Right Worshipful Brother David Charles Purdie, accompanied by Worshipful Brother John Betts from the Devon Mark Charity Association, together with Worshipful Brothers Neil Room-Doubleday and Mel Thompson representing the Ashburton Mark Lodge 1038 and the Ashburton Masonic Centre, were out in Ashburton recently.

Their visit was to present a cheque to the trustees of Woodlanders Pre-school in Ashburton, so that they could purchase tables and chairs for those aged 2 years and under.

  

This will allow them to offer 9 new places to children under 2 which they could not do beforehand. The pre-school, which is located within one of the towns historic buildings, has just undergone extensive remodelling and alterations to be suitable for the new children, funded by a grant from Devon County Council for £90,000.00.

The parents in Ashburton and surrounding towns were struggling to hold down jobs and manage employment when they have young children, as there was not enough provision available in the local area for those aged 2 or under. This new addition to Woodlanders will therefore be of considerable value to the community.

This is another large grant funded by the DMCA for £1974.89, who have been happy to have been of help with this project. With continued help from the brethren across Devonshire, we hope to support many more causes throughout Devon. 

On the day of the presentation, the Provincial Grand Master was joined by local dignitaries in the form of the 1205th Portreeve of Ashburton, Shane Fleming and the Bailiff of Ashburton Terry Hayman, with all of them looking resplendent in their chains of office.

A BIT OF HISTORY

In Anglo Saxon Britain, law and order was maintained by reeves who implemented the decisions of the local court.  A port-reeve officiated within a town and a shire-reeve (later known as a “sheriff”) held administrative responsibility for a shire.  In most places,  Portreeves were replaced by Mayors however, some towns retain the office and sometimes operate as both.  Ashburton has had a Portreeve since 820AD and is one of a very small number to retain that office through an Act of Parliament!  The Portreeve is head of a legally constituted Court, though these days the role is mainly as a social head of the town attending community or fund-raising events and, together with the Mayor, representing the town. Both Worshipful Brothers Mel and Neil have been Portreeves in Ashburton, being the 1165^th and 1166^th consecutively.