The PGM with Sr Juan Carlos Ortuño holding the Masonic banner

Over the past five years Freemasons from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia have been supporting a children’s summer camp and funding places for children to attend. This offers disadvantaged and underprivileged children the opportunity to undertake tasks, sports and cultural activities that they would otherwise be unable to afford. The cost of each child is paid for, in full, by the Masons so there is no cost to parents, the home, school or carers.

PGM speaking to children at Summer School

This initiative was started five years ago by Hiram Abiff Lodge, in Alicante, and has grown in scale every year since. This year we have funded fifteen places for children of El Preventorio, and another six from the Javea Red Cross, who have received this unexpected and very welcome treat. The school offers many enjoyable activities in a safe and caring environment.

Yet more children

On Saturday, 8th July, the Provincial Grand Master of Valencia, Right Worshipful Brother, Michael Shilan, visited the school to see it for himself. First he met the Director of the School, Sr Juan Carlos Ortuño, then had a tour of the many facilities. He was impressed by the love and care that was shown to all the children, and the many facilities, sports and educational facilities available. He was particularly impressed by the fact that Sr Ortuño had built the entire site himself over the past sixteen years.

Children displaying banner

It is situated near Guadalest and covers more than 11,000 square meters and is surrounded by the tallest mountains in Alicante. There is accommodation for up to eighty children at a time, fifty in log cabins and another thirty in tents. At the time of the visit over fifty children were in residence. The children, whose ages range from 8 to 14 years old, have a huge range of activities in which to participate. There are two adventure zones in the lower part of the camp with a huge wooden climbing frame and wall; there is also a shooting gallery with four lanes. Close by is a pine forest with many tracks through it, which also encompasses several suspension bridges through the treetops. There is also a three hundred square metre illuminated area for team games.

Group photo

There are also many sporting activities available including archery, climbing at the specially built climbing school just four hundred metres away, which offers more than thirty-five routes of varying difficulty, and twenty mountain bikes with many different routes available through the local countryside and forest. There are three seat canoes for trips across the Guadalest reservoir and four wheel pedal cars for trips around the circuit and for short trips away.

Children from El Preventorio + the Red Cross

There are also many cultural and educational courses offered. There is an alternative energy workshop, which experiments with solar panels, furnaces and wind turbines. There are tours explaining the local flora and fauna with experiments carried out by the pupils and workshops explaining conservation of the local wildlife. There are theatre workshops and chances for the children to act and try improvisation. There are astronomy workshops with telescopes and much, much more including dancing, songs and storytelling.

In addition to all of the above there will be a chance to visit Guadalest Castle, Noah’s Ark (a local wildlife shelter), and trips to Terra Mitica and Terra Natura. In all an action packed ten days in which there will be something for everyone to enjoy. A great mixture of education and enjoyment while learning to live and co-operate with others in a great outdoor setting yet still overseen by caring mentors and carers. This will be an outing that the children will never forget.

On Saturday, 24th June, the gardens of  Worshipful Brother Darrell Clayton and his lovely wife Sally, in Gata de Gorgos, were again thrown open to hold another stunning ‘Glyndebourne in Gata’ celebration. This is now an annual event, organised by local Freemasons,  which is modelled after the grand Glyndebourne event in England although on a slightly

smaller scale. Not withstanding that this classical concert was incredible and everyone there enjoyed it enormously. The idea is generally of a black tie, classical music event to be held in Darrell and Sally’s magnificent gardens.

More than one hundred and thirty Masons, wives and guests attended and enjoyed a great evening with exceptionally good weather.

Everyone brings their own food to create one gigantic picnic. The tables are decorated and the best of which wins a prize. This year an element of fancy dress crept in with some tables and guests dressed as Hawaiians while others were dressed as ancient Romans.

