EVERY spring and autumn, Freemasons from all parts of 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, and 1st Holsworthy Scouts were one of the groups nominated by their local lodge No.3483 in Holsworthy.

The money is raised by the ‘WAKE Fund’ a trust conceived by the Right Worshipful Brother William Alexander Kneel, the Provincial Grand Master from 1970 to 1984, the late owner of Kneels laundry and dry cleaners (now Johnsons). This fund now stands at £2-million, and the interest earned is given annually to local non-masonic organisations in need of help. Since the first disbursement in 2001 over £875,000 has been given to over 950 worthy causes selected by members of the 131 Masonic lodges based in the county.

This year on Thursday, October 12, Nicholas Ball the deputy leader of the Devonshire Freemasons presented cheques to around half of the charities, the others received theirs by post due to constraints on numbers in the Lodge.

Those presented in person were invited to Mount Edgcumbe Masonic Hall, Plymouth.

Making the contributions, Mr Ball said: “I am delighted that the Freemasons of Devon are able to contribute to these important local causes, most of which are competently run by volunteers and hopefully these donations will make a real difference”.

The members of The 1st Holsworthy Scout Group thanked Mr Ball and the money will be used towards the cost of the installation of a Thunderbox (composting toilets) on the new Scout field.