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In 2004, the Government launched a
much-needed Talented Athlete Scholarship
Scheme which gives grants to young
people identified as high flyers to help
with coaching, physiotherapy and use
of training facilities. The International
Olympic Committee and some other
organisations also support young athletes.
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls
and Boys plays its part as well. Launched
in 2000, the Trust’s TalentAid scheme
has awarded over £1m of grants to assist
talented young people. Beneficiaries are
not just young sports men and women but
musicians, actors and dancers too.
Means-tested grants are given to cover
fees at specialist schools and colleges. Oneoff
grants are made for sports coaching,
music lessons, the purchase of equipment
or instruments, travel costs, and towards the
incidental expenses of having a talented child.
Young people are eligible for grants
if their father, stepfather, grandfather or
guardian, whether or not they currently
live with him, is a subscribing Freemason
under the English Constitution, or was in
good standing at the time of his death.
We showcase below three outstanding
TalentAid beneficiaries, two sportsmen
and a dancer, all of them grandchildren
of long-standing members of the Craft.
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Jonathan Blackledge
Jonathan’s home is on the Isle of Wight,
where his grandfather is a member of
Spithead Lodge. Starting his Masonic
career in Hertfordshire, his grandfather
has belonged to five lodges over his 44-year membership.
Jonathan is currently reading Geography
at Oxford University, where he has seized
the opportunity to develop his outstanding
skills as a middle and long-distance runner.
In his very first term he was awarded a
Full Blue. In his second, he found himself
in America where he won both his races,
beating the best athletes from Harvard,
Yale and Cornell.
Jonathan’s annual TalentAid grant is used
to buy specialist clothing and to help with
travelling and training costs. His dream is to
represent Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics.
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Tudor Flintham
Tudor’s grandfather was another long-serving
Freemason – in North Wales. Since a very
young age Tudor has played football. Before
finishing secondary school he had played in
amateur competitions worldwide, twice
winning the Amateur Football World Cup.
During a visit to America he was spotted
by a talent scout from St John’s University,
Minnesota and they offered Tudor a
handsome bursary to join them. With the
help of a TalentAid grant, Tudor’s dream
became a reality, and he joined the
university in the Fall of 2002. We are grateful
to St Benedict College, St John’s University for
permission to use the photograph of Tudor.
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Briody Hartwell
Briody’s grandfather is a Freemason of over
30 years standing, having joined Spen Vale
Lodge in Yorkshire, West Riding in 1974.
Briody started ballet and tap classes
when she was four. Now she has achieved
a whole list of exam successes in classical
ballet, advanced tap dancing and jazz.
In September 2005 she started a
performing arts course at the worldrenowned
Italia Conti Academy of Theatre
Arts in London. A TalentAid grant has
enabled Briody to take the first steps towards
what promises to be a glittering career on
the stage.
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To Brethren on the voters list for the
year 2006
To Lodge representatives on the voters
list for the year 2006
Notice is hereby given that the
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
and
GENERAL COURT
will be held on
Wednesday, 28 June 2006
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Full details of the agenda and nominees
for election will appear on our website by
30 May 2006.
Those eligible to attend the meeting are
Grand Patrons and Patrons of the Trust,
Vice Patrons of the former Institutions and
representatives of Grand Patron and Patron
Lodges. If you are in any doubt about your
eligibility, please contact the Trust.
Copies of our Annual Review will also
be available after the Annual General
Meeting and can be requested on-line
at www.rmtgb.org or by telephoning the
Trust on 020 7405 2644.
Registered Charity No. 285836.
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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