White Rose - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

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CONNAUGHT COURT: EXCELLENT SUPPORT TO FREEMASONS AND THEIR DEPENDANTS A report from Francis Testo of the Friends of Connaught Court Towards the end of 2011 I was approached by a senior member of Province who asked whether I would like to join the committee of Friends of Connaught Court as Area 1 representative. Having recently been through the somewhat traumatic experience of having to arrange for an elderly relative to go into residential care I was acutely aware of the problems involved. Feeling sure that I could make a worthwhile contribution, I was pleased to accept the role and attended my fi rst meeting in January of 2012. Quality Steel Stockholders Competitive Prices on Request – Full Delivery or Collection Service Available “SUPPLIERS OF STRENGTH FOR OVER 30 YEARS” Head Office: Low Moor Steel Works, New Works Road, Low Moor, Bradford BD12 0QN Telephone: (01274) 607070 Fax: (01274) 672979 Also at: Dent Steel Services (Yorkshire) Limited Unit 17 Airdrie Business Centre, 1 Chapel Lane, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire ML6 6GX Telephone: (01236) 439511 Fax: (01236) 439512 suppliers of strength dent steel services (Yorkshire) Ltd. E-mail: enquiries@dentsteel.co.uk Web: www.dentsteel,co,uk Approval No. 860362 Sawing Service & Shotblasting & Painting facility available in house At the time I invited my wife, Margaret, to attend so that she would, in future, know where I was disappearing to on the Sundays when the association meets. After a very informative introduction Margaret and I were invited by Margaret Cade, the manager of Connaught Court, to a conducted tour of the building. I have to say that we were both completely taken aback by the sheer quality of the place. In comparison to the home in which we had housed our elderly relative, which is bright, modern and clean, Connaught Court is vastly superior and could rightly be compared to a very well rated hotel. In fact, on our departure and passing the main dining room, we were amazed but very pleased to see waitresses fl itting in and out with bottles of wine and other recuperative ‘imbibations’ for the residents to enjoy with their Sunday lunch. In March 2012 I attended an Almoner’s seminar at which one of the speakers was Elizabeth Connolly, a Care Advisor on behalf of the RMBI. Elizabeth gave a very interesting talk regarding her role and the various ways that she is able to help in the care of Freemasons and their dependants. During 12 White Rose Masonic News Spring 2013
the course of her presentation she was asked by one of those present “how one would make application for entry to Connaught Court”, to which her answer was “You should know”. This got me thinking because were I to have been asked at that time I would have to confess that I didn’t know. I therefore made a point of fi nding out. However, it occurred to me that since I didn’t know, how many others might be in the same position? And, after giving the matter some thought, I determined that one way to make people aware was to submit an article to the White Rose News giving a description of Connaught Court and outlining the application procedure. Connaught Court Situated in extensive parkland close to York city centre Connaught Court was purpose built in 1971 for the use of Freemasons and their dependants from the Provinces of Yorkshire, West Riding; Yorkshire, North and East Ridings and Lincolnshire and is owned and operated by RMBI. The home can accommodate 90 residents at present and offers 65 residential, 15 nursing and 10 dementia care places. All rooms are bright and spacious and offer en-suite facilities. The home has recently undergone extensive refurbishment using light, modern materials to give an open and airy feel throughout. There are several lounges, some of which have adjoining conservatories that also add to the feeling of airiness and spaciousness, along with dining areas and kitchens. Additionally, there is the main lounge and dining room, which are also used for entertainment that includes musical evenings, concerts, parties and communal activities. There is a hairdressing salon, fully stocked library with computer facilities and a chapel. An extensive and varied range of activities are arranged by the Activities Co-ordinator taking residents to concerts, quizzes, shopping trips, places of interest and the occasional Masonic Meeting. In addition to the main building, Fred Crosland House, which was opened in February 1998, offers specialist facilities for those with severe memory loss and dementia and consists of ten single rooms with en-suite facilities. Whilst this area is self-contained it is formed around a central courtyard surrounded by a covered walkway enabling the residents to gain safe access to outdoor space. Staff in this unit are specially trained and offer individual care using up-to-date techniques to engage with the residents. No soporifi cs are used. There are also up to four sheltered housing places for those who prefer to live more independently, but with support close by for emergencies. There are also laundry, catering