Three lodges meeting in Byker Masonic Hall have raised a superb £1,305 for the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) charity.
Their decision to stage the fundraiser was vindicated because the event on 16th March was sold out well in advance.
Organised by St Anthony’s Lodge No. 4423, The Lodge Justice No. 4421 and Burdon Lodge No. 3188, the evening consisted of an ‘ice-breaker’ picture quiz, hot and cold buffet, and two sets from The Darling Dollies who performed songs from the 1940s to 1960s.
At half-time, a ‘Geordie raffle’ for a large TLC teddy bear raised £104. Winner of the bear was Bro. Marcel van Heijzen, of Ocianus Lodge No. 8329 (Throckley). Donations of loose change into a TLC bear-shaped money box raised more than £100. WBro. Mick Jarvie outlined the TLC’s work in supplying local hospitals with teddy bears to give to children.
Later, WBro. Darren Bolton announced that, after deductions for catering and entertainment, the total raised for the TLC was just over £1,200. This was topped up by a further £103 from Sion Lodge No. 7562 (North Shields), presented by WBro. Kevin Mouzon-Wilson, bringing the total to £1,305. The money will be presented on 21st March to Assistant ProvGM, WBro. George Sangar, by WBros. Albert Bohill, of Burdon Lodge, and Darren Bolton, of St Anthony’s and Lodge Justice, during the festive board of a meeting of Lord Collingwood Lodge.
