Graham Flies for Charity

On the 20th August 2023, Bro. Graham Tillotson of Royal Portus Felix Lodge experienced a flight in a vintage 1942 De Havilland Tiger Moth at Forwood Farm airstrip near Retford.

This was part of a charity fund raising initiative set up by W.Bro Tony Dyer in aid of the Myeloma UK charity, which supports the form of cancer which he is living with. It was arranged in secret as a surprise gift by Graham’s wife, Abbie.

Graham flew over the landscape of North Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire for about 45 minutes at about 1,000 feet, and actually flew the aircraft himself for some of that time. He said that he thoroughly enjoyed the experience of flying in an open cockpit aircraft that was older than himself! The flight was arranged through the aircrafts owner David Firth who is a friend of Tony’s and had offered to donate the flight to the highest bidder to raise funds.

Along with other initiatives, gift aid, and match funding, Tony managed to raise the sum of £6,500 for the charity which will go to fund research into life extending drugs for this incurable and terminal form of cancer. Tony says that he is extremely grateful and humbled by the wonderful generosity of the Masons of this Province and their families and friends for helping raise this fantastic amount.