Each year the Maidstone Masonic Centre Ltd (MMC) arranges a street collection in support of the Heart of Kent Hospice, and this year it was the turn of the Duke of Kent Lodge No.5818 to organise the event. Once again it broke all previous records, and with top-ups from the Duke of Kent Lodge and MMC, the collection amassed a magnificent £1,600.

Organiser WBro Mick Bremerkamp and his team were absolutely delighted – not only with the generosity of the public, but also with the number of helpers who turned out on a Saturday morning to help with the collection. Amongst those who came along to help were the Provincial Grand Master and WBro Pat Thomas, Assistant Provincial Grand Master.

RWBro Michael Bailey, the Provincial Grand Master was most impressed with the organisation of the event, and was personally very pleased to have been a part of such an important public occasion, which has reinforced his thoughts about integration with our local communities. “My message for the future” he commented “is for us to enhance the efforts already made regarding Freemasonry in the Community, by working towards more occasions where we see actual Freemasons in the community. Events such as this, where Lodge members come into open contact with members of the community in such a positive manner, can only serve to heighten the public's perception of our wonderful fraternity. Our ceremonies teach us the importance of benevolence and charity, and finding ways of caring for people in the community in addition to the important charitable fund raising work that we do, is not only an important message to communicate, but is an essential fundamental of our ethos”.

From Ed44, P15