Page 23 - Essex Mason (Issue 91)

• The continued support of the PGA team to help our Almoners deliver our messages enabling the right levels of care and
support to their brethren and widows
• Seeing the continued growth of the numbers attending our major events - our Almoners Conferences, Training Workshops
and Men’s Health Days
• Our reputation as a team to be held in high esteem by all Essex Masons.

The PGA team consists of 20 Offi cers: Deputy PGA: Ray Heathfi eld; Finance: John Mansfi eld; Communications and
Equipment: Chris Lee; Social Welfare: Gary Neilson; Men’s Health: George Young; Almoner Grants Offi cers (AGOs): George
Young, Phil Bruce, Peter Thorpe, Keith Wheatcroft, Jim Wheeler, Stewart Topley, Andy Jones, Alan Jory, Paul Cash and Paul
Hacker; Almoner Liaison Offi cers (ALOs): Ray Heathfi eld, John Engledew, Glenn Mayes, Steve Drury, John Mansfi eld, Stephen
Cochrane and John Hardisty. Any Brother can call Gary if they would like to go on the reserve list for when a vacancy occurs.
The fi rst major success for Gary and the team was the virtual on-line Almoners Conference held on 6th May 2021 with 182
attendees. During his introduction the DepPGM in Charge, Paul Reeves, surprised many by saying that he had become an
Almoner in two Lodges since becoming DepPGM and “never realised how busy the role is”. Jade Gibson and Agnieszka
MacDonald talked about Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court. Jade recently wrote “We would like to thank Gary for his invitation
to present at such a fantastic virtual event. We have had a huge infl ux in enquiries as a result and to date have admitted, or
plan to admit, eight new residents as a direct result of the Conference.”
Looking ahead there are a number of other projects and events set in place.
• With between 40 to 50 changes of Lodge Almoners every year, it seems sensible to hold the Almoners Conference
bi-annually alternating with the three Training Workshops held in the north, south and central areas of the Province.
• The one-to-one visits by the AGOs on behalf of the MCF, which were suspended during lockdown and handled remotely
by MCF staff, are likely to resume soon which will relieve the MCF of this additional burden. The aim is for all applications
to the MCF to have a decision within 40 days of the AGO submitting the paperwork.
• Following the successful project overseen by Gary Neilson, most of the 120 plus widows in 2020 have now been ‘adopted’
by Lodges and other Provinces. Gary would like to hear from the Almoner of any Lodge which feels it can help with a
placement or two for the current 21 unattached widows.
With concerns that the pandemic has prevented many from getting their health checked at local surgeries and clinics, a special
Men’s Health Day has been arranged for Wednesday 27th October 2021 at the Essex County Cricket Ground, Chelmsford.
This includes a CHAPS, the Men’s Health Charity, PSA test plus four other health tests all for free, as the Essex Freemasons
Community Fund (EFCF) is sponsoring up to 400 tests which usually cost £20 each. Brethren are encouraged to bring along
non-masonic family members and friends who will be entitled to the free tests as well. There will be donation buckets and the
funds collected in them will be given to the EFCF. Booking
will only be available on-line about one month before.
If there is one thing which Gary would like to accomplish
in the next year it is to save a Lodge. Ray Heathfi eld and derek@clothingdis.co.uk
over 30 others have indicated their support for a Lodge
in diffi culty by making it a Lodge for all past and present
Provincial, Lodge, Chapter and Deputy Almoners. The
details are being worked on with possibly three meetings £139.00
a year at different centres. In addition to the Installation
meeting, two other meetings would have lectures of
interest to Almoners from both masonic and non-masonic
guest speakers.
Gary believes that although the people in Freemasonry
have changed over the years, the majority of the
membership is content with the way ahead and that every
Lodge should now consider having a Deputy Almoner.
This is not an Offi ce but a valuable role in which younger
members can assist now and be ready to take over when
their Lodge Almoner steps down. Such experience will
help them learn and develop the necessary skills to
identify those less fortunate than ourselves, provide
them with pastoral care to deliver relief from loneliness,
suffering and need whilst treating them with humility,
confi dentiality and compassion.

Being very approachable, Gary is happy to talk with any
prospective Deputy Almoner about this new role which
has the support of both UGLE and the Province which
selected him to be their new Provincial Grand Almoner. Next day delivery or visit our showroom by prior
Chosen not only because he has the necessary experience appointment
and skills to do the job but because he also has built-up
a proven track record over many years which clearly
demonstrates that ‘Eight days a week is not enough for
Gary Hostler to show he cares’.
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