Freemasons in Thame, Oxfordshire
St Mary's Lodge 1763
John Avery's 70 year presentation
A full Provincial Team led by PGM for Oxfordshire, James Hilditch, supported by DPGM Graham Ellis and APGM Alan Baverstock attended St Mary’s Lodge Thame No 1763 this evening. (18th Nov)
The happy occasion was to honour and present a 70-year certificate to WBro John Avery.
John is one of our most famous and beloved sportsmen, with an illustrious career in scrambling (or nowadays motocross). His father ran a garage in Headington, where John became a mechanical engineer, and from there he began to develop his life long love of and prowess on two wheeled machines.
He later had his own motorcycle shop in Summertown, North Oxford.
The Oxford Mail listed some of his incredible achievements in 2008. Copyright OM.
“It was scrambling that I wanted to do initially. In fact, my first scramble was the Berkshire Grand National in 1946 on the same BSA."
The little bike served John well for a number of years, he won many cups and awards with it in national trials from 1946. These included the Open Trade Supported Trials 250 cup; a class cup in a national trial; the Cotswolds Cups, Southern, West of England and Greensmith Trials; the 250 Cup in the Manville Trial run by the Coventry and Warwickshire Motorcycle Club. Another 250 Cup was won in the Mitchell Trial of 1949, as well as winning a first class award in the Scottish Six Days Trial during the same year. His very first win was the junior challenge for under-21s, held in Cheltenham in 1946. He rode his bike to the event and back, from Oxford. In the open to centre trials held by the Oxford Ixion Club, he won the Harold Avery Trophy Trial and the James Cup Trial three times in succession, thus winning both trophies outright.
Needless to say, there are many more achievements than we can list here!
John’s Masonic career was further recognised tonight, by being made an Honorary Member of St Mary’s Lodge.
On behalf of all of the Freemasons in Oxfordshire and far beyond, we wish John huge congratulations on a wholly momentous achievement.
The book BSA Competition History by Norman Vanhouse (1986, Haynes Publishing Group, ISBN 0-85429-479-1) records John Avery's achievements in detail.
BABIES BORN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY TO GET LIFE-CHANGING THERAPY THANKS TO SOUTH WALES FREEMASONS
Sixty-six babies who have, or are at risk of having, cerebral palsy will receive specialist and potentially life-changing therapy, thanks to a grant of £59,400 from South Wales Freemasons to Cerebral Palsy Cymru.
South Wales Freemasons are funding treatment for 22 babies each year over three years, who have or who are at risk of having cerebral palsy, to have a specialist therapy consultation at Cerebral Palsy Cymru, along with support for their families. By the end of the three years, including family members, the Freemasons will have directly supported around 200 individuals in Wales.
FREEMASONS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UNPAID CARERS
There are many reasons why there is a growing need for caring in the UK, such as our ageing population, good health care allowing more people to live longer, and the consequences of local budget cuts which push people into unpaid caring roles.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity), together with UGLE, gave more than £700,000 through the Freemasons’ COVID-19 Community Fund to support unpaid carers.
Freemasons give £50,000 to British Red Cross to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees
Thousands of Ukrainian refugees will be given help and support from Freemasons in England and Wales, following a £50,000 grant to the British Red Cross.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ Charity) and the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) have been monitoring the growing refugee crisis of over 500,000 Ukrainian people who have been forced from their country or been internally displaced from their homes.
We are seeking to identify the most critical needs and we are pleased to be able to support and work with the British Red Cross in helping the growing number of refugees.
Many Freemasons have contacted the MCF and UGLE to ask how they can offer further support in addition to this grant. We have therefore established a dedicated Ukraine Crisis fundraising appeal using the Relief Chest Scheme to allow Freemasons, their families and friends to donate.
We encourage Freemasons and others wishing to support Ukraine to donate via the Relief Chest online appeal page at mcf.org.uk/ukraine.
The latest update as at 22 March 2022 is that £350,000 has been raised so far.
In addition to this national appeal, Freemasons from Lodges across England, Wales and overseas have been sharing their own stories about volunteering, fundraising and donating at the local level.
We are inspired by their efforts and proud to be able to join them in responding to this growing humanitarian crisis.