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Here we are at the start of our Summer recess and can I first of all wish Brethren and their families everywhere all the very best in the months ahead. I would also like to thank everyone for their help and support during my time in the Chair. I can assure you this is greatly appreciated and I look forward to your continued support in the second half of the season. The past two years have been difficult for everyone but I'm sure we can now look to a brighter future, filled with renewed hope and confidence. We may be a small Lodge - but it's great to be part of the way that we all work together and support one another and I know it leaves others amazed at what we collectively achieve. Thanks again brethren from a very proud R.W.M. Finally and as always, please take care and stay safe. Brother Stuart F. Donald - Right Worshipful Master
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A huge thanks to all the brethren of 482 for allowing me to be installed one again as Right Worshipful Master of our Mother Lodge. We witnessed an excellent ceremony performed by Installing Masters Bro. Peter Ritchie P.M. and Bro. Gordon Yeoman P.M. and many thanks to them for a job well done. Can I also congratulate and thank all the brethren for taking up their respective offices, and let's all now look forward to the year ahead. We many be a small Lodge - but it's great to be part of the way that we all work together and support one another and I know it leaves others amazed at what we collectively achieve. Thanks again brethren from a very proud R.W.M.   Bro. Stuart Donald R.W.M. Hello Brethren, as we near the end of another very difficult and unusual year, can I first of all thank you for the fantastic support you have given to our lodge and also to me personally. I assure you this is greatly appreciated. Throughout the year we continued to keep in touch with one another, to help ensure the well-being of our brethren and their families, helping where necessary. As the world began to slowly open up 482, along with lodges throughout the world cautiously began to open their doors and enjoy regular meetings again. But we have been always mindful that the terrible disease that claimed so many had not gone away, and we had to act and continue to act with care to ensure our own safely and the safety of others and I am glad to say our brethren and families have remained safe. But despite all the difficulties, we remained upbeat in our meetings and activities and continued to run our 'Good Causes' raffle, providing donations within the local community and beyond.  Presentation to 'Christmas in Kirkliston' Through your generosity we made donations to several worthy causes including Sir James Mackay House, Prostate Scotland and SAMH (Scotland Association Mental Health) where brethren took part in a 24-hour sponsored relay walk around the province of Midlothian. And within the community we also provided help to Kirkliston Primary School, Kirkliston Childrens Gala, QCCC Charity Golf Event and ‘Christmas in Kirkliston’, so helping to help light up the village over the Festive Season. And let’s not forget the childrens’ Christmas presents and the annual gifts to our elderly brethren and dependants. Organised by ‘Christmas in Kirkliston’, the village Christmas lights are nothing short of spectacular and the efforts and imagination showed by the villagers is once again amazing. It was great for the Lodge to be invited to lend a hand at the ‘Switch On’ event, which was a great success despite the cold weather. Of course, we are now suddenly faced with more uncertainty and must be even more mindful of the disease that surrounds us so let’s be extra vigilant and protect those we love and those around us. One again can I thank you all for your support throughout the year, and I look forward to your continued support in the year ahead. On closing may I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please Stay Safe Stuart R.W.M. With the Covid-19 restrictions currently in place, including the requirement to wear masks during our meetings, the brethren decided - at our regular meeting on Wednesday 15th September - to postpone ongoing meetings until further notice. This decision was not taken lightly and the committee will continue to monitor the situation, with a view to restarting our meetings as soon as possible. We have again updated our 'meetings & events' page and will make further adjustments as and when required - hopefully sooner rather than later!! With Masonic Lodges both at home and abroad continuing to help those in need by raising funds, we will continue with our monthly 'Good Causes' raffle and can I again thank the brethren of the Lodge for their on-going support.  The Lodge has donated £500 to 'Christmas in Kirkliston' to help 'light up the village' during the Festive Season. Our Right Worshipful Master Bro. Stuart Donald made the presentation to committee President Lisa Mackay who thanked everyone at 482 for their very generous contribution. The full group from left to right is: Pauline Wingate, Agnes Rothney, Lisa Mackay, Lorna Forsyth, Bro. Stuart Donald, Geoff Crow and Shelley Paterson. As well as this donation, the Lodge has also sponsored a lamppost for 2021. The R.W.M. again expressed his thanks to the brethren of the Lodge who's generosity makes these 'Good Causes' donations possible.  Our R.W.W. makes the presentation to President Lisa Mackay  Team 482 at SJMH A very productive weekend at Sir James McKay House began with a very kind donation from the Widows Sons Scotland East Chapter, with President Rob Harrison Vice President Mark Thomson and Past Provincial Grand Master Alistair Marshall. They delivered and donated brand new planters to enhance the garden at the home in Edinburgh, along with top soil to fill the containers and all were greatly appreciated by Home Manager, Gillian Hunter. This then allowed Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 to once again donate shrubs and bedding plants to fill all the new planters. 482 also donated a new hose and fittings, allowing the residents to help water the plants during the summer season. Team 482 enjoyed a very productive Sunday morning planting in the sunshine and this contribution was greatly appreciated by Catherine Anderson, Assistant Manager at the home. A big thank you also to the PGL of Edinburgh and Brother Ralph Shaw, RWM of Lodge St. Andrew No.48, for replacing the outside tap at the home. So the homes garden is now all set up for a colourful summer season for the residents to enjoy. Please click images to enlarge. The Brethren of Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 have donated £500 towards the village’s 2021 Childrens’ Gala Day. The cheque was presented by Right Worshipful Master Bro. Stuart Donald to Gala President Steph Wilson who expressed her sincere thanks to the Lodge for such a generous donation in what has been a very difficult fund-raising year. The money was raised by way of 482’s monthly ‘Good Causes’ raffle and Bro. Stuart said: “We’re delighted to once again being able to support Kirkliston Childrens’ Gala and we wish Queen Sofia, her Court and everyone involved all the very best on their big day.” Bro. Stuart added: “Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 are proud to have been part of the village for over 150 years and we look forward to supporting and being involved with the local Kirkliston community in the years ahead.” And over the years, brethren from the village have played their part in the Gala. Present Master, Stuart Donald was Crown Bearer in 1969, a post also performed by Past Master Gordon Yeoman in 1972 with another local, Past Master Stuart White, being Champion in 1976. And Andy Gray played his part as a Yeoman of the Guard.  Our RWM presents the cheque to Gala President Steph Wilson As 2021 gets underway it's not at all certain when we'll all be able to meet up again in our various Lodges.
