Warwickshire Freemasons Standing Shoulder to Shoulder During Armed Forces Week
From 22–27 June 2026, the nation will come together to mark Armed Forces Week, culminating in Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June.
Armed Forces Week is an opportunity for communities across the country to recognise and celebrate the dedication, courage and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community. It is also a reminder of the vital role defence plays not only in protecting the nation, but also in supporting economic growth, engineering innovation and the development of highly valued skills.
For Warwickshire Freemasons, support for the Armed Forces is not simply confined to one week each year. In June 2022, Philip Hall formally signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the Province, reinforcing Warwickshire Freemasonry’s commitment to supporting both serving and retired members of the Armed Forces community.
Through the Covenant, Warwickshire Freemasons pledged to recognise the immense contribution made by military personnel and their families, and to ensure that those who serve, or who have served, are treated with fairness and respect.
That commitment is perhaps best demonstrated through the Province’s support for Fisher House, the chosen charity for Warwickshire Freemasonry’s Tercentenary Appeal leading up to the Province’s 300th anniversary in 2028.
Based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Fisher House provides a “home away from home” for the families and loved ones of military personnel and veterans receiving treatment at the Centre for Defence Medicine. The accommodation and support offered by the charity allows families to remain close to those undergoing treatment, often during the most difficult periods of their lives.
Speaking about the appeal, Philip Hall said:
“I have spoken to military patients and without exception they all told me that a key ingredient in their recovery, often from life changing injuries, is the knowledge that their families and loved ones are close at hand and being well looked after.”
Earlier this year, Warwickshire Freemasons announced a further £50,000 grant to support Fisher House through the Masonic Charitable Foundation. The latest donation brings the Province’s total contribution to an incredible £450,000.
James Elliot, Chief Executive Officer of the University Hospitals Birmingham Charity which operates Fisher House, said:
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Warwickshire Freemasons. This generous donation will help us continue to provide a ‘home away from home’ for military families at a time when they need it most, easing both the emotional and financial burden while their loved ones receive treatment.”
Warwickshire Freemasons’ support for Fisher House continues not only through direct charitable giving, but also through the remarkable efforts of individual members and veterans determined to make a difference.
Further demonstrating the Province’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community, three former British Armed Forces veterans are undertaking an extraordinary fundraising challenge in aid of both Myeloma UK and Fisher House.
Veterans Roy Dixon, Garry Mitchell and Ian Davies, with an average age of 66, are cycling an incredible 1,000 miles from Plymouth to Bilbao over 12 days, covering an average of 75 miles each day through the UK, France and Spain.
Roy Dixon, a Warwickshire Freemason and newly appointed Provincial Junior Grand Warden, is no stranger to endurance challenges. In 2019 he joined Ian Davies and fellow veterans as part of the Atlantic Mavericks team, rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
For Ian Davies, the challenge is deeply personal. Diagnosed with myeloma in 2014, Ian underwent two bone marrow transplants at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. During his treatment, his family were supported by Fisher House, allowing them to stay close by during his recovery.
Ian said:
“After everything that this cancer has put me through, this ride is about proving that life doesn’t stop with a cancer diagnosis. We are riding to support others facing myeloma and to help military families who are going through their own battles.”
Funds raised from the challenge will support patients and families affected by myeloma, as well as provide accommodation and support for military families staying at Fisher House while loved ones receive treatment at the Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham.
The team hopes their remarkable journey will inspire others to support these worthy causes and show that age and adversity are no barrier to making a difference. More information about the challenge can be found at the Veterans Cycle Challenge page.
During Armed Forces Week, Warwickshire Freemasons proudly reaffirm their support for the Armed Forces community and all those who serve. Through charitable giving, practical support and enduring commitment, the Province continues to honour those who dedicate their lives to protecting others – ensuring that military personnel, veterans and their families know they are valued, respected and never forgotten.
If you would like to support the incredible work of Fisher House and help provide comfort and accommodation for the families of military personnel and veterans receiving treatment, donations to the Warwickshire Freemasons Tercentenary Appeal can be made via the Fisher House appeal page. Every contribution, large or small, will help ensure that families can remain close to their loved ones when they are needed most.