and maintenance facilities. The building is situated in extensive, manicured grounds with beautiful outside areas that were created during the recent refurbishment. The home is run by a dedicated team of qualifi ed and professional individuals employed by RMBI and under the leadership of Margaret Cade, a registered nurse, who is also registered with the Care Quality Commission. Residency is on a fee paying basis and is open to Freemasons and their dependants over the age of 65 years. There are qualifi cations for entry but no-one would be refused on the grounds of lack of fi nance. Help in making application is readily available at Lodge level via your Almoner, by contacting the representatives of the Friends of Connaught Court, the RMBI Care Advice Team, or from the staff at Connaught Court. The Friends of Connaught Court The Association of Friends of Connaught Court is a registered charity whose membership comprises Freemasons from each of the Provinces that have links to the home and whose aim is, working closely with the management team of Connaught Court, to provide funds for those items over and above what is provided by the RMBI to enhance the residents enjoyment of the home. They support the regular entertainments and events that take place as well as funding for electronic goods such as televisions, computers and music centres. They also, very importantly, provide funds for the specially adapted minibus used to take the residents on their regular outings, as well as being a source of volunteer drivers for the bus. The Friends play a pivotal role in befriending residents who have minimal or no contact with relatives, providing comfort and reassurance where needed. They also, through one of their dedicated members and his wife, run a small shop within Connaught Court for those little items that the residents would fi nd hard to get otherwise. The friends raise funds through regular annual fetes and other events held at the home as well as through direct donations from members and Lodges. Should you or a dependent wish to know more about the home or wish to make application then the fi rst approach should be to your Lodge Almoner. However, if you want to make a more confi dential approach, the best method is to call the confi dential helpline. Telephone 0844 9 020202. You can also make approach to the Provincial Almoner, Alan Jackson. ANOTHER GOOD SHOW AT PENISTONE Once again, the Barnsley and Penistone Masonic Association had a stand at the annual Penistone show. On a day when the sun was giving of its best the show had an excellent turnout with an exceptionally high level of visitors, a good number of whom visited the BPMA stand. In fact quite a number of people were keen to know more about Freemasonry and its role both in the local community and nationally. A real indication of the positive impact Masons have was brought home when a lady and her daughter visited the stand to thank the Freemasons for the Teddy her daughter had been given at the hospital early in the week. A thank you goes to those who gave their time at the show ground. See you next time. LORD MAYOR RETURNS TO LODGE The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Dale Smith, accompanied by his wife, Margaret, reacquainted himself with the Lodge of Amity No 4148 by attending the Ladies’ Evening at the Masonic Hall, Hoyle Court, Baildon. In 1956-57 the Lord Mayor’s father, Thomas Raymond Smith was Master of the Lodge and as a boy, teenager and young man, Dale was a regular at the Lodge social functions both at Hoyle Court and at the long since demolished Shipley Masonic Hall in Wainman Street. The senior Past Master of the Lodge, Roy Edmondson joined the lodge in 1963 but now the Lodge, through the Lord Mayor, can take their living history back to the early 1950s. Picture: Robert Allitt, Master presenting a cheque to the Lord Mayor for his appeal. HALEZ-FAX LODGE No 4135 Meeting on the 4th Wednesday of every month at Birdcage Lane, Savile Park, Halifax, West Yorks, HX3 0JQ PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THIS PAGE OF THE WHITE ROSE MASONIC NEWS.S White Rose Masonic News Spring 2013 13
Page 1 and 2: White Rose FORTY SEVENTH EDITION -
Page 3 and 4: Yorkshire, W R Masonic Activities L
Page 5 and 6: W Bro John Boyington CBE, PPSGD Wha
Page 7 and 8: R W Provincial Grand Master, John K
Page 9 and 10: FOUNDERS’ JEWELS The heritage of
Page 11: SPEEDY RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY GROUP
Page 15 and 16: FROM BATLEY TO BERKSHIRE W Bro Ceci
Page 17 and 18: 60 YEARS ENJOYING FREEMASONRY Edmun
Page 19 and 20: IN THE CHAIR AGAIN, AFTER 50 YEARS
Page 21 and 22: 300 years of Masons in Bradford The
Page 23 and 24: GRANT FOR VILLAGE HALL At the recen
Page 25 and 26: MARK MASTER MASONS SHOW THEIR WORTH
Page 27 and 28: ANOTHER NEWMAN IN THE CHAIR W Bro J
Page 29 and 30: MARK CELEBRATES CENTENARY BINGLEY M
Page 31 and 32: A DOUBLE STAR AT KEIGHLEY EDWARDIAN
Page 33 and 34: Gordon Smith PPGSwdB of De Grey & R
Page 35 and 36: WHAT DO THE OFFICERS OF THE PROVINC
Page 37 and 38: LIFELITES ARE A LEADING LIGHT FOR Y
Page 39 and 40: ROYAL AWARDS CEREMONY RECOGNISES MA

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