Celebrating 30 Years of Acorns Children's Hospice
Saturday 8th September saw the Five of Nine Club return to Acorns Children’s Hospice, Selly Oak, Birmingham taking Freemasonry into the Community to support them at their summer fayre. This year however is quite a special one for this incredible charity, as they celebrate 30 years of helping children and their families.
Saturday 8th September saw the Five of Nine Club return to Acorns Children’s Hospice, Selly Oak, Birmingham taking Freemasonry into the Community to support them at their summer fayre. This year, however, is quite a special one for this incredible charity, as they celebrate 30 years of helping children and their families.
Our events secretary Bro Dan Norman had rallied the troops and been our contact for this annual fundraising day. We had arranged to assist Acorns with a number of roles to include stewarding and attending the car park. On arrival, our Chairman Bro Carey Burke was quick to get us involved, and within minutes we were building the stalls and attempting to erect a menagerie of gazebos so that the wonderful volunteers at the centre could get set up ready for the arrival of the local community who are always keen to offer their support.
Along with assisting Acorns in the running of the event our membership secretary Bro Warwick Wakefield who runs his own hog roasting business “Ready to Roast” volunteered his services to provide food for the day. Bro Warwick was joined by past club chairman WBro Dan Thomas on the hog roast and as soon as it arrived the air was filled with a mouth-watering aroma so much so it certainly made everyone’s stomachs rumble, to the point an eager queue had formed even before they started serving!
The stall next to the Hog Roast saw the first official outing of the Warwickshire Freemasons “Let’s Talk” team where a number of Warwickshire brethren were on hand to talk openly about Masonry and promote the great work that is done by us all.
We were joined by our Patron RWBro David Macey PGM and his wife Sandra who were quick to sample the food and joined in with the day’s activities. RWBro David was thrilled to see us all helping at Acorns, a charity that he has long supported and selected to be one of his “Famous Five” charities.
The day was a huge success for everyone. The hog roast sold out and 100% of profits were donated to Acorns Hospice, and thanks to a donation from the Warwickshire Masonic Charitable Association, who paid for the hog we were able to hand over a cheque for £668. This was gratefully received by Acorns Children’s Hospice.
“We’re extremely thankful not only for the donation but also for the kind assistance that the Five of Nine Club had given throughout the day, you’ve been a tremendous help...”
Our work here, however, was far from done, once the day had ended we stayed behind to help with the breakdown and clean up much to the delight of the Acorns regular volunteers!
We had a fantastic day supporting what can only be described as a one in a million charity that works so hard for children and their families when they need it most. The club is honoured to have been able to help Acorns and delighted to hear that they raised £668 during the day which will go on to help pay for care and support.
We are sure to be back at Acorns in the future and can’t wait to get involved again, if you have a local charity that could benefit from some help from the Five of Nine Club we would be pleased to hear from you, please email club secretary Bro Carl Foster at carl.foster@fiveofnineclub.org.uk with details.
Many Thanks to all the Club members who came along to help on the day and a huge thanks to Bro Warwick Wakefield of “Ready to Roast” and Warwickshire Provincial Grand Lodge for their support.
The Journey...
So what has my Masonic journey been like? I have been a Freemason since January 2011. A choice which I have never regretted. I had attended lots of social events at St Peters Lodge No. 7334 and enjoyed every single one of them prior to my initiation. Each time I was asked to join I could not make up my mind until I finally decided to take the plunge and go for it.
So what has my Masonic journey been like?
I have been a Freemason since January 2011. A choice which I have never regretted. I had attended lots of social events at St Peters Lodge No. 7334 and enjoyed every single one of them prior to my initiation.
Each time I was asked to join I could not make up my mind until I finally decided to take the plunge and go for it.
It was our past Chairman Worshipful Brother Dan Thomas that finally convinced, and proposed me into St Peter's Lodge. And since this day I have never looked back.
Initially, I thought is this isn’t for me… but I can honestly say it was a short-lived thought.
I have met some amazing and interesting people since joining Freemasonry. I doubt I would, in any other circumstances have met such brilliant and supportive people.
I enjoy learning ritual. When I first began learning I thought... how am I going to do this... where do I start?
Various lodge members gave me some great advice, what to do - how to break ritual down and how to present it. Advice which I can now say has paid off for me.
So much so within two months of being initiated, I had learnt the first-degree tools and presented them during an initiation. I then went on to singing in the lodge room and proposing toasts.
Proposing toasts is one thing I thought I would never do, standing up in front of lots of people and speaking is completely out of my comfort zone.
But the more I did it, the more I enjoyed it, and the more comfortable I felt about it, and without Freemasonry, I could not have done this.
The ritual side of Freemasonry I really enjoy. I enjoy learning, and I would say to any new Freemason do not be put off by it. Embrace it, the more you put in, the more you get out. There are plenty of people to help and steer you in the right direction... you will never be criticised... only encouraged.
