THOUSANDS of pounds raised by the region’s Freemasons have been donated to local hospices.

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity handed over cheques to hospices with its Province of Durham earlier this month (DEC).

Provincial Grand Master, Norman Eric Heaviside and the Chairman of Durham Benevolence, John David Watts were joined by other leading Freemasons at St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington to make this year’s presentations.

The host hospice received £2,431; Hartlepool and District Hospice was presented with £1,931; Butterwick House Hospice for Babies, Children and Young Adults received £1,872 and Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland received £2,131; St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham City was presented with £2,274; Willowburn Hospice, in Lanchester was presented with £1,573; St Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow received £1,645 and St Benedict’s Hospice in Sunderland, represented by Dr Martin Walker, was presented with £1,500.

In addition, Butterwick Hospice was awarded a further £1,000 presented to them by Robin Knight, Head of the Red Cross of Constantine Order in the Province of Durham, and Willow Burn and St Cuthbert’s both received £500 extra from Ken Embleton on behalf of the Order of the Secret Monitor.

Provincial Grand Master Eric Heaviside “We are extremely grateful for the wonderful work carried out by local hospices and are only too pleased that we can help out in a small way, The Masonic Charitable Foundation is proud to support this vital service "