 84

Charity

Mad David and his terrifying experience for charity

arwich truck driver and Essex Freemason David Todd has taken to the air raising
Hmore than £1,500 for local charities in the process strapped to the top of a Boeing
Stearman bi-plane at speeds in excess of130 mph.

The walk, which took place at Damyns Airfield near Upminster, which David afterwards
described as the “most terrifying experience of his life” lasted for around 15 minutes as
the plane banked and circled over the Essex countryside.
“I had to lose two stone before they would let me fly,” added Dave, aged 53. “I previously
weighed 14 stone so the weight loss was an added bonus to the money we raised for
charity.”

“Wing walking is not the kind of thing you expect Freemasons to be doing, but we
continue to confound people with all
kind of different ways to raise money. I
have to say though that while I was strapped in the chair all I could see was the
propeller just three to four feet away – scary.”
“I believe that I am the first Essex Freemason to try something like this and
while I enjoyed the experience my wife, Beverley and the rest of my Masonic
colleagues thought I was mad.”
David has been an Essex Freemason for 10 years now and belongs to four
Lodges in the Harwich and Clacton areas
For further information please contact Colin Felton on 07850 292368 or e-mail
colin.felton@essexpgl.org.uk

Freemasonry in the Community: Sensory Shed for Leverton

School

une 13th 2018 saw the grand opening of a Sensory Shed for special needs children funded by local Freemasons at Leverton
JSchool.

Leverton School have a number of pupils with special needs including those who are Autistic or suffer from Asperger Syndrome.
To help these children in the school they needed to provide a 'safe place' for them to retreat to. Having looked to the normal
sources for funding and being unsuccessful they thought the project would never get off the ground. Then the Grandfather of
one of the pupils heard of their plight and suggested that a local Masonic Lodge could possibly assist.
Forester Lodge 7760 was approached with a proposal to contribute to the costs of building "The Hub", a sensory shed where the
kids could escape the pressures that aggravate them. The Lodge decided that they would fund the entire project donating £1,800
for the construction. This was increased to £2,000 with a personal donation by the Organist: Tom Kelly.
Work started about a year ago and was completed in the last few weeks. A further personal donation of £1,500 by Tom Kelly
allowed the area surrounding the Sensory Shed to be completed with artificial grass enabling "The Hub" to be used in all weathers.

The opening of The Hub was attended by members of Forester
Lodge, Parents, School Governors and Teachers but the most
important guests were the pupils that will use the facilities.
Aimee and her son Reggie, who is autistic and non-verbal,
showed us how the Sensory Shed is used by the children and
how it can transform a difficult to manage child into a relaxed,
calm person. Reggie absolutely loves the Hub and was keen to
show us the sights, sounds, textures and smells. Another pupil
who is constantly angry and aggressive has been totally turned
around by the hub and his mum says he is a completely different
boy.

Forester Lodge will continue to work with Leverton School to ensure that the Hub remains open and a valued resource for the
special needs pupils.

Provincial Grand Charity Steward

W.Bro Colin Felton PADGC colin.felton@essexpgl.org

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