Hoylake's RAF Air Cadets received a massive boost from local Freemasons when Hoose Lodge, in Hoylake, joined together with the Widows Sons' masonic bikers group and the Cheshire Freemason's Charity to present £4,750 to 472 (Hoylake & West Kirby) Squadron RAF Air Cadets at its Parade Meeting.
The money provided by the Freemasons will fully fund the purchase of the software and equipment for a fully functional flight simulator. This includes a purpose-built flight chair, a gaming PC to run the software, a 40" curved monitor, VR goggles, and flying controls.
Flight Officer Neil Monaghan, the Squadron's commanding officer, said:
'The high-tech equipment and software will enable the cadets to experience flying different aircraft whilst at their meetings and prepare them for more practical flying skills in the future.
'I believe this will attract new members and boost recruitment and membership of the Squadron where the cadets also learn many other life skills as well as making new friends irrespective of whether they had thoughts of joining the RAF or not. Cadet life is all about challenge, excitement and adventure'.
Little did Neil, a member of Hoose Lodge himself, realise what would happen when he, at a dinner after a meeting of Hoose Lodge, told Steve Croft, the charity steward of Hoose Lodge that he was starting a fundraising project to buy flight simulator software and hardware for the air cadets of his Squadron. Steve, seeing an opportunity for the Lodge to help the youth of the local community, approached John Raby of the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association, and both took the idea to their respective Lodge meetings. Between them and the support from the Cheshire Freemasons' Charity, they raised the money for a donation of £4750 to meet the full cost of the flight simulator and the equipment.
Steve Croft and John Raby said that both Hoose Lodge and the Widow's Sons were founded to support local charities and organisations, and it was a pleasure for them to be able to support such a worthy cause and were grateful for the added support from the Cheshire Freemasons' Charity
