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When nearly £100,000 changes hands in a single evening, you might expect cameras, press packs, and a slick corporate logo on every surface. Not here. At a recent event in Bournemouth, local Freemasons quietly handed out cheques to almost 30 charities and good causes — the kind of gathering that rarely makes the news but makes a real difference to the people in that room.
A Humbling Evening
Chris Lockwood, who leads the Freemasons across Bournemouth and the New Forest, put it simply: “Once again it was humbling to listen to what the charities and good causes do in our communities. There are so many people doing wonderful things and it is a privilege to support them and do as much as we can to help, not only by raising money but by giving time.”
That last part matters. The money is significant — nearly six figures from one area — but Lockwood was keen to stress that it is not just about writing cheques. Lodge members give their time too. They volunteer. They turn up.
Who Are the Bournemouth Freemasons?
The Freemasons in Bournemouth and the New Forest sit within the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, one of the larger Masonic provinces in England. The province covers a broad stretch of the south coast and its hinterland, from the Solent to the edge of Dorset.
Each lodge raises funds through its own efforts — dinners, collections, sponsored events, the usual mix of community fundraising. What makes it distinctive is the pooling. Individual lodges do not just look after their own pet causes. The money is gathered together and distributed at a provincial level, which means even smaller charities that might not have a direct lodge connection can benefit.
The Event
The evening itself had a straightforward format. Representatives from the charities and good causes were invited to speak about their work. No PowerPoint decks. No brand consultants. Just people explaining what they do and why it matters.
Bournemouth Mayor, Councillor Jackie Edwards, attended and accepted a cheque on behalf of her chosen charity, the Bournemouth Natural Sciences Society. Among the other beneficiaries was The Beach Appeal at Bournemouth Hospital, which supports patient care and facilities on the south coast.
Almost 30 organisations walked away with funding that evening. For some of these groups — small, volunteer-run, operating on thin margins — a cheque from the Freemasons can be the difference between keeping a programme running and having to scale back.
Part of Something Bigger
This was not a one-off. Nationally, Freemasons donate around £50 million per year to charitable causes. Some of that flows through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country. The rest comes from exactly this kind of local lodge giving — members deciding collectively where the money should go.
Freemasonry is built on four stated values: Integrity, Friendship, Respect, and Service. The cynics can roll their eyes at that if they like. But when you look at the receipts — literally — it is hard to argue with nearly £100,000 going to local causes from one province in one evening.
No Fanfare Required
There is something worth sitting with here. Nearly £100,000 raised and distributed by one group of lodges in one corner of Hampshire. No press releases needed. No corporate CSR department choreographing the optics. No social media campaign demanding likes and shares. Just blokes in lodges deciding to help their neighbours.
The charities that spoke at the event know this. The Mayor who attended knows this. The volunteers who will benefit from the funding know this. And now, perhaps, a few more people do too.
Originally reported by the Bournemouth Echo, by Fraser Simpson.
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