White Rose - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

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
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