A great time was had by all! The entertainment this year was even more varied than last. Starting at 7pm and continuing until 11pm, this was a non stop feast of talented local entertainers. They comprised a tribute group, El Divo, a ladies choir, some dancing youngsters, the local tenor, Manuel Lazaro and also local mezzo-soprano Gill Henry. At the end Gill and Manuel united as duo ‘Cantabile’ and received a standing ovation. The level of talent for an event of this size was truly amazing and could have graced any stage in Europe. All of the performers enjoyed rapturous applause and most guests are already looking forward to next year.

A grand charity raffle was held which raised the incredible sum of one thousand eight hundred euros. This will be donated to local charities later in the year.

A huge round of thanks to Darrell and Sally, and their trusty helpers, not only for allowing the use of their garden but also for the weeks of hard work they have put in,  to make this a huge success. Well done!

To all Freemasons of the Province of Valencia
Well as you know we finally got together 21 children to go camping for 10 days. Fifteen came from El Preventorio and six more from families in need under the Red Cross umbrella in Javea.
Unfortunately the average age of children in the Preventorio is under eight hence the smaller than expected numbers.
The excitement on the bus was something else and the journey to the camp was one I won’t forget. Some of the children went last year so it must be good if they are going back !

      Happy children en route.
It poured with rain and the road was closed so we had to reverse down the mountain road and if they asked me once they asked me a hundred times ” Are we there yet !”
Please can you pass on to your friends in the Freemasons that without their help and support this would NEVER have happened.
It is so hard to get people to understand what sort of lives these little folk have, especially in the Preventorio.
I have tried to help and support and improve things for all of them but know that without the support of people like you it would be impossible.

      Silvia with Juan Carlos
Provincial Grand Master, Michael Shilan, Provincial Grand Charity Steward, Keith Alcock, Provincial Press Officer, Bill Turney, and Juan Carlos Ortuño the director at the campsite and so many more of you that commented on my Facebook Page I cannot thank you enough !
Having supported the children for 10 years now the staff know that they need only to pick up the phone and sometimes I panic and wonder how can I solve whatever help they are asking for. I’m not an organisation or business or part of a committee or charity, just a mother who knows how to love and care and hug (hugs are so under rated). Having come from an abusive and broken home I guess I understand the sadness I sometimes see in a child’s eyes without them saying anything.
Bay Radio created a charity account and support me when I need help but people’s generosity tends to be mainly at Christmas and then, for the rest of the year, they are almost forgotten about. That is why I’m so grateful for your support.
The six children from the Red Cross have never been on holiday so this for them was not only out of the blue but an adventure they so deserve. Thank you so much !
Have a great summer each and everyone of you.

Silvia

On Friday 16th June a presentation was made, by the Masonic Homes of Valencia Association, to the main hospital in Denia. The presentation was for a cheque to pay for a second CT scanner which has been sorely needed by the hospital for some time. Currently when the older machine is in use or in need of repair, or even being serviced, patients often need to travel long distances for diagnosis before treatment can begin. This is obviously not good and creates further stress and hardship at a time when such problems are least needed.

The hospital themselves managed to raise the magnificent sum of one hundred thousand euros towards the cost of this machine, but such machines do not come cheap. Yet another one hundred thousand euros were needed to make a purchase possible. This is where the Masonic Homes of Valencia Association stepped in and donated the much needed money. The scanner is now on order from the United States and should arrive, ready for use in early August. More than fifty people turned up for the presentation including representatives of the hospital, members of the Board of the Masonic Homes, volunteers who run the charity shop and many hospital workers. It was a great afternoon and an excellent buffet lunch was laid on for all the visitors. The added photos show the following:

Photo 1.  On stage.  Hugh Parker Treasurer        MHVA

Jenny Hart   President          MHVA

Angel Gimenez                    Hospital Director

Juan Manuel Gasent            Head of Oncology

Mayte Lopez                        Hospital Liason

Photo 2       Jenny Hart  presenting cheque to Angel Gimenez

Photo 3.       MHVA Board Members with the big Board