Due to the pressing needs to improve the quality of life in a local children’s home, Calpe Beacon Charity decided to diversify from not only supporting the needs of individual young people, but to improving the accommodation of children in the care of the local authority, particularly with windows that no longer keep winter elements from invading bedrooms due to their age and condition.  There are also bedroom doors, which are broken, and impossible to close; with young girls unable to maintain privacy, this is totally unacceptable.  With the help of local Freemasons, windows have now been replaced and we are in the process of installing new bedroom doors with locks.  They are also continuing to ensure that these local children in care, receive small Christmas and birthday gifts, and individual requirements for school books, reading glasses, sports kit etc, as far as is possible.

Armonia de Ifach Masonic Lodge, also known as “The Calpe Lodge,” are pleased to be part of this very worthy local cause, and Worshipful Master Ian Raistrick has assisted with a donation of 629€ which was raised at the recently held Ladies Festival. W. Bro Reg Wright, the Lodge Treasurer, stated “children in care rarely have the same opportunities as their peer group; our ongoing fund raising activities within the Lodge, include improving life experiences for young people, as well as the elderly, within the local community.  Like many other Masonic Lodges throughout the Province of Valencia, we also support the Summer Camp for underprivileged youngsters where they will meet new friends and have new experiences, which will, increase their confidence, and improve their social skills.”

The wives and partners of members of Javéa’s three Freemason’s Lodges have donated a digital projector to the Asociación Autismo Javéa, which supports children and young adults suffering from autism living in Javéa and nearby towns.

Margaret March and Muriel Shilan presented the projector to a representative of the Asociación.  Margaret March explained that the group of ladies had nicknamed themselves the “Dinner Ladies” because they meet monthly for a meal and to raise money for local charities and families in need.

Margaret explained that the Dinner Ladies immediately stepped in to help when they heard that the Asociación was in desperate need of a projector because one that they had been promised had not been delivered.  She said that last month they had given 250€ to help the family of a refugee from Venezuela who had no bedding.

On the 25th June, Oliva La Safor Lodge of Freemasons held a summer party and barbecue for Masons and guests at the popular local restaurant Viva España in Oliva.  About fifty Masons attended with wives and guests, to what turned out to be a very good evening.  Entertainment was provided throughout the evening, first by versatile local entertainer Frank Abrams, who sang and played keyboards, flute and saxophone.  He was ably backed up by ‘Grayjam’ more well known as W. Bro Graham Scutt on electric guitar.  Graham has a wide repertoire of popular music and is becoming quite well known among locals in this area.

The meal was based around a barbecue with a choice of and lamb, chicken and sausages with salad, followed by an apple pie with ice cream. A raffle was held for charity in which all gifts were donated by Masons and which raised three hundred euros. This was collected on behalf of the children’s home, El Preventorio, and will be donated at a later date with other monies raised. The Worshipful Master reminded everyone that not everyone was as fortunate as we are and asked everyone to remember the children, particularly when buying raffle tickets.

The annual trip to Italy organised by the Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge under the direction of the Immediate Past Master, V.W.Bro. Rodney Charles Bignell and his lady Jean has been the best attended yet with 57 people traveling to the beautiful Lake Como to stay in the Hotel Britannia Excelsior.

As always the settting was the wonderful Grand Hotel Excelsior, Cadenabbia (also known as the Hotel Britannia Excelsior, Lake Como) the hotel website can be found at….
http://www.comovita.com/en/britannia
The hosts were the owners of the hotel, W.Bro. Ross Whieldon and his charming wife Doriana.

Not only is this in  one of the most beautiful settings in the world, but the hotel is renowned for its kitchen and provided wonderful meals and social events each evening.  The undoubted highlight of the trip was a Gala Dinner on the Friday evening.

With this year having been the most popular yet, everyone headed home already thinking ahead to returning.

Local Freemasons from Puerto de Xabia Lodge recently held their annual summer party to raise funds for the local charity Denia children’s home. It was held at popular local restaurant, Casa De La Pizza in Costa Nova, Javea who provided a fantastic barbeque for almost fifty Masons, wives and their invited guests. The party started off at two o’clock and the restaurant was almost full from the start. A wide selection of barbequed meats and vegetables were on offer along with several types of salad. This was followed by a selection of desserts which were clearly enjoyed by everyone.

During, and after, lunch the Masons were royally entertained by the music and singing of popular local entertainer Ian Henry who played non stop for almost three hours to the great enjoyment of all the guests. A charity raffle was held in which all the prizes were donated by Masons and their wives.

