Raising a Glass to Warwickshire’s Community Champions
Warwickshire Freemasons celebrated the outstanding contribution of members who go above and beyond in their local communities with the presentation of the inaugural Community Champions Awards at the Province’s Annual Convocation and Provincial Grand Lodge meetings held in June.
Introduced as part of Warwickshire’s commitment to the Third Pillar of Freemasonry – service to the community – the awards recognise Brethren and Companions whose voluntary work has made a significant impact on the lives of others.
The first recipients of the Warwickshire Community Champions Award were:
- Harry Black of St Andrew’s Chapter No. 4056
- Patrick Breen of Abbey Lodge No. 432
- Lewis Marks of Dunsmore Lodge No. 6642
Each winner received an engraved commemorative tankard and a cheque for £2,000 to be donated to a charity of their choice. The specially commissioned tankards bear both the Warwickshire Craft and Royal Arch logos together with the recipient’s name and the inscription Warwickshire Community Champion 2026.
Presenting the awards, Warwickshire Provincial Grand Master Philip Hall explained:
“This year we have introduced a Community Champions Award which will be presented annually at Warwickshire’s Provincial Grand Lodge and Annual Convocation.
In line with Warwickshire’s obligations under the Third Pillar, the Province invited nominations of Brethren who are active within their local communities. We received 28 excellent nominations from across Warwickshire, but unfortunately there can only be three winners each year.”
He added that those not selected this year would be invited to have their nominations carried forward for consideration in 2027.
A Lifetime of Service
The first award was presented during the Royal Arch Annual Convocation by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent to Harry Black, who attended the ceremony at the remarkable age of 99.
Harry’s record of service spans more than six decades. A Royal Navy veteran of the Second World War, he has dedicated much of his life to helping those less fortunate than himself.
His voluntary work has supported organisations including the RNLI, Air Ambulance, Shelter, The Salvation Army and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, alongside numerous local food banks, youth groups and community initiatives.
His commitment has previously been recognised through the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2022 and the Medal of Merit awarded by the German Bundestag in 2003.
More recently, Harry has been involved in providing first aid and bleed kits for deployment within his local community following the tragic stabbing of a young boy in Hall Green, Birmingham.
A member of St Andrew’s Chapter No. 4056, Harry chose Shirley Sea Cadets as the recipient of his £2,000 charitable donation.
Supporting the Most Vulnerable
The second award recognised Patrick Breen of Abbey Lodge No. 432, who is only at the beginning of his Masonic journey, having recently been passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.
Patrick runs a day service for adults with learning disabilities, providing care and support for some of Warwickshire’s most vulnerable residents. He also volunteers as an advocate with Solihull Action, helping young people and their families navigate difficult circumstances.
In addition, Patrick serves as a Blood Bike volunteer, transporting vital blood products and medical samples for the NHS across the Midlands.
Presenting the award, Philip Hall praised Patrick’s commitment to supporting others both professionally and through his voluntary work, recognising the significant difference he makes within the community.
Saving Lives Across Rugby
The final award went to Lewis Marks of Dunsmore Lodge No. 6642 in Rugby.
An electrical installer by trade, Lewis volunteers his professional skills with the charity Our Jay, helping install publicly accessible defibrillators throughout Rugby and the surrounding area.
The charity was founded following the death of a young man from a sudden cardiac arrest, with the aim of ensuring that life-saving equipment is readily available when needed.
To date, the network of defibrillators Lewis has helped install has been credited with saving more than 30 lives in the Rugby area alone.
Lewis selected Our Jay as his chosen charity, with Warwickshire Freemasons’ £2,000 donation funding the installation of three additional accessible defibrillators, potentially helping to save even more lives in the years ahead.
Celebrating Community Service
The Community Champions Awards shine a light on the extraordinary work carried out by Freemasons across Warwickshire every day.
Whether through a lifetime of voluntary service, supporting vulnerable adults and young people, or helping provide life-saving equipment, the three inaugural winners demonstrate the values of service, compassion and commitment that lie at the heart of Freemasonry.
As the Province looks ahead to future awards, the success of this year’s initiative has already highlighted the remarkable contribution Warwickshire’s members make to communities throughout Warwickshire.