In June, I had the pleasure of visiting Old Esthameians Lodge No. 7693 at Upminster to present them with a TLC Patron Certificate in recognition of their generous £500 donation to the TLC Essex Appeal.

After the meeting, I was approached by the Lodge’s Inner Guard, W.Bro Les Fidlin the Elder, and Junior Warden, Bro Les Fidlin the Younger – a father-and-son duo who, together with their family, run J&L Coster (Drainage) Ltd.

They informed me that, inspired by the Appeal’s work, their business had decided to commit to making an annual £500 donation to support TLC Essex. True to their word, I met with the Fidlin family on 18th July, including Esther Fidlin, another key member of the company, to formally thank them and present a TLC Patron Certificate on behalf of the Appeal.

This kind of family and business support plays a vital role in helping us continue to provide thousands of teddy bears each year to A&E departments across Essex. It was incredibly heartwarming to see the commitment not just from individual Freemasons, but from their families and businesses too.

Thank you to the Fidlin family – Les, Les, and Esther – for their generosity, community spirit, and ongoing support of TLC Essex.

Your kindness truly helps make a difference in the lives of children in distress.