A beautiful pendant necklace was kindly donated by the owner of ASR jewelry Mrs Alessandra Ragusa, wife of Bro Alvaro Ochoa, one of our Spanish Masons. A beautiful bouquet of flowers was donated by Mrs Fiona Deppe owner of Fiona’s Flowerpower, wife of Bro Peter de Graaf one of our Dutch Masons and many other gifts including, more flowers, wine chocolates and glasses. The raffle raised two hundred and forty-five euros which will be donated to the Master’s charity.

This year Worshipful Master Jim  Campbell, one of our Scottish Masons has decided to support the children’s home in Denia during his year in office. This was a great afternoon which was enjoyed by all the guests and also raised a tidy sum of money for a local Spanish charity.

On 15th May, Worshipful Master, Eric Raddings, accompanied by his lovely wife Linda, hosted a luncheon at the popular Stan and Ollie’s Restaurant in El Raso, Cuidad Quesada. An excellent meal was enjoyed by seventy-six Masons and their guests who were also entertained at their respective tables by master magician Graeme Mykal.

All the guests expressed their appreciation of a first class event and a grand total of four hundred and fifty euros was raised for the Master’s two charities, Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer (AECC) and San Obrera’s Orphanage in Orihuela.

On Tuesday 11 June the Las Salinas Lodge No. 79, with the monthly luncheon club, The Saltpot, held a Mini Golf competition at Lomosca Playa Flamenca. 41 members and friends attended and raised two hundred and eighty euros towards this year’s Master of the Lodge W. Bro Eric Radding’s charities AECC and Elche Children’s Home.
The winner of the ladies trophy was Pauline Hutchinson, the men’s trophy was W. Bro Keith Hutchinson and wooden spoon went to Christine Sayce.

After the golf everyone then went to Rocky’s Arena Restaurant and attended a buffet lunch as well as a well-deserved drink followed by a raffle.

Thanks go to W.Bro Keith Carter and Mrs Joan Waddington for organising a very enjoyable day.

On Saturday 8th June, the Javea 40 Freemasons Lodge held its Tex-Max summer party at the Inn on the Green in Javea.  Following their dinner of nachos, chilli and fajitas, members of the Lodge and their guests danced to the music of Ian Henry.  Many of those attending entered into the spirit of the evening by dressing for the occasion, be it cowboy or Mexican peasant.

The prize for the best dressed person was awarded by Javea 40’s Worshipful Master, Nigel Parker, to Right Worshipful Brother, Michael Shilan.
A total of € 610was raised during the evening for local charity Todos Juntos Javea, This charity provides help to parents and children in Javea who are in need because their circumstances have changed.

Tom Stevenson, representing Todos Juntos Javea, thanked the organisers and everyone present for raising the profile of the charity and for the money they donated.”

Recently a very unusual thing happened at local Freemason’s Lodge Arenal Deportiva.  A new Master was Installed.  This happens in every Lodge once a year so nothing unusual about that you may think but, in this case, the new Master, R.W. Bro Dennis Coburn, is ninety-three years old.  This will make him almost certainly the oldest ‘new’ Master in Spain and quite possibly in the world.  Bro Dennis has been a very distinguished Mason for almost fifty years both originally in the United Kingdom and for the last twenty or so years here in Spain.  He has achieved a great deal and has been honoured with very senior rank in both countries.  He has also written and presented many interesting and educational lectures for the more junior Masons, which are widely looked forward to and enjoyed.  He has now donated all of those lectures to the newly formed Masonic library in the Costa Nova Masonic centre.

However, even Dennis himself was a little surprised by being elected Master for what is now the fourth time.  Usually each Lodge elects its own Master for one year, (occasionally for two); Dennis’s name was put forward, he was formally proposed and seconded and, after what proved to be a unanimous ballot, he was elected as Worshipful Master for Arenal Deportiva for the upcoming year.  There was also a very interesting twist to the Installation, as the meeting was honoured by a visit from the Provincial Grand Master of Valencia, R.W. Bro Michael Anthony Shilan. The twist being that Bro Dennis took part in the Initiation of Bro Shilan into Masonry some twenty years ago. It was a very emotional moment for both as the former ’pupil’ attended the Installation of his former ‘teacher’. Dennis acquitted himself incredibly well during the ceremony and afterwards stated that he was extremely honoured, though a little surprised, to be entering the Masters chair at this point in his Masonic career. After the meeting at the formal dinner Dennis made a very interesting speech, thanking his Lodge Officers for their hard work during the ceremony and also for their trust and confidence in having elected him.