Your Grand Lodge Trustee's would like to make a statement on “The York Convalescent Home” to you the members of Grand Lodge.

This statement is given with the complete backing of your Grand Treasurer and the Grand Lodge Management Committee

There are a number of issues concerning The York, such as major damp that has affected the basement throughout the whole of the footprint of the building, the upcoming refurbishment of the home in 2008 and the problems in upgrading it to a disable friendly environment.

We have been contacted by a developer as to the probability of purchasing The York, we have entered into exploratory negotiations and these are ongoing, with a view to selling The York, as a going concern.

We made enquires to the possibility of purchasing a suitable establishment to better suit our needs, and that this be in the southern part of the UK.

Some of our members may have noticed the block of properties which includes The York is being re-developed into luxury apartments. During the development an offer of £750,000 for the purchase of The York was made. It is the duty of your Trustee's, Treasurer and Management Committee to look at such approaches on your behalf; this has resulted in a further offer being made of £1.1m

One property has been identified in the Paignton area that would be ideal for our needs. It has 20 on suite rooms, a seafront location, and a lift serving its three floors and car parking spaces at an asking price of £600,000 which has been independently confirmed as excellent value for money.

Taking into account the offer for The York, also the savings in work required and the cost of £600,000 for a well maintained ready to use convalescent facility, we feel this is too good an opportunity for our Order to miss, and as such it is the purpose of this statement to inform Grand Lodge and the whole of the Order that it is the intention of your Trustee's, Treasurer and Management Committee to proceed with the sale of The York and the Purchase of the Paignton property on behalf of the Order.