Three members of St Peter’s Lodge made a 5000 mile round trip to say thank you to freemason*s who had supported a critically ill brother and his wife last year.
St Peter’s Lodge members W Bro Alan Salt, IPM and charity steward, with his wife Sally, lodge secretary W Bro Mick Smith and his partner Jackie Heywood, and lodge Chaplain W Bro Tony Rogers visited St John’s Lodge No 1 in Newfoundland, Canada, in June.
They were there to present a set of inscribed gavels as a thank you for the support and assistance given to St Peter’s almoner Bro Paul England and his wife Denise in October and November last year - see Password Spring 2026.
The presentation took place at a packed white table festive board attended by brethren and wives before the lodge’s June meeting where the guests were introduced by MWB Don Vokey, Past Grand Master. He reminded brethren of the events of last year and introduced w Bro Alan Salt.
W Bro Salt said: “Denise was obviously distraught. Here she was in a strange country, knowing no one and with no support and her husband critically ill in hospital. She cannot speak highly enough of the difference your support made to her.” He added: “What St John’s Lodge brethren and their wives did shows Freemasonry at its very best. You have set a wonderful example to the whole of our fraternity.”
W Bro Mick Smith, Secretary St Peter’s; R W Bro Des Langdon Dep Grand Master; W Bro Tony Rogers - St Peter’s Chaplain; W Bro Alan Salt, St Peter’s IPM and Charity Steward; M W Bro Don Vokey - Past Grand Master; and R W Bro Ed Jarvis - District Grand Master
He thanked the brethren for the wonderful and generous welcome they had received since arriving in Canada.
He handed over to W Bro Smith, who was the Peterborough link with the Canadian lodge throughout the events of last year, and who had sourced the gift He presented the gavels to the MWB Vokey on behalf of all the members of St Peter’s Lodge with their grateful thanks. He also presented MWB Vokey with an inscribed Parker Pen as a thank you for his personal commitment in making sure that the Englands received all the help they needed.
The Peterborough contingent was given a standing ovation by all the guests.
After the presentation the Peterborough brethren were able to see the gavels in action at a short Lodge meeting. The presentation and Lodge meeting was also attended by the Deputy Grand Master RWBro Desmond Langdon and District Grand Master RWBro Ed Jarvis.
The evening ended with musical entertainment provided by lodge members who were joined on guitar by WBro Smith.
Several Newfoundland brethren with relatives in England expressed an interest in taking up an invitation to visit St Peter’s Lodge.
During their stay in Canada the Peterborough contingent were taken on various trips around the area and its landmarks, including a whale watching boat trip and tours of both the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary HQ and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Newfoundland HQ where they met a real life Mountie.
Their trip ended with them being special guests at the Lodge’s end of season dinner and charity auction which was attended by about 200 guests. They were again individually introduced to the guests and the reason for their presence explained, with the evening’s host saying “It’s what we do.”
The auction was believed to have raised in excess of C$20,000