Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Once again Dorset Brethren had the pleasure of presenting, on behalf of all of the members of the Province, a cheque for £4,000 allocated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance by the Grand Charity.

Sunday the 22nd May 2011 was a sunny but breezy day with gusts of wind up to 50mph, making the landing of the Air Ambulance on the airfield at Compton Abbas quite spectacular. It was, however, spot on time touching down at 1.30 p.m. When the rotors had finished spinning, the chief executive for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Mr Bill Sivewright, accompanied by the Provincial Charity Steward of Dorset, WBro David Dunford, Mrs Trish Dunford, WBro Cliff Lindsay (Secretary of the Lodge of Honour and Friendship No. 1266), Mrs Lyn Lindsay, WBro Ken Howes (the Provincial Information Officer), WBro Stephen James and Mrs Louise James, together with members of Lodges from Somerset were escorted out to the aircraft to meet the pilot and medical staff.

WBro David then presented the cheque for £8,000 (£4,000 each from the Provinces of Dorset and Somerset). This proved to be slightly hazardous to the large cheque, with the gusts of wind threatening to tear it to pieces!

Mr Sivewright expressed thanks for the much needed support to the Air Ambulance, commenting that Freemasonry is legendary for its charitable giving.

Dorset Schools' Biathlon Relay
On Saturday, 14th May, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Nigel Leonard, was delighted to present medals to all the competitors in the Dorset Schools' Biathlon Relay held at the Osprey Leisure Centre on Portland.

The event, which was sponsored by the Provincial Grand Master’s Discretionary Fund, attracted entries from over 100 children between the ages of 7 and 13 from surrounding Dorset schools and exemplified our continuing support of sporting activities for the youth within our Province.