THE Mayor of High Wycombe today said she had been assured a controversial Masonic charity backed by her official appeal will consider non-Masons.

In a statement (below), Councillor Julie Pritchard said she was “saddened” by concerns over her choice of The Royal Masonic Trust For Girls and Boys for the Mayor’s Appeal.

Liberal Democrats questioned choosing the charity which says it gives “most” cash to families of Freemasons.

The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys says its “primary aim” is to help Masonic families.

The Mayor’s Appeal takes donations from members of the public and holds events for the Mayor’s current charity. It raised £17,500 last year for South Bucks Hospice.

Cllr Pritchard’s statement said:

The Royal Masonic Trust For Girls and Boys (RMTGB) is a charity like any other, they identify a need that is not met through other sources and try to help. They have criteria and like the Air Ambulance cannot get funding from the lotteries commission. Clearly everyone has a limit to what and who they can support. I have been assured that the RMTGB will look at each application individually and judge each on its merits, regardless of any Masonic connection or lack of it.

Since 1977, at the instigation of Honorary Burgess and former Cllr David Fieldhouse, it has become a tradition for the elected Mayor to fundraise on behalf of a charity. That charity or charities are chosen by the Mayor and the Mayor alone.

Over recent years charities supported have been Air Ambulance, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, Ian Rennie Hospice, The Alzheimers Society, Special Care Baby Unit, The Dialysis Unit and South Bucks Hospice. None of these are Wycombe Town based and none can be said to exclusively support the Town’s residents. They all are invaluable charities, have eligibility criteria for their services and have been supported admirably by the appeal.

Charter Trustees and the Mayor are apolitical. Let’s not forget I am also fundraising on behalf of another charity as well as RMTGB that is not Wycombe based – the Air Ambulance. Given they have a specific remit and a wide geographical area to cover, this is no reason not to support this charity just because it cannot guarantee that the funds will be used exclusively for High Wycombe residents.