Valentines Lunch raises £2,600 for Teddy Charity

Report by W Bro Graham Riche Radcliffe Lodge No. 5313

The Freemasons charity, ‘Teddies for Loving Care’ [TLC], raised £2,613 at a Valentines lunch held on Sunday 11 February at Ruddington Grange Golf Club. Over 130 people attended the event, which was held for the first time last year, and enjoyed an especially themed meal to romantic music played by local musicians.

The Radcliffe Lodge Social Committee helped to organise the event which was generously supported by Ruddington and other local business’s who donated raffle prizes and items for the ‘super auction’. The auction items were supplemented by signed shirts donated by Nottingham Forest, Nottingham Rugby Club, Leicester Tigers and tickets for Nottingham Panthers. Stoned of Nottingham donated a £200 necklace. These items proved highly popular and along with the giant raffle raised £1,960.

Two lucky ticket holders received unexpected gifts. One, a guest of W Bro John Gibson (Radcliffe Lodge), received a bottle of champagne and the table organised by Margaret Clark secretary of ‘Newark Ladies Luncheon Club’ received a large teddy. Thanks go to all the ‘Radcliffe Ladies’ who assisted on the day, Roy Hopkinson and his party from Pax Magna Lodge and to those thirty five percent attending who were not freemasons but gave so generously of their money. The venue was beautifully decorated by the golf club hospitality team who along with the catering staff worked hard to deliver the perfect setting and meal. Finally, special thanks are due to Jill Riche who prepared the roses that were distributed to the ladies.

The day concluded with dancing and, for the more vocal and enthusiastic, a spontaneous sing-a-long.

As many brethren already know all the money raised by TLC goes to providing teddies to local hospitals Accident and Emergency and Paediatric units for the medical staff to give, at their discretion, to children admitted who are in severe distress and where the staff feel that a Teddy or soft toy to cuddle will help alleviate the stress and assist them in their work. They think it is a wonderful idea and the nursing staff repeatedly, comment, ‘We don’t know how we used to cope without the Teddies’.

More events are planned for later this year to which all brethren are invited. For details or to make a donation or to arrange for a presentation to your lodge about TLC, call W Bro Graham on 07786226109. e