Dalton-in-Furness Lodge No 6828 brethren have demonstrated their commitment to the local community with a generous donation of £500 to Dowdales School, to support the Dowdales School Memorial Garden, and £306 to the Mill Lane Centre for adults with learning difficulties. The cheques were presented at the installation meeting of Ron Hiseman, where the principal guest Mark Humphrey, Provincial Senior Grand Warden, representing the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, received them on behalf of the recipients.
On a visit to Dowdales School, Ron Hiseman, accompanied by several brethren of the lodge, formally presented the £500 cheque to Ms E J Aubrey, Headteacher. The donation will contribute to the upgrading of the school’s memorial garden, providing a safe and quiet space for pupils to visit as needed. Ms Aubrey expressed her gratitude for the lodge’s kind support, emphasizing the positive impact the funds will have on the school’s ongoing fundraising efforts.
She then offered to show the brethren the memorial garden and share the planned improvements. During the tour, members saw the memorial plaques dedicated to pupils who sadly died whilst attending the school, two of whom Ms Aubrey personally remembered from her time at Dowdales. The brethren were deeply moved by the significance of the memorial space and were impressed by the school’s vision to create a peaceful and safe environment for students. Ms Aubrey also extended an invitation for lodge members to tour the school and witness the broader efforts being made to enhance the learning environment. This invitation will be passed on to the lodge for future arrangements.
A few weeks later, the team were out again at the Mill Lane Centre to present a cheque for £306 to the Mill Lane Amenity Fund. The cheque was presented to Mrs Shahla Parkinson, a manager at the centre. Shahla Parkinson expressed her happiness at receiving such a kind donation, which will help with providing amenities for the centre. The presentation took place with some of the clients present.
Shahla Parkinson then gave a tour of the centre, highlighting areas where the donation could be used. In the outdoor areas, they need some poly tunnels to allow the clients to grow vegetables, (they won an award for their onions last year). They also need some projectors for the light and play areas as a couple have broken. Shahla explained that the local council provides the base funding, but anything over this needs fundraising by carol concerts, open days, raffles and other events.
During COVID, fundraising dried up, so all donations are gratefully received. These donations round off the year where the Dalton-in-Furness Lodge has donated £3,500 to Masonic and local charities. These charitable initiatives reflect the core Masonic values of charity, community and brotherhood, reinforcing the lodge’s dedication to supporting local causes. The brethren look forward to seeing the completed memorial garden and continuing their support for Dowdales School, the Mill Lane Centre and the wider community.
