Recently, there have been numerous remarks about the importance of communication in our daily lives. For those responsible for delivering our emergency services, clear communication is vital. Support services include the ‘Blood Bikes’. The volunteer run charity started here in the Northeast in 2014. The Northumbria Blood Bikes service cover Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Co. Durham and Darlington.
From its humble origins, the Northumbria Blood Bikes has grown to a first class service. It now has eleven modern and well equipped motor cycles and five motor vehicles. Several of these have been funded by Freemasonry and the Mark Degree. This is in addition to a number of Masons who work as volunteer riders.
Over recent times, the radio communication system they were using has become severely limited and outdated. The enormity of the communication problem facing the service was recognised by Jeff Ormiston. Jeff is a Mark Mason in the Province of Northumberland and also a volunteer rider for the Blood Bikes. He made an application to the Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) outlying the issues facing the service.
The MBF to the rescue.
The MBF received that message loud and clear. They responded accordingly by awarding a grant of £23,500. This enabled the Blood Bike service to purchase a new updated communications system. The new system comprising fifteen Motorola Radios, back office control equipment and five years’ service agreement.
John Watts is a former Police Officer, current Blood Bike volunteer and a Mark Mason. John knows at first hand the practical impact this equipment means for the operation and its volunteers. Both John and Tom Steward (Northumberland MM) took the opportunity to use Facebook to communicate their sincere appreciation to the Mark Benevolent Fund and importantly to all Mark Masons who made this amazing donation possible.
You can use the link below to view their comments:
A few spare minutes between missions so Tom Stewart and I have recorded this message for all Mark Freemasons on behalf of grateful blood bikers especially Jeff Ormston for submitting the grant application, PGM Gordon Craigs for supporting it and Darren Coleman-Heald and his team at the MBF for making the grant.
Posted by John Watts on Wednesday, 6 May 2020
No one can deny the importance of communication, so lets hope the new system helps this important service.