The successful Sunday Lunch at Franklins Gardens on Sunday 8th February 2026 hosted by Grand Junction Lodge and Salcey Forest Lodge raised a magnificent sum augmented by the Provincial Grand Charity to £5,200 for donation to The Northampton Saints Wheelchair Rugby Football Club and Cynthia Spencer Hospice.
The successful Sunday Lunch at Franklins Gardens on Sunday 8th February 2026 hosted by Grand Junction Lodge and Salcey Forest Lodge raised a magnificent sum augmented by the Provincial Grand Charity to £5,200 for donation to The Northampton Saints Wheelchair Rugby Football Club and Cynthia Spencer Hospice.
The Lodges raised these monies during the Lunch attended by some 120 guests when between each course Lenny Newman (an ex Saint) and voice of rugby on Radio Northampton interviewed a number of retired and current Saints squad members in an interesting and entertaining fashion. Subsequently an auction of Saints memorabilia raised funds for the Wheelchair Team. Finally a table collection for Cynthia Spencer Hospice where GJL IPM W Bro Graeme Ford spent his final days was augmented by the Provincial Grand Charity to the magnificent sum of £2,000.
Wednesday 15th July was the Rugby Clubs final practice evening at Maplefields Academy in Corby and following the excitement of experiencing this competitive, physical and character-building game we were delighted to present them with a cheque for £3,200. The team and coaches – including WBro Gerry McGory the past captain - expressed sincere thanks for this support. W Bro’s Norman Pope, Chris Mullen and Paul Henry and their good ladies Kathryn, Jean and Sue are seen below at the end of the evening.
Thursday 23rd July marked the presentation to Cynthia Spencer Hospice of a cheque for £2,000. We visited the Hospice Offices and Shop in Moulton Park, Northampton to see the scope of the facility and to hear of the increased level of support generated by this venture. The fund-raising manager Sarah Sturman welcomed W Bro’s Martin Holiday and Norman Pope and their ladies Margaret and Kathryn together with WBro Jason Smith the Grand Junction Lodge Charity Steward. Sarah explained some of the work that the team are involved in to raise the funds necessary to maintain the Hospice for the people of Northamptonshire and expressed her grateful thanks for the generous donation which would go some way towards the £2m needed each year.
