The Beaminster Manor Lodge based in West Dorset, commonly referred to by many visitors as ‘The Star of the West’, held a Charity Coffee morning on Saturday, 25th November, at the Masonic Hall, to raise money for two very worthy Beaminster charities. It was an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or other soft drinks accompanied by some light refreshments, mainly prepared and served by our Lodge members in the surroundings of the newly refurbished dining room.
It was very well attended by many local and visiting people, and donations given on the morning helped the amount the Lodge itself had donated from a recently held member’s music concert. The Master of the Lodge, David Craddock, was delighted to welcome Mrs Helen Smith from the Beaminster Food Bank, who was presented with a cheque for £300, which can help them with the provision of much-needed Christmas hampers. He was also delighted to welcome Mrs Judith Hanson from the Baby and Toddler Group, who was presented with a cheque for £150, which can help them buy storybooks, games and a new soft play mat. Both charities said how delighted they were to receive these donations, which would help them through difficult times and benefit local families in many different ways.
This event also became part of our reaching out and engaging with the local community programmes, which the Lodge has been keen to bring more into the public eye.
During the morning, people attending were also given the opportunity to have a guided tour of the premises by the Lodge members and also to gain a small insight into the charitable work done by Freemasons, which benefits the general public, both locally and nationally. It also gave the local residents a chance to see all the hard work the Lodge members had done in refurbishing the various rooms inside the building, the outer decoration of the Lodge premises and also the outside gardens over the past few years, much of which goes unnoticed by the general public.
Many Lodge members commented on how very well this year’s event went and are hopeful it continues to become a noted annual event within the town, raising the profile of the Lodge and encouraging possible new members.
