While Primary Schools across the country struggle to contend with the raised cost of living, Essex Freemasons step up to ease the schools' tight budgets over the Christmas period.
In the run-up up to Christmas 2022, Paul Tarrant (The Provincial Grand Master and the Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch Masons in Essex) and his Royal Arch companions ticked all the right boxes when they approved a grant of £10,000. This grant was to be used to support 20 local primary schools facing cost-of-living-increase challenges in what should have been a time of happiness for everyone.
The Schools
The schools are all near to a Lodge, and each received a £500 grant. The local primary schools and their respective lodge locations were:
- Great Bradfords, Braintree
- Maltese Road, Chelmsford
- Whitehall, Chingford
- St Clare’s, Clacton
- St Thomas More’s, Colchester
- Kirby Primary Academy, Frinton
- Chadwell St Mary, Grays
- Holy Trinity, Halstead
- St James, Harlow
- Mayflower, Harwich
- Staples Road, Loughton
- Wentworth, Maldon
- Highfields, Manningtree
- Orsett Primary, Orsett
- Stanbridge, Rochford
- St Mary’s, Saffron Walden
- Kingsdown, Southend-on-Sea
- Tollesbury, Tollesbury
- Branfi, Upminster
- Chipping Hill, Witham
Royal Arch
With around 7,500 Freemasons in Essex more than half are also members of the Royal Arch. The Royal Arch is a connected organisation whose members are known as Companions and meet in chapters at Masonic centres across Essex, similar to their masonic Brothers who meet in lodges. Helping local communities is at the heart of Freemasonry and at the end of every Royal Arch meeting there is always a focus on peace in the world and goodwill to all. Elliott Chevin, the Deputy Grand Superintendent in Essex, said;
'We consider this especially so for younger children and wanted them to share in the excitement at school leading up to Christmas.'
The Schools
Recent restraints on school budgets meant that some planned activities and celebrations had to be cut back as schools battled with increased costs. Elliott added
'It is the children who would have lost out through no fault of their own. The extra money helped schools with activities which would have been trimmed to save money. The feeling among the Royal Arch companions in Essex was that giving some additional joy at this time of year was so important, especially for children, and we are all pleased we did this.'
This is a great example of Essex Freemasonry helping in the community particularly during these very trying times by providing healthy support for schools and especially for the children, during their very important and early educational years.
Written by Tony Hales
