Bro. Jonny Spencer’s Boulder Roll
Bro. Jonny, a member of the Nelson of the Nile Lodge No 264 in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, on Saturday 23 May, set out from John O’Groats in Scotland on a small 125cc Honda Monkey Bike for Land’s End. In conjunction with the Chapter of Fidelity No 289, he was raising money for the 2028 Provincial Festival for the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
Bro. Jonny was given significant financial support by the MCF for life-changing spinal surgery without which it was probable he would have been confined to a wheelchair. He undertook this challenge to payback the MCF for their kindness and understanding in supporting his surgery.
From Scotland he travelled through a number of English Provinces and met local Brethren to share his story and hopefully receive a small donation towards this extraordinary fundraising effort. And so, at midday on Wednesday 27 May, having travelled from his overnight stop in the Shropshire Hills, Bro. Jonny arrived at the Masonic Hall in Midsomer Norton where he was greeted by WM/Charity Steward W. Bro Chris James, along with other Connaught Brethren, the PGM, RW Bro. Raymond Guthrie and W. Bro. David Madden, our 2031 Festival Chairman.
After Bro. Jonny and Mathew, his support van driver, visited the Temple a buffet lunch was served under our Lodge gazebo and he related his story. With no hesitation it was readily agreed that the Province would make a donation, as would the Lodge. Bro. Jonny and Malcolm both felt this was best reception they had received outside of their own Province and described it as ’awesome and the Temple impressive’.
Suitably refreshed, they departed for Glastonbury escorted by a Connaught biker who is also a member of the Columbanus Biker Lodge, and W. Bro David, who peeled off part way to head for home; and from there onto their final overnight in mid Cornwall, having completed 290 miles during the day.
And so it was at 11.30am on Thursday 28th, Bro. Jonny, escorted by some Widow’s Sons bikers, rolled across the finishing line at Land’s End, six days after departing from John O’Groats, having covered 1,054 miles end to end.
So why ‘Boulder Roll’? As Bro. Jonny explained, the event required a catchy name; so in one aspect it is a homage to our Ancient Brethren who, back in their day, toiled away with rudimentary hand tools. What’s harder and time consuming as rolling a boulder? So to Bro. Jonny the challenge of riding the little Monkey Bike felt as if rolling a boulder all the way.
One final comment from Bro. Jonny before heading for home. Meeting us was a ‘particular highlight’ and he will definitely keep in touch with the hope of visiting one of our meetings at some future date.
