Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas at Freemasons’ dinner
VISITING the island to celebrate Liberation Day, the Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas were invited to a meeting and dinner with the island’s Freemasons.
At the meeting, Freemason provincial grand master Keith Read presented the pensioners with a cheque to assist financially towards their visit.
‘Charitable giving is a strong part of what we do, especially to help charities that benefit the local community,’ he said.
‘We have been supporting the Chelsea Pensioners for over 10 years and hope to be able to do so for many more.’
Captain of invalids Major Frankie Howell thanked the Freemasons on behalf of the visiting in-pensioners.
‘As a charitable organisation we are so grateful for the hospitality and generosity of the Guernsey and Alderney Freemasons and the donation helps us continue visiting the island while running the royal Chelsea Hospital, which costs £22m. a year.’
Gurkhas captain Tarjan Gurung said the group were impressed by the beauty of the island and how welcoming its people were.
‘It’s important that we can be part this special day [Liberation Day] as we have fought alongside different British groups.’
Today, the visiting Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas will march in a parade in Town to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the island’s liberation in 1945.
They were given a tour of the island and were given a brief history of how the Freemasons came about, what they do and what they stand for.
