A Rekindled Interest and New Master for Gerard Lodge
A torch was passed during the installation meeting at Keynsham in June, when Gerard Lodge celebrated a very successful year under the leadership of Tony Joiner, who’s experience and wit added a warm and friendly charm to all their meetings throughout his year of office. He very ably handed over to first-timer Graham Millard who confidently and ably occupied the Chair.
Having spent twelve years paying his subs but not attending his previous Lodge, Graham shared that a chance encounter with several members rekindled his interest and led to him joining Gerard, where he found warm friendship and encouragement.
Richard Winter, a Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master, representing the PGM, complimented the Lodge on a wonderful ceremony and a very happy gathering.
This year, their Worshipful Master’s chosen charity is St. Mungo’s,
a charity registered in England to help people experiencing homelessness and currently operates in London, Bristol, Oxford, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Brighton, and Reading.
The charity has been a pioneer in a variety of programmes and initiatives, including accommodation for homelessness and rough sleeping; projects to offer training in construction skills and multi skills to help people find work in this sector, providing a City and Guilds qualification; the “Putting Down Roots” project which develops practical gardening and other horticultural features, and were featured in 2022 involved with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Their previous works include the “LifeWorks” project, which provided psychotherapy to the homeless, particularly those suffering with addiction, and Street Stories, an initiative to record the oral history of the homeless, the interviewers of which were clients of St. Mungo’s who had themselves been trained in this endeavour. The results were presented to the London School of Economics and are included in the archives of Southwark Library.
Click on the image below for more information about St. Mungo’s:
