Page 47 - Essex Mason (Issue 92)

Colcestria Lodge No. 7123 Welcomes a Hero and Gives, Gives and Gives.
In the run-up to its Platinum (70th) Anniversary in February 2022 the Brethren of Colcestria Lodge No.
7123 have been active in giving to good causes and attracting new members to Freemasonry.
In response to the call to help combat loneliness by Gary Hostler, the Provincial Grand Almoner (ProvGAlm), a group of
Colcestria Brethren visited the North Colchester Men’s Shed Charity on 18th November 2021 to see for themselves how
a large shed full of tools and projects can make such a difference to men experiencing unwanted isolation. They also gave
the charity a donation of £500 on behalf of the Lodge.
On Saturday 27th November 2021, the Lodge Mentor and Membership Officer, Brian Chenier, in his capacity as the
Group Membership Officer represening all 12 Lodges which meet at the Colchester Masonic Centre attended the new
Members’ Pathway event at Braintree together with Paul Tarrant, the Provincial Grand Master (ProvGM) and nearly 70
Brethren.

Brian Chenier is the Prosthetics Support Officer for ‘Blesma, The Limbless Veterans’, an Armed Forces charity helping
those who have lost limbs or sight live independently. His article entitled ‘The lowdown on the Freemasons’ in the latest
issue of Blesma Magazine | Blesma, The Limbless Veterans Charity at pages 12-13 is especially informative and well worth
reading.
Emphatic that the Members’ Pathway event was a great success, Brian immediately returned to the Centre at Colchester
and put up a Provincial Membership Team poster on the notice board. At the Colcestria Lodge meeting that evening
he reported to fellow Brethren that “It was extremely pleasing to see the enthusiasm of all those who attended and the
support from the very top which is appreciated” he added “I will do my best to help our Lodges attract and benefit from
more members.”

Earlier in the meeting, Brian had given the Charge after Initiation to Colin Branch, a Support Hub Manager for Help for
Heroes, whom he had proposed. Colin had his leg amputated following an operational infantry assault while serving as
a Corporal with 1 Royal Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan in 2007. He has a wonderful positive philosophy about being
alive with his wife and children as they grow up. The First Degree ceremony was performed by Mark Ingram, the Wor-
shipful Master, who was the seconder and an accomplished Explanation of the Ceremony was given by Tony Brewers, the
Director of Ceremonies.
The Chairman of Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) in Essex, Robert Whittingham, a Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master
(PAPGM), was presented with a £1,000 cheque for TLC which was started 20 years ago by two Freemasons in Essex.
Since then, more than three million bears have been given to children in hospitals in England and Wales with over
500,000 in Essex. Central support and administration
for regional TLC charities is provided by the Masonic
Charitable Foundation, the Freemasons’ charity which
gave over £51 million to UK Charities and deserving
causes in 2020

Within one week of his Initiation Colin Branch and his
wife enjoyed their first Colcestria Lodge Masonic La-
dies Festival Dinner and Dance at the St Giles Mason-
ic Centre in Colchester on 4th December 2021. Over
£1,000 was raised by the 42 guests for the children’s
mental health charity ‘Place2B’ which had also re-
ceived a £25,000 grant from the Essex Freemasons for
additional support in the Harlow area just a few days
before Essex Freemasons helping to improve mental
health in Harlow.
As the Platinum anniversary of Colcestria Lodge No.
7123 approaches, the Brethren can celebrate being
a Lodge that welcomes Heroes and, with a focus on
charity, gives, gives and gives.