Group Break – 2022

It has been decided by the Benevolent Committee that the Province is to organise a Masonic Group Break for up to 47 Brethren and/or dependants who will benefit from a short break, particularly those who feel unable or uneasy to travel alone.

Accommodation has been reserved at the Sands Hotel, Sandown, Isle of Wight from Saturday 3rd September 2022 to Saturday 10th September 2022. This is a nice family run hotel, on the sea front, with a lovely entertainments lounge and outdoor heated swimming pool, clean rooms, good food and service. There will be entertainment every night and the hotel bar, lounge and dining room look out to sea across the swimming pool and sun terrace, with views of Culver Cliff and Sandown Bay. As usual, two volunteers from the British Red Cross will be travelling with us.

The cost of the holiday will be £350 including the ferry crossing (Southampton – East Cowes).

We will have the use of the whole hotel during our stay, 33 rooms in total, which will accommodate all 47 applicants. As with most hotel accommodation, single rooms are very limited. We have therefore only been given 8 which leaves 25 rooms with a mix of twins and doubles.

The application form is available to download at the bottom of this article and must be returned to Provincial Office by Friday 27th May 2022 at the latest with priority given to those who have not benefited from the Masonic Group Break before. All applications should be made, supported, and signed by a Lodge Benevolent Committee Representative or a Visiting Volunteer after assessing the applicant. Please do not send payment with the application form, payment will be requested once applications have been successful.

If requesting consideration for financial support, sections A, C and D are to be completed. Those who are able and willing to pay for the break are to complete sections A, B and D. It is likely that repeat applicants who are not in receipt of state benefits or Masonic aid will be asked to make a donation towards the cost of the break and Benevolent Representatives should advise them of this at the time of application. Places will be allocated according to receipt of the completed application form at Provincial Office.

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will hopefully be notified towards the end of June 2022 when payment will be requested. Successful applicants will be expected to assemble at Shiney Row Masonic Hall at 8.00am on Saturday 3rd September 2022 prior to travelling by coach to the Isle of Wight. They will return to Shiney Row on Saturday 10th September 2022. All participants should be collected at approximately 5.00pm. If a participant’s family is unable to provide transport to and from Shiney Row, then it is expected that the Lodge supporting the application will make the necessary arrangements.

Yours sincerely and fraternally

Thomas F Gittins

Secretary