More recently group members, supported by nine volunteers, have taken the opportunity to speak at a number of indoor venues. But, they can now reach a wider audience at outdoor events with a travelling promotional show underpinned by a £1,250 gift from the freemen’s charitable trust.
The money has been used to buy a gazebo, portable speaker, a table and chairs as well as promotional leaflets and posters. They will be used to drive home the message at selected local venues during the summer months, including car rallies, fairs, and trade shows
Les Cleckner, a leading member of the group, said: “Prostate cancer is almost becoming an epidemic with, in some cases, one in four men being affected. Our aim is, in the first instance, to prompt awareness of the statistics and urge men to seek early medical screening for a disease which claims lives. From our own experience we are also able to offer first-hand advice and answer questions about treatment options and what they involve.”
Recently the group recruited the backing of Brandon Parish Council, whose members agreed to meet the cost of installing a defibrillator at the group’s public house meeting place. Additionally, they have established links with Talking Prostate Cancer UK and the promise of support from former Tyne Tees TV newsreader Pam Royle.
Sixty-seven-year-old Les, a time served craftsman, was part of the maintenance team at the University Hospital of North Durham for 42 years before retiring in 2023. A year later Les, married with two sons and four grandchildren, was sworn in as a member of the freemen’s Joiners’ Company and was established in 1661.
Eric Bulmer, chairman of the charitable trust, said: “We are delighted to provide a grant to a group of such dedicated volunteers who provide such a valuable service within our community and beyond.
“It is also significant Les Cleckner, a fellow freemen at the forefront of establishing the group, is reinforcing the key role the city freemen’s craft companies have played in the life and development of the city since the Middle Ages.”
