THE Queen's College Masonic Lodge held an anniversary ladies' lunch and charity auction to mark the 65th year of the Lodge at Oake Manor.

The event was also held to raise money for a local charity - the Musgrove Leukaemic Group Somerset, who are currently funding a mobile chemotherapy unit which visits Chard, Minehead, Bridgwater and the Mendip area to provide treatment in patients' home towns.

The group is also refurbishing parents’ rooms on the Children's Unit to make their stay more comfortable when their child has to remain in hospital as an in-patient.

Following an enjoyable lunch at which Tricia Reed, chair of MLGS and Bernard Reed, treasurer of MLGS were guests, an auction and raffle took place which raised over £1,000.

The proceeds were increased by Match Funding provided by the Masonic Province of Somerset and a cheque for £2,000 was presented.

It was anticipated that around that much would be donated and a cheque was created for that sum for a photo but the Lodge have said that they have managed to raise £3,500 for the group.

Bernard Reed said: “Our Leukaemic Group is most grateful to everyone for contributing so generously and choosing our charity to support.

"This will help us to enhance the work of the Haematology unit at Musgrove Hospital”.