Charity News
8th March 2025, PTSD999 visiting the Old Chelmsfordians.
The Brethren of Old Chelmsfordian Lodge met for their early Spring meeting on a crisp Saturday afternoon 8th March 2025. They were graced by the presence of a special visitor, W. Bro. Gary ‘Gaz’ Hayes from Unison Lodge No 4761, who happens to be the CEO of PTSD999, who provides Mental Health First Aid training for all the emergency services and other organisations around the UK. Gary came as a guest of W. Bro. Kevin Thompson who used to work with Gaz throughout the early noughties and beyond.
We were also graced by the presence of other visitors, including our very own Visiting Grand Officer, Bryan Bowles.
Amongst the normal business Bro. Paul Keaton was passed and delivered his testimony in a thoroughly professional manner praised by all present and led by our esteemed Worshipful Master Paul ‘Yarsy’ Yarwood.
W. Bro Jamie Churches was also recognised with another Provincial promotion, in recognition of his superlative efforts within Old Chelmsfordian Lodge.
After the usual business, the lodge was called off for a presentation from W. Bro Gary about the organisation PTSD999 and how he had been personally affected by the cumulative effects of various traumas in his life. This extended from his youth, throughout his military service and as a police officer during the London Bombings in 2005, culminating in the establishment of the charity and how they deliver their work to support the emergency services and other organisations around the UK. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and Gary delivered his speech with humility and passion.
For this meeting, Old Chelmsfordian Lodge took a ‘side-bar’ from the support of Sanctus, W. Bro. Paul’s selected charity for the year and opted to award PTSD999 a total of £500 from their charity pot, bolstered by another £300 from the raffle and a homemade cake auction kindly donated by our resident ‘visitor’ W. Bro Andy ‘George’ Hiller.
As a final surprise, W. Bro Gary received a framed presentation of the cover of a book about policing football hooliganism in the early Millenium from our Worshipful Master, in which he is featured leading a serial of police officers into a violent demonstration in Wellington, Shropshire in 2011. Gary was totally unaware that this was in existence – this time Gary didn’t have dry eyes!
Following the meeting Bro. Noel Mead engaged with W. Bro Gary about a psychotherapist Bro. Noel knew through his connections outside of freemasonry. The psychotherapist just so happened to be a young police support worker who assisted Gary and others, in the aftermath of the London bombings in 2005. Gary has since established a further connection and looks forward to raising a glass or two of toffee Vodka or malt with Noel at our Cluster meeting on 7.6.25.
Old Chelmsfordian Lodge continue to support Sanctus and on the following Tuesday W. Bro. Paul joined W. Bro Kevin in supporting Sanctus with a variety of tasks, including DIY, lugging sacks of potatoes and litres of milk into storage and providing sustenance and care to the homeless and destitute of Chelmsford. There was a particularly poignant moment in the afternoon when Paul and Kevin assisted a lonely elderly lady who visits Sanctus daily for succour and comfort.
Our next event at Sanctus, is a Malaysian Evening on Thursday 17th April starting at 7pm, where we hope to raise more funds for this local and very worthwhile cause. Cost is £35pp and please BYO booze.
SANCTUS Homeless Charity and Old Chelmsfordian Freemasons: A Heartwarming Partnership.
On 6th December, 2024, the Old Chelmsfordian Lodge presented a generous Cheque of £3030 to SANCTUS, a Chelmsford-based charity dedicated to supporting the homeless and vulnerable individuals in Essex. The cheque was handed over during a festive charity event organised by SANCTUS, which saw brethren, partners and friends come together for an evening of warmth and camaraderie.
The event featured raffles and auctions, which raised additional funds for the charity, furthering their mission to provide essential support and services to those in need. Attendees enjoyed a delightful evening, celebrating the spirit of giving and community support.
The Cheque was presented to the SANCTUS management team, Toni and Chris, by Worshipful Master W.Bro. Paul Yarwood, Secretary W.Bro. Rob Bates, and Charity Steward W.Bro. Kevin Thompson.
SANCTUS, known for its unwavering commitment to helping the homeless and vulnerable, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Old Chelmsfordian Lodge for their continued support and generosity. The partnership between the two organizations exemplifies the power of community and the impact of collective efforts in making a difference in people’s lives.
2025
Charity Steward Volunteers at Sanctus
Wednesday 22nd January 2025, saw OC Charity Steward W. Bro Kevin Thompson begin his first day
as a volunteer at Sanctus supporting the needy and homeless. Kevin says: “The end of 2024 was a catharsis for me. A close friend’s partner had a nasty medical diagnosis, which caused me to pause and reflect and alter my perspective on life. The year had seen my own medical issues, around which I had been working for an avaricious employer who had not been settling my invoices. I was fortunate enough to have Christmas abroad with my family and decided it was time for me to give something back and stop focusing on material values”,
Sanctus is W. Bro Paul Yarwood’s chosen charity as WM and Kevin as Charity Steward and W. Bro Rob Bates as Secretary have worked closely to enhance and develop their charitable support on behalf of OC and W. Bro Paul. Several OC charitable events are in the early planning stage.
Kevin added: “I decided to allocate each Wednesday every week to Sanctus, to volunteer for any task. In doing so I am directly assisting the service users and enhancing my knowledge as to the financial assistance we can give to Sanctus moving forwards”.
Kevin spent his first day in the kitchen, peeling and preparing a sack of carrots as a base for freshly cooked Lasagne, followed by salad preparation with a dressing concocted by Kevin, frying potatoes, followed by plating up over 55 meals to serve for lunch. Kevin then assisted in the washing up of crockery etc, moving frozen goods to enable freezer defrosting and then sweeping down the dining area, once the service users had left for the day. Another 25 people also attended Sanctus for other food and support – which was described by Toni our liaison at Sanctus as: ‘a fairly quiet day!’
Kevin is very much looking forward to next Wednesday and actively encourages any members of OC with spare time on their hands to jump on board.