RD&E neurological ward receives £1,250 from local Freemasons

Bolham Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has received a donation of £1,250 from a group of Devon Freemasons as part of their bi-annual WAKE Fund presentation.

Every spring and autumn Freemasons from around Devon meet to give support totalling in excess of £50,000 to local charities and organisations throughout the county who are in need of assistance. The money is raised by the WAKE Fund, a trust conceived by the Right Worshipful Brother William Alexander Kneel, Provincial Grand Master from 1970 to 1984.

Bolham was nominated to receive the generous donation in memory of former patient Patrick Tilbury, who was cared for on the neurological ward from October 2015 until January 2016 when he sadly passed away.  Since then, Patrick’s parents Barbara and David Tilbury have been fundraising for a whole range of new equipment to further enhance the high quality of care provided to patients and their relatives on Bolham.

Bolham Matron Anny Willett recently accepted the cheque on behalf of the ward from The Right Worshipful Brother Ian Kingsbury JP. Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire at a meeting at the Masonic Hall in Exmouth. She was accompanied to the event by Mr David Tilbury and was joined by 24 other representatives from local deserving causes who were also presented with cheques totalling the sum of £25,000. 

The Mason’s donation will be put towards the purchase of a special Tilt and Space wheelchair which is used to help patients with varying neurological needs to spend time out of bed to help keep their muscles strong. It will also allow patients to spend time with relatives outside in the hospital grounds, for a breath of fresh air and a touch of normality.

Mrs Barbara Tilbury said: “I am so grateful to all the Masonic Lodges in Devon, who have contributed to the Wake Fund, which in turn has enabled the Grand Master to award Bolham this truly generous donation. So a very, very big thank you.”

Making the contributions Ian Kingsbury said: “I am delighted that the Freemasons of Devon are able to contribute to these important local causes many of which are totally run by volunteers and hopefully these donations will make a real difference especially in this the Tercentenary year of English Freemasonry.”