AWESOME!! There’s no other word for it.

The TLC Essex Appeal is genuinely grateful for every single donation—whether it’s £50 or £5,000—because every penny helps us deliver comfort to children in distress. But now and again, a Lodge goes above and beyond, and when that happens, it deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

In 2024, W.Bro Martin Pickett, Secretary and Charity Steward of Eton Manor Lodge No. 8438 at Harlow, invited me to attend their meeting on 24th September to receive what I was told would be a £1,500 donation. Of course, I wasn’t going to say no—and I arrived with a Bronze Patron Certificate, awarded to Lodges donating £1,000 or more.

But the cheque they handed over on the night was for £2,500—instantly making them Silver Patrons. I practically ran home to send them an upgraded certificate!

Six weeks later, a Lodge member made a personal donation of nearly £1,500, which another member generously rounded up, taking them to £4,000. Then in January 2025, Martin informed me that five members were making additional contributions to take the Lodge’s total to £5,000—our Gold Patron level.

But when I checked with our Treasurer before printing the certificate, I discovered they hadn’t donated £5,000... they’d donated £6,500.

We didn’t even have a Patron level beyond Gold! So our trusty Printer and TLC Rep, W.Bro Ian Barbrook, kindly produced a one-off Platinum Patron Certificate—and I had the immense pleasure of presenting it to W.Bro Melvyn Rogers, Worshipful Master of Eton Manor Lodge, on 17th April 2025.

That donation alone will keep an NHS Children’s A&E Department stocked with TLC Teddies for 19–20 months. Simply incredible.

And to top off a truly unforgettable evening, W.Bro Melvyn conducted his first ceremony (a Passing) in an assured and capable manner, while W.Bro Martin Pickett delivered a flawless Second Degree Tracing Board address.

Brethren of Eton Manor Lodge—thank you. You’ve set a new standard for what Lodge charity can achieve, and your generosity will make a difference to hundreds of young lives across Essex.

Well done, and thank you all.