Travelling Teddy
W.Bro David Dawson made a donation with a difference at our 200 year celebrations by donating Derek, the travelling teddy. The idea being that Derek is raffled off using Gift Aid donations and the winner then takes possession of Derek and arranges to raffle him again, either at their own lodge or on a visit. The principle being that any funds raised should be donated to the Provincial Teddy Bear Fund. Each winner is asked to take an unusual photo of Derek and we will publish it here on the website under Derek's Travels. Here is Derek's letter of introduction to the lodge.
Hello,
My Name is Derek, I am special, and I have a nice new jumper to prove it. Also I am a bit of a travelling Teddy. I heard about today’s event taking place at St John’s Lodge No 328, in Torquay, and that you were donating all the proceeds of the prize raffle to the Devonshire Provincial Teddies scheme. What a lovely idea, so I had one as well which will hopefully allow me to travel around the Province at the same time helping to make contributions to this worthy cause.
The Brother that is lucky enough to have his ticket drawn tonight will have the right to take me to his Lodge and then to be able to raffle me again, with the proceeds of that raffle going to the Teddies scheme. If you hold the raffle by envelope then you can put in whatever you like. The Charity steward, I’m sure, will forward the proceeds to the Devonshire Provincial Teddy Bears scheme. The lucky recipient will then repeat the process in their Lodge, and so on. If you find that I am staying in one place too long you can donate me to a visitor of the Lodge who can then repeat the process from within his Lodge and keep me moving. So I hope to do a good bit of visiting.
I would like to be back here at St John’s No 328 before our Installation in February 2012. Whoever is looking after me on the 6th of January 2012 can you contact my friend, David at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You will receive an invitation to our 2012 Installation where I will be raffled for the final time, again with the proceeds going to the Teddies fund, and I will look forward to settling down after all my travelling. During my travels can you take some photos of me in some interesting places, and send them to St John’s web site; www.freemasonrytorquay.co.uk or the Provincial website www.pgldevonshire.org.uk. plus any items of interest as to where I am, and what your Lodge may be doing.
Thank you and I hope that you will support this very worthy cause.
Derek.
Please remember to take a photo of Derek if you are looking after him and then send a copy to us for inclusion on Derek's Travel Gallery. We would love to hear any story as to how Derek ended up wherever he is in your photo. Just send us the photo and any information to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it