Members of the Light Blues Club enjoyed more than just a bumper breakfast as charity guests shared inspiring stories of the difference Berkshire Freemasonry is making – followed by two very special surprises that brought tears of happiness.
Saturday 19 September 2026
Members of the Light Blues Club gathered at Sindlesham on Saturday morning for a breakfast with a difference – one that provided an opportunity not only to enjoy good food and company, but also to hear directly from charities benefiting from the generosity and volunteering of Berkshire Freemasons.
Around 30 people attended the breakfast, which began with an introduction from Club Chair Marcus Hilsdon. Provincial Grand Charity Steward Peter Hopkins then gave those present a brief overview of his role and the work involved in supporting and promoting charitable activity across Berkshire.
After a bumper Sindlesham breakfast had been served, Peter introduced two special guests from charities supported by Berkshire Freemasonry. Followed by a speaker who provided an insight into the many opportunities available for Freemasons to volunteer their time.
From the top: Peter Hopkins, Hannah Norris, Davina Turnbull and Ken Ramsden
Me2Club – where everyone can thrive
First to speak was Hannah Norris, Fundraising Manager at Me2Club. Hannah explained how an £8,000 grant from Berkshire Freemasons over the past year has helped Me2Club enable around 90 children to participate in events and activities they might otherwise have been unable to attend.
Me2Club works to ensure that children who can face exclusion from activities for a variety of reasons are given the opportunity to participate, enjoy themselves and, importantly, feel included. Hannah thanked everyone in the room for the fundraising undertaken by Freemasons across Berkshire, explaining how that support makes a real difference to the children and families Me2Club works with.
Camp Mohawk – a place where families belong
Peter then introduced Davina Turnbull from Camp Mohawk, who shared the deeply personal story behind her own connection with the charity. Davina explained that her relationship with Camp Mohawk began following the birth of her son George, now 19, who was born with a rare brain abnormality. Sixteen years later, she remains closely involved with Camp Mohawk and described it as a place where, finally, her whole family could belong and enjoy being together.
Camp Mohawk, based in Wargrave, provides specialist facilities and opportunities for children with additional needs and their families.
Davina explained that Berkshire Freemasons have been among the charity’s biggest supporters this year. Freemasons have organised fundraising curry nights, which proved so successful that they have now been repeated twice more. The support has also extended beyond Berkshire. Freemasons from Lincolnshire, members of their Light Blues Club, known as the Rough Ashlars, joined the fundraising effort at the Krazy Carts event in Newbury this summer.
Davina also spoke about the impact of a £50,000 grant from Berkshire Freemasonry, which has enabled Camp Mohawk to remain open throughout the entire school holidays this year. This has allowed many families to make full use of the centre and its specialised facilities at times when other opportunities can be more difficult to access.
She wanted to make sure that Berkshire Freemasons and their families understood just how grateful the children and families who use Camp Mohawk are for the support they have received.
Giving time as well as money
The morning then turned to another important aspect of charitable work – volunteering.
Ken Ramsden, a Berkshire Freemason and keen volunteer himself, is now formally helping to coordinate volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, who have time available to support charities and community causes throughout Berkshire. Ken gave an overview of some of the volunteering activity undertaken during the summer and highlighted the regular bulletins produced by himself and Peter Hopkins, which contain news, volunteering reports and forthcoming opportunities for Freemasons to get involved.
Among the opportunities coming up are Poppy Appeal collections at Sainsbury’s in Winnersh on 24 and 25 October, followed by further dates on 1 and 7 November.
The Reading Toys & Teens Appeal will also once again need volunteers between 5 and 11 December. Last year, Freemasonry volunteers helped load, collect and distribute toys to locations across the area, where they were held until Christmas and then given to children.
Ken shared two requests that had previously been received, “a shower gel for just me” and, “a mirror of my own”. For many people, such requests may be difficult to imagine. For some children, however, they represent something very simple that they have never been able to take for granted.
Ken also spoke about the Wokingham Link Visiting Scheme, which holds social activities throughout the year and has benefited from volunteer support.
This Christmas Day, almost 200 people will come to Sindlesham Court to enjoy Christmas dinner in the home of Berkshire Freemasonry. Other volunteers have already committed to cooking and cleaning. While Berkshire Freemasonry volunteers will be on hand to provide whatever additional help may be needed on the day.
Two very special surprises
As the morning drew to a close, Peter Hopkins revealed that he had kept two surprises back. With the agreement of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Camp Mohawk will receive a further £2,000 to enable the charity to purchase 400 toys for the children who enjoy the special experiences provided at the centre.
The announcement came as a complete surprise to Davina, who was visibly moved and found herself unable to respond.
And there was another surprise to come. Peter announced that Me2Club would receive £1,000, representing half of the total raised during the West to East bike ride held in June.
Before Hannah had even had the opportunity to respond, Peter revealed a further donation of £680 from Pillars of Friendship Lodge, whose members had been so impressed by Me2Club’s work with children across Berkshire that they had decided to make a direct donation to the charity.
The result was two charity representatives quietly wiping away tears of happiness.
It was, possibly a Light Blues Club Breakfast first!
More than money
The morning was an enjoyable one, but it also demonstrated something important about charitable activity within Berkshire Freemasonry.
Charity isn’t simply about putting money into an envelope.
It can mean meeting the people behind the charities we support, hearing their stories, understanding the difference that funding makes, giving time, volunteering skills, organising fundraising events and, ultimately, becoming part of the community we are trying to support.
For those who attended the Light Blues Club Breakfast, there was certainly plenty to take away – along with a very good breakfast.
Berkshire Freemasonry – What Will Your Journey Be?
