Page 13 - Essex Mason (Issue 91)

Walden Lodge No. 1280

“A Small Lodge with a Big Heart”
By Tony Hales
Provincial Communications Team

The Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust has thanked Essex Freemasons
The Addenbr
eemasons
ooke’
s Charitable T
rust has thanked Essex Fr
for their “incredible support and wonderful generosity” in donating
for their “incr edible support and wonderful gener osity” in donating
£3,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital.
£3,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Car e Unit (NICU) at the hospital.
dedicated
the
and
Serving
Serving the Eastern region, Dr Kelsall and the dedicated NICU
r
Eastern
Dr
NICU
Kelsall
egion,
the
team do their utmost to save premature and new-born babies with
team do their utmost to save pr
ematur
e and new-born babies with
complications so that they can survive to live full lives.
complications so that they can survive to live full lives.
alden Lodge No 1280 donated £1,000
wenty years ago, a grateful W
Twenty years ago, a grateful Walden Lodge No 1280 donated £1,000
T
to NICU, after sharing in the pain and anguish of W Bro Graham
to NICU, after sharing in the pain and anguish of W Br o Graham
ely and
ematur
n pr
Newman and his wife when their daughter was born prematurely and
Newman and his wife when their daughter was bor
had to spend several months in intensive care. Thanks to NICU, baby
had to spend several months in intensive car e. Thanks to NICU, baby
own up and completed a degr
ee at Reading University
Imogen has gr
Imogen has grown up and completed a degree at Reading University
so W alden Lodge decided to mark this milestone with another
so Walden Lodge decided to mark this milestone with another
donation.
donation.
The Provincial Grand Master of Essex Freemasons, the late Rodney Lister Bass OBE, visited Walden Lodge in November
The Provincial Grand Master of Essex Freemasons, the late Rodney Lister Bass OBE, visited Walden Lodge in November
2019 for the 150th year celebrations which included a quiz night raising £1,200. A further £1,300 was raised by the
Brethren, including Graham Newman, and with £500 from the Essex Freemasons Community Fund in matched-funding,
the total of £3,000 was achieved.
Dr Kelsall at NICU said that once he is allowed, he is happy to visit and say thank you again in person to all the Brethren
whilst sharing more about the department. The money will go towards maintaining and upgrading:
• a video system so that during lockdown, parents can still talk to and see their babies while apart
• Incubator covers that allow the right level of sound and light in creating a cocoon-like, safe environment for sick
babies.
• Books for siblings of babies on the unit, allowing parents to prepare their children for the often-overwhelming
experience of visiting the NICU and their baby brother or sister for the fi rst time.
• The refurbishment and design of a calm, tranquil room for parents to take a break from the unit and make
themselves a hot drink.
Based in Saffron Walden and bearing the Borough motto of Deo Adjuvante Floremus (By God’s help we fl ourish), Walden
Lodge has a fi ne tradition of charitable giving which began 150 years ago, in 1871, with two guineas each for the Relief
of French Peasants in the Franco-Prussian War and the Saffron Walden General Hospital.
In April 1912 fi ve guineas was donated to the Lord Mayors Fund for the Titanic disaster. As today’s Lodge Treasurer and
Charity Steward, Richard Peet, said speaking on behalf of the 23 members of Walden Lodge “We are a Small Lodge with
a Big Heart”.
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