Blooming Good Cause at Great Arley
Master of the Lodge John Lee, was pleased to attend Cleveleys Masonic Hall on 17th March 2022, to support the North Fylde at their Group Dinner.
At the subsequent festive board, John was delighted to discover that he was sat with Harry Cox, a revered freemason across the Fylde Coast and the entire Province of West Lancashire.
The pair were speaking together at the table, when Harry mentioned he had been enjoying his role as a governor at Great Arley School, based in Thornton-Cleveleys. Secretary of the Lodge Tony Farrar, also indicated that his sister Jenny Keogh, worked at the same school.
Great Arley is an educational establishment which supports children between the ages of 4 years and 16 years. These children display a wide range of learning difficulties including autism. Some of the children have issues relating to their speech, language and communication, whilst others, suffer with social and emotional contact.
Harry stated that Emma Thomas, a teacher at Great Arley, was heading up a gardening project to improve the sensory functioning of the children and to provide them with a therapeutic setting from which to develop and build. Harry expounded upon the project saying that funds were desperately needed to purchase items such as raised beds, wheelbarrows, tools, pots plants and seeds.
John was captivated by Harry’s passion and desire to see this project through. Moreover, Harry took it upon himself to assist in raising the necessary funds to achieve what was required for the children. Consequently, John agreed to liaise with other members of Baines, to see if they would be prepared to support such a worthwhile cause.
True to his word, John reached out to all of the Lodge’s membership, who in turn, gave positive backing to provide a donation. Anchorsholme Lodge had donated £250, with a further amount of £100, being provided by Onward Lodge. The members of Baines felt this cause was befitting of a decent level of financial support, and so, a donation of £500 was agreed.
The monies donated by Baines, Anchorsholme and Onward Lodges will facilitate the children undertaking bulb planting and trying to create leaf composting bags. The work will likewise be built into the Award Scheme Development & Accreditation Network known as ASDAN. A bronze, silver and gold award will be available to all of the children.
The ASDAN course is fun for pupils who are required to create a portfolio of evidence. Their involvement will enable them to demonstrate skills and techniques needed in gardening and raise awareness of how gardening can help to promote a healthy lifestyle, which in turn, can create a positive impact on health and wellbeing.
Harry, John and John’s wife Kathryn, attended the school to hand over the donation. They were truly blown away to be invited into the classroom to discuss the project with the children whilst in the presence of Emma Thomas and other teaching staff including the school’s headteacher Peter Higham.
Ade May, the Lodge’s Publicity & Communications Officer, who attended to support the donation exchange, was granted permission by all parents to photograph the children for publicity purposes. The children were evidently delighted to leave the classroom for this to be done.
John Lee stated: -
“Harry Cox is your school governor and an incredible human being. His passion and enthusiasm for this school and its pupils is so captivating that Baines wanted to support him and this project. We hope all the children enjoy getting their hands dirty and derive pleasure watching their efforts grow into something quite beautiful.”
