Connaught Lodge NHS Day Celebration
The brethren of Connaught Lodge celebrated the National NHS Day on Monday 5 July, the 73rd anniversary of the birth of the NHS, as being an ideal opportunity to pay tribute to all the NHS staff who worked so tirelessly throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, saving lives, and keeping NHS services going.
Our day started at 11AM with brethren observing the national two minutes silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the service of others. During the evening, the Lodge made four donations of £1,000 to charities that work in conjunction with the NHS by providing vital support services, and a further £1,000 to the NHS Charities Together.
Jerry Hake from the Freewheelers Blood Bikes received the donation from Charity Steward W. Bro. Colin Lunt and Secretary W. Bro. Tony Cooper passed the cheque to Ken Hutton of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. Worshipful Master Brian Parry presented the cheque to Very Worshipful Brother Richard Lewis who was representing the Great Western Air Ambulance. This was followed by W. Bro. Chris James, Communications Officer, presenting the donation to Emily Mitchard of the Children’s Hospice South West.
Representing the National Health Service, Emergency Care Assistant HayleyBiggins received the £1,000 cheque on behalf of the NHS Charities Togetherfrom her husband, Bro. Sean Biggins, also an ECA, which was registered on the charity’s website. Teddies for Loving Care were given to Bro. Sean for use by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. All the recipients were given a TLC teddy as a personal gift from the lodge.
Later in the evening everyone assembled in front of the Masonic Hall for theNational Clapping for the NHS Heroes, to show our appreciation for what they do.
