A Very Personal Touch – Lodge Reaches Out To Cyprus
By W.Bro. John Mabey
Christmas hamper, Cypriot style.
Last Christmas is now a distant memory.
However, a task remaining unfilled is now complete … delivering a Christmas hamper to one of the Lodge’s very special ladies, Mrs Sue Thorn, a Brother’s widow.
Plans to deliver hampers to our widows three before Christmas were hatched by Bro. John Mabey and Ian Harper.
Hampers were bought and hand delivered to our widows in the Croydon area, however, the challenge of ensuring one reached Sue in Cyprus was elusive.
Elusive until Bro John, with an incredible network reached out to his business colleague in Nicosia (Cyprus), Anthony Ashiotis (of Anthony Ashiotis & Co).
Bro. John Mabey and Anthony Ashiotis celebrating a job well done.
The package! Gift wrapped, full of expectation
Anthony, our man in Cyprus (relocated from Havana!), jumped at the chance to personally arrange the delivery of the hamper.
Anthony made contact with and just in time as she was due to shoot off on holiday within days.
In response to John’s request to help Porchway Lodge, Anthony said, “It was a pleasure and honour to do something so different. Sue was terrific to talk to and I am so pleased to have helped in such a personal way. I would love to help do the same again next year”.
As the ‘A Team’ says, I love it when a plan comes together”.
Sue was over the moon and said, “It was a wonderful surprise and so kind to be thought of by the Lodge in Croydon. The hamper was simply perfect and so generous of the Lodge, thank you all”.