A team of five Freemasons from Aberystwyth calling themselves the Wild West Wales Masons cycled to every Masonic Hall in West Wales between October 25 and 28 to raise funds for two charities.

The cyclists - Rob Gray, Wyn Edwards, Jason Crowl, Jonathon Powell and Ian Lumby covered 252 miles and visited the 13 Masonic Halls starting at Aberystwyth, then to Lampeter, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Tenby, Narberth, Pembroke Dock, Neyland, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Cardigan, Aberaeron then back home.

The first recipient charity will be the Golau Cancer Foundation which is a South West Wales Cancer Centre who raise money to help provide Patient Care and Comfort, Specialist Equipment, Research and Development, Specialist Training for their Doctors, Nurses and Health Care Staff. From Bridgend, to Aberystwyth, and across Swansea and West Wales, they fight cancer by providing radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other vital specialist cancer treatments. They go above and beyond the normal scope of the NHS.

The second charity is the Dr John B Lloyd Foundation which is being established to provide information, advice and, if possible, practical assistance to those who, in West Wales, are placed in Palliative Care in hospitals away from their local area and are unable to get the transport necessary to get them home, something that occasionally happens here in our rural community when the NHS is unable to provide this vital humanitarian service at the time when it is needed.

This charity has been named in memory of Dr John Benjamin Lloyd, a senior Freemason in West Wales who sadly passed away in June.

At every Hall the cyclists visited they were greeted by lodge members who provided them with well earned refreshments, and a donation to their worthy cause.

The team arrived at Tenby Masonic Hall at around 2.30 pm on Friday 26 and were welcomed by the Master of Tenby Lodge Mr Brian Hilling and several other lodge members. The team were presented with a cheque for £250 before heading off to their next stop at Narberth.

Mr. Hilling said: “This was a fantastic achievement by these five men who will have raised a significant amount for the two charities. They are a credit to Freemasonry.”

Charity is an important component of Freemasonry, whose ethos calls for men of good character, sound morals and compassion. Lodge meetings usually take place monthly, and there are also social family events during the year.

For anyone interested in Freemasonry who may like to be considered for membership of Tenby Lodge, please call the Secretary on 01834-844926 or email him at [email protected]