At the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on 14th May 2022, the Provincial Grand Master said -
Two years ago I received a request from the founders of a new lodge, The Widows Sons Lodge, whose consecration had been postponed due to the coronavirus lock down. The lodge asked if Province would agree to support the purchase of a blood bike to be based in Scarborough to serve North Yorkshire.
The Widows Sons lodge was formed by bikers who are members of the Widows Sons Masonic Association, some of whom act as volunteers, riding the bikes that provide a rapid delivery service of blood products and laboratory samples for those in need. When operating at full capacity, the use of the bike would benefit our National Health Service by approximately £200,000 a year.
I thought this was a really good idea – a working example of engagement so the general public would see Freemasonry in a very positive light. So, I immediately passed the project to our Provincial Charity (the Freemasons Charity Yorkshire North and East Ridings) for the Trustees to consider.
The Charity decided that the idea would be an excellent use of their funds and took the project forward, working with the Whiteknights organisation who operate the blood bike system. Due diligence was carried out in accordance with the rules of the Charity and, at a meeting in January this year, it gave approval for funds to be made available to purchase the bike. A petition was also made to MCF (The Masonic Charitable Foundation) for a grant as part of their annual allocation to our Province. The Trustees were also pleased to receive a donation of £1,000 from the members of the Lodge to assist in the funding.
The total cost of the bike is approximately £21,000 and funding has come from FCYNER £16,500, MCF £3,500 and the Lodge £1,000. As your Provincial Grand Master and President of FCYNER, I would like to thank the Whiteknights organisation and our Charity for bringing this project to fruition.
I was hoping that all work on the bike would be finished for the Consecration of the Lodge on 9th April this year, and although various elements could not be completed by that date, I am delighted that it is finished today. All such bikes are given a name and this one has been named the Widows Sons Lodge.
It was our intention to have the bike on show in this auditorium today – actually on the floor of Provincial Grand Lodge, but the University Health and Safety protocols would not allow this. However, it is outside the building and I have great pleasure in formally asking that the bike be unveiled.
Brethren, we should be proud of this achievement and I now ask Bro Director of Ceremonies to present the representative of Whiteknights and the Worshipful Master of the Widows Sons Lodge to me, so that I may formally hand over the keys of the bike on behalf of Freemasons Charity Yorkshire North and East Ridings, the Masonic Charitable Foundation and the Widows Sons Lodge.
Worshipful Master, it gave me great pleasure to consecrate your lodge last month – a lodge of which I am now an Honorary member. It was very apparent on the day that the members intend to enjoy their Freemasonry to the full and visitors came from as far away as Gibraltar. I think it only right that your lodge should be the custodian of this certificate and I entrust it to your care.
Read more about the bike in the local press here: New Blood Bike for Yorkshire Coast
