Charity may be the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason’s heart, but most of the time, it doesn’t mean ignoring common sense - the kind of common sense that restricts us from jumping out of a moving aeroplane mid-flight, for example. However, a number of Suffolk Freemasons, including Provincial Grand Master Jolyon Berry, set out to take Suffolk’s 2029 Festival to new heights.
In this case, the 25 volunteers took part in a sponsored skydive from a height of 14,000 feet to raise money for the 2029 Festival. It was the culmination of almost six months of planning, fundraising, and—for some of our Brethren—careful dieting to meet the weight requirements of the skydiving crew!
On Thursday, 27 June, the group met at Beccles Airfield in the north of Suffolk, where the experienced team at Virage Aviation began preparing each of them for the tandem jump. Nerves were calmed, or were at least until the jumpers were told they would be reaching speeds of 120mph on their descent, although not one of the volunteers abandoned the jump. Before long, the aircraft began lifting off from the airfield and climbing over the Suffolk countryside as final checks were made. A short flight didn’t give the volunteers too long to dwell on what they had agreed to do before the first, strapped closely to their instructor, leapt from the door and began their descent. It took a few minutes for each of the jumpers to reach the ground, but to those taking part, there was scarcely time to take in the 120mph plunge, the sudden deceleration as the ripcord pulled them back to just 12mph within four seconds and the rollercoaster sensation of dipping and turning on the remaining descent with the chute open above their heads. Happily, all 25 landed safely and with smiles on their faces.
Provincial Grand Master Jolyon Berry said:
“It’s impossible to know what to expect when you’re first made Provincial Grand Master, but I suspect very few of my fellow PGM’s had a skydive sitting in their in-tray almost as soon as the collar was placed on their shoulders! It’s been a fantastic few months raising funds for the jump, and I couldn’t have asked for a warmer or more supportive response from our community in Suffolk.
“Many times since people have asked, ‘Did you enjoy it? Was it fun?’. Well, watching people slip from the relative security of a light aircraft and falling out of sight, then leaning out of the door, falling vertically for 1,500ft with the skin on my bare arms rippling like waves and with every attempt to smile, making my cheeks blow out was not simply fun or enjoyable - it was life-affirming. It was awesome. It was unimaginable and unforgettable.
“A huge thank you to everyone who supported us, from those who donated to the amazing crew at Virage Air who took us through the jump. I can’t wait to see what comes next in our Festival plans, and I know Suffolk will beat its previous fundraising record into the dust.”
As a result of their efforts, the skydivers raised £18,200 for the Festival 29 appeal, with that amount continuing to tick up as late donations are made. These funds join the generous contributions of Suffolk Freemasons towards the Festival, with over half a million pounds already pledged, setting the Province well on its way towards the goal of beating the £1.6m raised in their 2019 Festival.
With five years to go, the adrenaline high of the skydive is just the beginning. Next, brave or perhaps foolhardy members will be invited to raise funds by taking part in a firewalk.
For more details, visit www.suffolkfestival.org.uk
