At the Annual General Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge held at Southampton
Guildhall on Wednesday, 6th July 2005 our Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Brian
C. Bellinger, formally announced his wish that Hampshire & Isle of Wight brethren
give their support to a unique 'Freemasonry in the Community' charity. The Province
will then provide Teddy Bears to the A & E units of local hospitals for the
nursing staff to give (at their discretion) to any sick and severely traumatised
children they treat.
The charity was founded in the Province of Essex a few years ago and several other Provinces have already 'adopted' the bears for use by their own local hospitals. Several senior Essex Freemasons were present at the AGM, as welcome guests of the Province, including the Chairman of the TLC Charity, W.Bro. Ian Simpson, PPGStwd.
A large vibrant display of Teddy Bears welcomed the brethren as they entered the Guildhall and a computer presentation and leaflets informed the brethren about the Fund. The bears are specially sourced for medical use & each one carries a discrete tag stating "Donated by Local Freemasons".
The Provincial Grand Master invited his Province to give generously to this charity through their lodges, so that the nursing staff in our own local hospitals can give these children a Teddy Bear to cuddle & keep. His request met with an immediate and very generous response from the brethren, when the Alms collection raised £3,327; plus Gift Aid relief on the many individual donations given in TLC envelopes.There are six major hospitals in our Province with A & E units (five in Hampshire and one on the Isle of Wight) and it is intended to officially start delivering our Teddy Bears in August. It is therefore hoped that brethren will make an annual donation through their lodges, using Gift Aid, to the TLC charity; starting immediately. All donations should be sent direct to the TLC charity at their registered address "Teddies for Loving Care", 54 Medway Crescent, Leigh on Sea, Essex. SS9 2UY; together with the names & lodge details. Ideally, donations should be made using the special TLC Gift Aid forms that are being sent to every Lodge Charity Steward; together with a newsletter containing other charity news for the information of all brethren. These forms should be photocopied and used as necessary. Charity Stewards are asked to inform the Provincial Grand Charity Steward of all lodge donations (c/o The Provincial Office) and contact him if they have any queries.