Cambridgeshire Freemasons continued their support of the work of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity with a donation of £800 this week. The funds were raised at three performances of ‘Scrooge’ the latest pantomime presented by local lodge members at Newmarket Masonic Hall. Other recipients included the national Masonic Charitable Foundation, which distributes donations to regional, national and international causes.
The donation was made by Ely Freemason Peter Crussell, who wrote and appeared in this year’s production. The visit to present the cheque was particularly poignant for Peter, as his mother Eileen passed away in the Hospice at Shelford Bottom in February after being diagnosed with cancer. The image below, taken at the entrance to the wards, shows Peter with Tasha Hills from the Fundraising Team and Sam Smith, Ward Sister, who cared for Eileen during her stay at the Hospice.
Peter said “I’m really pleased to make this presentation today. The Pantomime cast had decided to support the work of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity well before I knew my mother was ill. Her stay at the Hospice meant that she was unable to see this year’s pantomime, but she told me that it shouldn’t prevent me from taking part. My family are incredibly grateful to Sam and all the staff at the Hospice for the care they provided to my mother as well as the empathy and support they gave us after her death.”
Tasha, part of the Fundraising Team, said: “Thank you so much for this lovely donation, which will help us care for patients at the Hospice in Shelford Bottom, the Alan Hudson Day Care Centre in Wisbech and via the ‘Hospice at Home’ scheme which covers much of the County”.
Peter was pleased to discover that this care included provision of a hairdresser for patients, something his mother had particularly enjoyed.
Cambridgeshire Freemasons contributed over £200,000 during the construction of the Hospice at Shelford Bottom and while individual lodges continue to make contributions several members volunteer at the hospice.
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Notes for Editors:
Photos:
1. Action photo from the Panto
2. Photo taken at the entrance to the wards, shows Peter with Tasha Hills from the Fundraising Team and Sam Smith, Ward Sister, who cared for Eileen during her stay at the Hospice.
About Cambridgeshire Freemasonry:
The Masonic Province of Cambridgeshire is relatively small, with Masonic Centres in Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, March, Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech. There are around 1500 Freemasons and 31 individual lodges. We pride ourselves on our friendliness and inclusivity, with members drawn from all walks of life and professional backgrounds. We welcome enquiries from anyone who is curious about our values and our history. More information is available on our website https://www.cambridgeshirefreemasons.org.uk and enquiries should be directed to our Provincial Information Officer: Jon Cooper