Earlier this year, John Winter, Past Master of Harte Lodge No. 4217, was shown a letter from the PTA of Holy Trinity Church of England School, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, in which they were appealing for help to raise funds to buy equipment for a new school which is being built. As much as possible in the way of furniture, books etc will be transferred from the existing school building to the new one once it is completed later this year, but some things are either outdated or permanent fixtures in the old building, and new ones need to be bought. Top of the requirements list are interactive whiteboards, projectors and IT equipment.

John approached his lodge to ask if they would be willing to support this appeal and they agreed to donate £150. Another £100 was added to this by the Hartlepool Masonic Benevolent Association (HMBA), and, on 2 July, Kevin Dixon, WM Harte Lodge, Bill Horsley, Tyler Harte Lodge and John Bartram, a trustee of HMBA, attended an Open Day at the old school, where they presented a cheque for £250 to Head Teacher Amanda Baines and Sue Appleyard from the PTA. On handing over the cheque, John Bartram commented:

"One of the most important things we can give to children is a good education, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to help equip the new school, and thus help the school's teachers achieve this."

Thanking the freemasons, Head Teacher Amanda Baines said;

"We are extremely grateful to the freemasons for this generous and unexpected donation which will be put towards the purchase of equipment for the new school, and we hope they will visit us again when it opens, hopefully in December this year"

Photo shows l. to r.
Amanda Baines, Head Teacher, Sue Appleyard, Holy Trinity PTA, Kevin Dixon, Harte Lodge, John Bartram, HMBA and Bill Horsley, Harte Lodge

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