The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta in England and Wales and Provinces OverseasProvince of Kent
£10,000 raised for Hospital WheelchairsV.E.Kt. Peter Wise, former Kent Vice-Chancellor and this year celebrating 40 years in Kent KT, is well-known throughout Kent, as well as other Provinces from Cornwall to Northumberland! For some years he has been the 'go-to guy' for super-cheap second-hand regalia and has raised over £100,000 for Festivals and other good causes, from the Gurkhas to the Thanet Disabled Riding Centre in Broadstairs.
In October, returning from holiday, Peter contracted a mystery infection in his foot requiring 7 weeks of hospitalisation, with multiple surgeries, in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich (QEH) and then St Thomas’s London. He is still undergoing outpatient treatment. During this time, Peter realised that a great many of the delays in getting treatment result from a shortage of Portering Chairs, not the Porters themselves!
In February, he started an appeal, in conjunction with sales of second-hand regalia, to raise money to buy some of these Chairs. He contacted many of his friends in Kent and from their generosity raised £10,000 in just eight weeks to purchase TWENTY new Portering Chairs for QEH.
E.Kt. Scott Dunn, in his position as Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler for Kent in the Order of the Secret Monitor and his current Chairs in Kent Mark and Pilgrims Way Preceptory, was responsible for the funding of seven of these chairs; Pilgrims Way generously donated £1,000 to buy two Chairs. It was therefore appropriate that Scott accompany Peter on 29th April to present the cheque to the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust Charity at QEH.
The photographs show Peter and Scott with Margarita Vidiella, Head of Charity and Volunteers plus Nathan Ahwieh, Fundraising & Engagement Coordinator.
The pictured chair is a smaller version of the chairs on order, which Scott found abandoned outside the hospital – that’s how they go missing!
Peter’s appeal is continuing for the time being, with money still arriving daily, in order to supply at least one more major hospital in Kent with new chairs, and is happy to receive nominations, as well as donations!
Kent Freemasons Scott & Peter
Nathen, Margarita, Scott & Peter
Wheelchair< back
