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The Provincial Grand Master’s Discretionary Fund 2007 Awards took place at the
Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone, on Saturday 13th October, where the resident
Gurkha squadron welcomed Freemasons from the Province of East Kent, the Mayor
of Maidstone, and representatives from recipient local charities and worthy
causes, with their traditional greeting of “Namaste”. Awards totalling a
magnificent £21,750 have been allocated to a variety of local causes, twelve
of which were represented on the day.
An award of £4,000 was presented to The Gurkha's own charity the Pahar
Trust Nepal, which was established in 1969 to provide educational,
medical and community aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha
ex-servicemen and their dependants. The money will go towards refurbishing the
very basic and almost derelict school building at Bhanu, which is in the
remote eastern mountain region of Taplejung. A letter of thanks subsequently
received from John Green M.B.E., Chairman of the Trust, said that "The
construction of the school can now progress much quicker than we had
anticipated ...... News of your generous help has reached the village and they
were delighted ........ The villagers, teachers and children are excited about
having a new school" The trust has an excellent web site at
www.pahar-trust.org.
Some awards were for specific purchases or projects, and others were to offer
general support and boost resources. The TLC (Teddies for Loving Care)
Appeal were delighted recipients of £5,000. TLC provides teddy bears
for children in hospitals to help them through their treatment, which they
then take home with them afterwards. £2,000 was given to Playmakers
Stage 11 Appeal, Herne Bay whose aim is to upgrade the Herne Bay
Little Theatre, with particular regard to access for physically disabled
people, and better facilities for the hard of hearing. £1500 was presented to
Margate Swimming Club to provide visual/audio starting equipment
to help swimmers with hearing impairment. £1,000 was awarded each to the
New Romney Sea Cadets Corps.; Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre;
Stanhope REACT Ashford; St Francis After School Club, Rochester;
Wheelchair Users’ Group Folkestone; and Dover War Memorial
Project. £500 was awarded each to Falls Group,
Rochester, and The Disability Information Services Kent (DISK).
The Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone, is home to the 70 Gurkha Field Support
Squadron. The Gurkhas, well-known for their hospitality, generously presented
the visitors with a memorable lunch of excellent Nepalese food. The guests
were royally entertained with a display of traditional dancing by two Nepalese
children, followed by a troop of Gurkhas, displaying their skills with the
Kukri (the Gurkha’s formidable knife) in the traditional Kukhari or Kukhuri
Dance. Our Provincial Grand Secretary and Assistant Provincial Grand
Secretary, WBros Roger Odd and Lyndon Jones, having been lulled into a false
sense of security by joining in a gently expressive traditional dance with the
girls, were then "volunteered" to join the armed Kukhari dance; we are glad to
report that all survived unhurt!
A superb day for all present.
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