IMPORTANT CHARITY NOTICE

Have bike ~ will travel!
“If you are looking for a story . . . . . . “
The WM said, “You might do well to talk to young James.”
“I was at Edenwall Lodge at Coleford,” writes Square Talk editor, Dick
Smith, “and Martyn Slater, a visiting master from St John’s Lodge, had
pointed me towards a brother just about to become a Master Mason
back in Dursley. He looked a smart fellow and particularly fit. As his
story unfolded, I began to understand just why he was so fit!
“James has the sort of job which takes him abroad for long periods of
time. He runs his own company, operating as a business management
consultant. But it’s also the sort of job which allows him plenty of spare
time . . . . and he uses that up by taking off on his push-bike to explore
the world.”
2700 mile trek
“I suppose the first really big adventure was a couple of years ago, said
James. “That was to cycle back home from Istanbul. It was in aid of the
charity I have supported for ten years or more; Action Medical
Research for Children.
“Every year since 2006, I have ridden the charity’s 100-mile route from
Bristol to London and to celebrate my 40th birthday, I took on this sixweek Turkish challenge. I love long distance cycle journeys and Action
Medical Research is a fantastic charity doing lots of amazing work to
help sick babies and children. They organise this cycling charity event
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and I can’t think of a better cause to fundraise for. That particular
journey took me through Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and France.”
Dursley Gazette
“The local press back home gave me
good coverage.”
James fundraises for Action Medical
Research because he has a personal
connection to the charity’s work. He and
his partner had twins which were
miscarried at 32 weeks. James’s
youngest son was also born 10 weeks
prematurely.
“I didn’t know much about the charity
until my children needed medical care. I
believe that had it not been for the work
that Action Medical Research has
undertaken in the past, my son may not
have survived. I am pleased to say that
the money I raised helped fund medical
research into conditions affecting babies
and children. Medical research can save
and change children’s lives. Yet surprisingly, it is poorly funded. Action
Medical Research has been funding medical breakthroughs since it
began in 1952. The charity is currently supporting work
around premature birth, epilepsy, meningitis, cerebral
palsy and brain cancer, as well as some rare and distressing
conditions that severely affect children.”
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“Taken out in Tewkesbury!”
Just three days after meeting up with James at Coleford, he had a bad
‘coming-together’ with a car whilst negotiating a roundabout in
Tewkesbury. He landed in hospital. “It’s bizarre to think you can cycle
around so many parts of the world,” he said, “and get crunched so
close to home! This took the wind out of my sails somewhat. I am still
struggling with the recovery after three months and I anticipate it will
be another eighteen to fully rehabilitate.”
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Provençal
“Last year, I cycled from Dursley to Barcelona. I stopped off in the
Dordogne in order to empty my uncle’s wine cellar and then took on
the Raid Pyrénées, just days ahead of the pro tour.
“I fell in love in Provence; both with cycling Mont Ventoux (over 6000
feet) and a lovely Irish lady I met. I climbed the iconic Alpine Cols,
which includes the world’s hardest amateur ride, ‘Haute Route’. Even
on their racing machines, some of the riders still found the gradient too
much, but I shamed them into remounting when I kept going . . . . . on
my fully loaded touring bike!
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Southeast Asian experience
“Four months later, I flew to Hong Kong and cycled through mainland
China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia.
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“My experiences in Asia really shook my thinking: I often considered
myself as reasonably intelligent, educated, worldly and open-minded.
Preparing to return, I realised how little I knew and appreciated more
than ever the great country and community I live in.”
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Great Uncle Roy
“So, after three months I decided to wrap up and head home; but not
before visiting my great-uncle’s war grave in Burma.
“As you will doubtless be aware,
Burma (Myanmar) was closed for
many years, so no one in the family
had ever visited his resting place.
Although it would have been
possible before independence,
frankly, it was beyond reach, but a
personal message was inscribed on
his memorial. Obviously, I had never
met him, but I felt a strong
connection from an early age. My
grandmother kept his picture in her
spare room and when she died I
inherited several of his personal
effects.
“The memorials have been
beautifully created and are
impeccably maintained in this
grassy oasis. More amazingly, they
are loved and used by the locals;
children play ball games away from
the graves, young couples canoodle
in the stone follies that abound the
perimeter and people picnic
amongst the flowers.”
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Egypt
“I just had to stop off to see the pyramids.”
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Canada & USA
“Now I am back at work. I started in Toronto, but got
moved to Nashville. There’s a massive Masonic Lodge
building in the centre of Nashville. I must arrange a
visit. One weekend I borrowed a bike and cycled
around the spectacular landscape. After a few weeks in
the US and a short visit home, tonight I am packing
again for the US . . . . top item this time is my bike!”
James joined St John’s Lodge in 2014. Because of his
foreign work and travel, his subsequent ceremonies
were delayed; his second was in 2015 and his third in
May of this year.
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“I see Freemasonry as . . . . . . . . . .
Dick asked James what were his early impressions of Freemasonry.
“As a child I was very curious about our local Masonic Hall, a beautiful
building in Horwich, Lancashire. My mother was something of a cynic
when I asked about it. That only deepened my curiosity, of course, but I
regarded it as possibly a little dark and sinister. I never expected to be
invited along; less so by someone I liked and knew to be warm and
caring; but that’s what happened . . . an invitation to an open evening.
“Since joining I feel my group of friends has grown and I really value the
time I get to spend not only with the guys my age but especially those
with the wisdom of years who always have great tales to share and
offer such kind support and encouragement.
“I’m not sure what kind of Mason I would have been had a joined in my
twenties, but now of my age and with my background I feel as though I
have a lot offer the lodge, my brethren and perhaps in the future the
wider organisation.”
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