Page 51 - Essex Mason (Issue 87) Online Version

Online Supplement

Group Almoner 25 Years
Keith Wheatcroft

At Rosslyn 1543 last night (27th November) W.Bro
Keith Wheatcroft was awarded a Certificate for
Meritorious Service having served 25 years as the
Group Almoner for the West of Essex. He was
presented with the Award by W.Bro Tony White
PAGSD APGM. Also pictured are the Worshipful
Master of Rosslyn W.Bro Graham Romain and the
Immediate Past Master Bro. Dave Estlea.

Keith joined the Almoner team back in October 1995 and after talking with W.Bro Michael Withams he found himself part of the team.
Keith said “I love doing the job, I get a big kick out of helping others, although 25 years was a surprise to me as it has gone so quickly”
Keith has supported a number of Provincial Almoners over the years and has formed great relationships with all of them, However, the
biggest change that he has witnessed during the 25 years was the consolidation of the Grand Charities, although difficult at first, the
new MCF is far more professional than ever before and despite some minor teething problems the charity is definitely more efficient
than ever.
Over the years there have been some challenges, especially in relation to GDPR, with all information gathered being control far more
ever. Likewise, Group Almoners play a far bigger roll which requires greater training than ever before.
Its fair to say that one of the most frustrating parts of the role has always been in trying to work with Lodge Almoners who have been
appointed into the role for the wrong reason, and often because nobody else wanted the job. The skills and behaviours needed to
be a good almoner are more important today than ever before, and as group almoner Keith try’s to ensure the Lodge Almoners are
supported to the best of his ability, also ensuring that his deputies and lodge almoners are informed and aware of current legislation
and work processes.
Keith has been in public service (33 police) most of his adult life and has always really enjoyed helping others “you either have this trait
or you don’t…. Clearly Keith does.

Going Dutch
Holland Flevo Lodge 232

4 of our members and 4 other Brethren
with guests totalling a party of 14 visited our
twinning Lodge in Holland Flevo Lodge 232 on 8th November 2019 returning
on 10th November 2019. We were all up at 4:00 am for an early flight from
Southend Airport.
We were collected from the Airport by our Dutch Brethren to our hotel
Stakenberg at Stakenberg 86 with the journey time of one hour. The meeting
was held at the hotel in a separate Lodge room.
The meeting on Friday commenced at 7:30 pm and lasted some 2 hours with
an initiation of a Candidate. We thought it would be a different Ceremony but
it was completely different to what we had imagined. One of the things we
liked was that the Candidate had 2 blindfolds on and when the black blindfold
was removed there was a white blindfold underneath which represents dark
and light.

The Festive Board started at 10:00 pm and it was after midnight before it
finished. We were made most welcome during the meeting and the Festive
Board. There were numerous toasts to the Candidate by the Dutch Brethren
throughout the evening and the emotion was clear to be heard in the words
spoken. One of the Dutch Brethren told me that they were speaking from the
“heart”. It was certainly a long day for us all!
Flevo Lodge meeting every week and has ceremonial meetings 5 or 6 times
a year with Lodge Committees every month between September through to
June. There are members in our Lodges who complain that meeting 4 times
a year with 2 GP meetings is too much!
We were made so welcome during our stay and entertainment was laid on for
us during the weekend including a dinner on Saturday night with our ladies.
Our Dutch Brethren with their guests are planning to visit us at our May
meeting next year. We hope to go over to Flevo Lodge in the near future
and certainly we will be keeping in touch with them in the meantime.