Within no time at all I have jumped from office to office, learning each role as I go - the working tools, the charge after initiation, and my last piece of the work involved opening and closing in all three degrees as Worshipful Master and rehearsing a first degree ceremony in the chair for the Lodge of Instruction. There’s lots of reading, plenty of frustrations but it’s so worth it when you hear the lovely comments from the brethren afterwards.
I now have the great honour of being Master Elect where I will be installed into the Chair in October of this year. A position which I am looking forward to. A lot of hard work ahead but I know I have a great supportive team behind me.
Another highlight for me is being one of the initial members of the Five of Nine Club committee from its launch date until now. Again, I have learnt so much, gained so much experience and enjoyed being part of an initiative and club that has cemented itself not only on a provincial scale but nationally.
This being topped off with us launching the NYMCC in 2017. A huge honour and credit for us all. We have a great committee with fantastic support from the province, and I can say that we will only go from strength to strength.
‘Another highlight for me which signifies what Freemasonry is all about is very personal and close to my heart’.
My father decided in 2016 to become a Freemason. He had been a regular figure and supporter of St Peter's Lodge at its social functions. He had been due to be initiated in December 2016, but he had a fall and injured his right arm, not good for his initiation as we all know, and so it was cancelled.
His initiation was rescheduled for January 2018. Unfortunately for us, we had the devastating news in December 2017 that my father had terminal cancer and was deteriorating quickly.
Knowing this, members of our lodge rallied round together, pushed the ceremony forward and modified it so that he could complete a wish which he always had to become a Freemason like myself and my brother.
In December 2017 in he was initiated. The love, support and help that he and we received was nothing short of amazing. An amazing turnout for a memorable evening.
Unfortunately, two weeks after his initiation my father passed away, but we know he had achieved one of his final wishes. Something which I know he and many of us will never forget.
The support continued for my family from all of our lodge members as well from the wider Freemasons community. It was nothing short of amazing.
So for me... This is what Freemasonry is all about. Rallying round to help each other. One big family. Supporting each other especially in our times of need. Nothing is too much trouble, and the brethren always willing to help. And this extends outside our lodges with the support we give to our local charities and communities that we help at any given chance.
Would I change anything about my journey, No! The only thing I could say is for us to be more open in what we do, never to be embarrassed. Be proud of who we are. Be proud of what we have achieved and what we hope to achieve for the future.
The future of Freemasonry is bright, so to is the Five of Nine Club and long may it continue.
Bro Carl Foster
Secretary
The Five of Nine Club
Five of Nine Club Victorious in Battle again!
Saturday 9th June 2018 saw our 2nd club Annual Paintball Event at NPF Bassets Pole, Birmingham. It saw our members, family and friends join together in order to take on our opponents for the day. Once registration was complete, we were issued our battle gear, our ammo and then came the most essential item - our weapon of choice.
Saturday 9th June 2018 saw our 2nd club Annual Paintball Event at NPF Bassets Pole, Birmingham.
It saw our members, family and friends join together in order to take on our opponents for the day. Once registration was complete, we were issued our battle gear, our ammo and then came the most essential item - our weapon of choice.
Some of the team choosing to upgrade weapons, purchase paintball grenades and flash-bangs we could see that our team meant business and were taking no prisoners! After being assigned to the Blue team, it was goggles on and straight into the battlefield.
The battle commenced, the blue team played very strategically, our members working together and on occasions being some of the last men standing. So it went on, battle after battle, the humid weather, the sweat pouring from us, and the sprints to the enemy base taking its toll.
Shots were taken to the head, back, torso, legs and arms throughout the day mounted with the bruises clearly visible on our team. Being hit from a distance was painful enough but being shot at point-blank range was an experience which we would never want to repeat in a hurry.
After a brief break in play for lunch, it was straight back on to the battlefield. Our weapons reloaded and our ammo topped up it was straight back into the action.
The final points game saw the blue team securing its position within the Wild West area, our team member being protected from the enemy fire within the centre of the play zone. The enemy quickly being taken out until our team was the last standing.
A resounding win from the blue team on the day with the red squad accepting final defeat.
The last game of the day was every team for themselves, joining with other groups from the day's paintball action.
With paintballs flying from every direction it was difficult to tell friend from foe. With smoke grenades filling the game zone and with a no-kill policy we advanced on our enemy releasing every last piece of ammunition.
Hit with the enemy and friendly fire the casualty rate had grown at the end of the match. The marshals too being casualties from both sides. Battered and bruised walking away we reflected on a fantastic day spent with great friends.
An experience for us all but most importantly meeting up with old friends and making new ones on the way. A brilliant day had by all and something which we hope to repeat for a future event.
