W.Bros. Phil Clare and Jason Pearson of The Lord Harris Lodge No.1494 are both members of the Metropolitan Police Service Special Constabulary. Like many Freemasons at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic they both wanted to help and make a difference in their communities. Phil contacted Bexley Council to see how they could assist and it soon became evident that the council staff who were delivering emergency food packages and medication had reached saturation point and were struggling to keep up with demand.
Jason and Phil stepped in and volunteered at the busiest time – weekends, doing twelve hour shifts allowing the council staff to actually take a break to recover and to deliver the emergency food, medication and welfare checks.
They covered this role throughout the whole of the first lockdown allowing the council staff to return to their critically important normal duties.
On Saturday 15th May, Phil and Jason received a Civic Recognition of Outstanding Achievement from the Mayor of Bexley. Their richly deserved citation reads:
“During the early summer of 2020, Council Officers were joined by firefighters from the London Fire Brigade to deliver much needed supplies to all parts of the Borough, in support of those residents who had asked for help. It was clear at certain points that requests for help were over-running the numbers of those available to deliver food and medications across the Borough. It was at this point that the Council received a telephone call from Phil Clare, who was volunteering with the Met Police.
Phil Offered the services of himself and a number of Special Constables from Bexleyheath, who were able to work, primarily at weekends, on a callout basis, to deliver the supplies across Bexley. They were able to fill the gaps, at times when most others were trying to get some rest
Phil and his team never asked for thanks, did it all as volunteers and were in fact never formally thanked for the magnificent work that they did.
This is Bexleyâs opportunity to say âthank youâ to these amazing people, who gave up their time, to ensure that our residents received food, supplies and medication.”