Honorary Royal Marine Rob Lang has been recognised for his work in supporting Royal Marines, NHS staff and those who have a substance use disorder through mental health issues.
He has won this year’s Excellence in Care Award from Lincolnshire Freemasons, presented to the man who has done the most to improve lives in the community.
Scunthorpe-based Rob, who has been a Freemason since 2022, received the award at the Lincolnshire Provincial Grand Lodge meeting in Lincoln, where hundreds were informed of his pro bono work over the decades.
Rob has a degree in psychotherapy and has used it to build and sustain three self-help groups for people with an addiction in Yorkshire’s East Riding to support more than 150 serving and retired Royal Marines, for which he has been given honorary membership of 42 Commando; and to support NHS staff who want to, in Rob’s words, ‘vent their anguish’. This year, he has helped almost 120 of them.
His work for the Royal Marines arose from a failed attempt to join in the 1980s when he formed a friendship with another trainee. Rob helped him through his problems, and word spread from there.
Rob is also the Almoner for his Lodges in Scunthorpe and was instrumental in setting up twice-monthly coffee mornings to prevent older and more vulnerable members from becoming isolated.
The coffee mornings have had the unintended benefit of becoming a ‘bridge to increased membership’. One Freemason has returned to attending Lodges after a 38-year absence, during which he continued to pay his subscription. Others have brought prospective new members who have subsequently been initiated. One prospective member saw news of the coffee mornings and called in ‘on spec’ to find out more. He later discovered former colleagues from his time in the forces were Freemasons, and as a result, joined a Lodge in a nearby town.
The coffee mornings, funded by the Province of Lincolnshire, are regularly attended by more than 40 people. The model has been adopted at other Provincial centres, also supported by the Province using funds allocated for the welfare of Freemasons.
Said Provincial Communications Officer Stuart Pearcey:
“Like so many good ideas, the coffee morning concept is straightforward, yet very effective. We have regular attendees who are no longer able to attend Lodge meetings due to failing health or who have become reluctant to travel at night. Coffee mornings allow members to keep in touch with their Masonic family and the building they met in, and the room is regularly filled with a buzz of chatter and laughter. And, of course, the unintended consequence that we welcome enormously is the boost to membership, membership, membership.”
