AT a Masonic dinner and dance held just before the coronavirus stopped public meetings, Per Mare Per Terram Lodge, the Royal Marine Lodge that meets in Exmouth, raised £500 in aid of the Devonshire Blood Bikes, also called the Devon Freewheelers.

The families and friends were entertained in the Sergeant’s Mess at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, a building full of Royal Marine history and historical artefacts, somewhere normally inaccessible to non-military personnel.

During the evening the presentation was made by the Worshipful Master of Per Mare Per Terram Capt. M.J.C. Thrift R.M., who was accompanied by Bro. R.M. Henderson R.M. to J. Robinson R.M., one of the volunteer riders who received it on behalf of the Devon Freewheelers.

Devon Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service (also known as the Devon Blood Bikes) is a team of volunteer GMP trained Riders and GMP trained Drivers, Call Handlers and Fundraisers who are dedicated to providing a 24 hours-a-day seven days-a-week service, supporting the NHS in delivering essential whole blood, blood and other medical samples, medication, patient notes, medical equipment, tissue samples and donor breast milk to hospitals, air ambulances and other NHS establishments and even to patients homes throughout Devon.

The Freewheelers is a charitable organisation totally reliant on donations from the public such as the one given by the members of Per Mare Per Terram Masonic Lodge.

J. Robinson R.M. thanked the Freemasons for their very generous donation saying that it would go a long way towards keeping them on the road in the future.