If you were to travel along the A252 from Chilham to Charing and take a left hand slip marked ‘Gliders’, just past Challock, you would negotiate a rather lengthy narrow lane which sometimes begs the question of whether or not you have taken the correct track. Suddenly it opens up into a well established airfield belonging to the Kent Gliding Club with hangers, training facilities and club house. This was the venue where, on 29th September, 15 good causes and charities attended for the presentation of the Provincial Grand Master’s 2006 Discretionary Fund.

The venue obviously had some influence on the theme of the occasion. One of the charities in attendance was High Flight which is a UK registered charity created from within the Flight Operations department of British Airways. Its vision is to try to improve the quality of life of young people with physical or mental disability, by assisting in the provision of flight training and associated activities and also to further the education of children and young people in the field of aviation and related subjects.

It was clear from the onset that on this occasion some children were going to take to the air with, perhaps, a few lucky Masons. We were fortunate to have with us the chairman of High Flight, WBro Stratton Richey LGR, of the Metropolitan Grand Stewards Lodge, a Captain with British Airways. He provided an excellent commentary on the mechanics of getting a glider in the air and the safety procedures involved. All this was happening at the far end of the field where the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro Roger Odd, had the pleasure of meeting some of the children who were participating and discovered their enthusiasm and delight at the prospect of flying in a glider.

The two lucky Masons who managed to get a flight were the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro Roger Odd and the Provincial Grand Almoner, WBro Tony Jones. The cloud base was between 700/800 feet and it was a rather dank day with few, if any, thermals. However, the first up was Tony Jones who, upon levelling off and not being entirely accustomed to this sort of flying, tried to locate the drinks trolley. He was closely followed by Roger who had some difficulty coming to terms with the fact that the parachute he was wearing was not for bailing out, but just for sitting on. Both thoroughly enjoyed themselves and will probably dine out on the experience for many festive boards to come.

The Provincial Grand Master then dealt with the distribution of his Discretionary Fund. By way of introduction he explained how Freemasonry generally is now more open especially in relation to work in the community. He also explained how donations made to various non-Masonic charities and good causes are raised entirely within individual Lodges and Masonic families. He then had the great pleasure of making various awards to the 15 charities present who, in turn, briefly explained how the donation would assist their particular good cause. One of the mentioned charities was, of course, High Flight and WBro Stratton Richey told a moving story of how a young lady who was severely injured in the bomb blast at Victoria Station back in February 1991 took up flying through one of High Flights Flying Scholarships and became a private pilot. For her, this experience and qualification had a profound and positive effect, she said “From nothing, I was given hope and belief in myself again. I am more than grateful to sponsors like yourselves for having the spirit and optimism to believe in others, when they don’t feel that they can believe in themselves.” For anyone who wishes further information the website for High Flight is www.highflight.info

From the photographs accompanying this article you will see what a successful, enjoyable and interesting evening it was. This would not have been possible without the facilities provided by the Kent Gliding Club and the Provincial Grand Master extends his thanks and best wishes to them for their hospitality.

The names and details of the charities and organisations in attendance at this event are recorded in the article entitled ‘Donations to non-Masonic Charities’ in this edition

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WBro Brian Dale PSGD,PAPGM

Ed45, p8