Whilst the majority of NBB talk requests have been put on hold or declined due to Covid-19 restrictions our talks Coordinator Nigel Barlow, knowing volunteer rider and speaker John Watts is a keen user of “Facebook live” passed a request from the Northumberland Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons his way.
This organisation are regularly keeping in touch with members unable to meet physically using Zoom video conferencing technology and to interest and engage attendees have a guest speaker each Monday.
On Monday 2nd November, John, assisted by our new member Peter Boyle as socially distanced camera operator delivered such a talk. Using Blood Bike “Mark Master Mason” as a prop John thanked the virtual audience for the £18,000 grant from their national charity which paid for this Pan European motorcycle in 2016 and told them about some of the bikes missions during the 74,500 miles travelled on its 4 years of blood bike duty.
John was wearing one of our new Motorola radios also funded by the Freemasons Mark Benevolent Fund with a £24,000 grant earlier in 2020.
Whilst the purpose of this talk was awareness raising and a thank-you, NBB were delighted to subsequently receive a further donation from local masonic funds of £250 which had been unanimously agreed by members after John had concluded the talk and left the Zoom meeting.
Richard Northey, Deputy Provincial Grand Master wrote, “Many thanks for joining us today and giving that superb presentation on the Northumbria Blood Bikes. It was much appreciated as was shown by the attendance and the extended Q&A session afterwards. I hope we didn't go on too long for you but there was a lot of interest in the Blood Bike work and many positive comments after you left the meeting to return the bike.
All I can say after all we heard this afternoon is keep up the fantastic work and well done.”
Nigel Barlow, NBB talks coordinator who attended the talk and took photographs said, “It’s been frustrating that our physical talks have been suspended to prevent the spread of Covid, but this is an excellent example of how we can still deliver Blood Bike presentations in a safe manner and if any other organisations would like a virtual talk I’ll try to match a presenter with the request”.
To request a presentation please drop us a message via: https://www.northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk/contact/Request_A_Speaker