With the restrictions currently in place, and following a meeting of the heads of all Masonic Orders in Scotland, the Grand Master Mason has announced that the situation about restarting Lodge meetings will be reviewed again in June. Whilst this isn't the news we wanted to hear, it's really important that we protect ourselves, our families and the NHS by following all the rules, so helping in the fight to rid the country of this terrible disease. The Covid-19 vaccination programme has of course given everyone a great boost and will surely help getting us get back to a more normal way of life in the not-too-distant future. However the current restrictions haven't stopped us from keeping in touch with one another and we continue to provide regular updates on the health and wellbeing of our brethren and our families. And Masonic Lodges both at home and abroad continue to help those in need by raising funds to aid those less fortunate than ourselves. This remains an on-going effort, with 482 playing our part. So, as we all aim towards a brighter future can I thank you all for your continued support as we go forward into 2021.  Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 were delighted to contribute £200 towards an amazing Christmas enterprise that saw Christmas Dinners being delivered to 45 local individuals and families. This ‘Sponsor a Christmas Dinner’ appeal was jointly organised by The Newliston Arms, Queensferry Churches Care in the Community (QCCC) and other local organisations, with the dinners being delivered to vulnerable and shielding individuals, as well as younger local families. The meals were prepared by Mrs Karen King and her staff at the Newliston Arms and 482 Lodge Almoner Bro. Stuart White P.M. stepped in to help with the deliveries. Our photograph shows Bro. Stuart pictured with Mrs King. Right Worshipful Master Bro. Stuart Donald said: “This is a truly fantastic initiative that directly helps local individuals and families at this special time of the year. We are really thankful to have been allowed to help and our congratulations and thanks go to The Newliston Arms, QCCC and to all those involved.” And the same Kirkliston 'boy' stepped in to give Santa a helping hand when he toured around the village. Assisted by his elves, 'Santa Stuart' proved to be a popular Christmas Eve attraction - although we think he may have needed a wee brandy later to warm him up!! Well done Santa. Fantastic job!! Bro. Stuart Donald RWM Well brethren I can honestly say this is a year I will remember for all sorts of reasons, beginning with the brethren being installed into their new offices and myself as Master of the Lodge. Then the whole world was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic with devastating results. But now, just in time for Christmas, we have the release of a vaccine that hopefully will bring about the eradication of this terrible disease. Like all other Lodges under the Grand Lodge of Scotland we were instructed to close our doors and sadly all meetings were brought to an abrupt halt!! However, this didn’t stop us from keeping in touch with one another, with regular updates on the health and wellbeing of our families. We are all acutely aware of the devastating effect the pandemic has had on families across the country, with many losing loved ones to this horrible disease. And of course, many businesses too are suffering extreme hardship. It was no surprise to note that Masonic Lodges both at home and abroad stepped in to help those in need by raising funds to aid those less fortunate than ourselves and this remains an on-going effort, with 482 playing their part. Thanks to the generosity of our brethren, we provided donations to numerous organisations during the year. And in partnership with QCCC and the Newliston Arms, we are currently making a festive contribution towards their “Sponsor a Christmas Dinner” event. And Kirkliston itself has taken on a happy festive brightness thanks to the amazing lighting displays all around the village. And the excitement of a Covid-19 vaccination programme has certainly added to that brightness, giving us all hope for the future. So, as we all look towards this brighter future - and the anticipation of enjoying each other’s company once again - can I thank you all for your continued and on-going support as we approach 2021. On closing may I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay Safe Stuart RWM |
AuthorA diary of up-to-date news and events at Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 Archives
May 2022
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