The Middlesex Outreach Team made its first visit to Elmsleigh Shopping Centre, located in the heart of Staines-upon-Thames, over the weekend of 7–8 February 2026. The event marked another positive step in raising awareness of Middlesex Freemasonry within the local community.
This successful initiative was instigated and coordinated by Jan Poliszewski, who liaised closely with the centre. With the valued support of Laurence Knight, Alan Ocock and Alan Porter, the team ensured the smooth set-up and dismantling of the gazebo across both days. Activities ran from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday.
Leadership for the weekend was provided by John Leggett on Saturday and Jim Owens on Sunday. They were supported by a dedicated team including Jan Poliszewski, Laurence Knight, Nick Curry, Mitch Seedwell, Alan Ocock, Keith Gardene and Alan Porter.
Positioned prominently in the centre, the gazebo attracted a steady flow of visitors throughout the weekend. Although the mild weather encouraged good footfall in the shopping centre, the indoor location ensured consistent engagement regardless of conditions. In addition, large media screens across the venue promoted “Discover Freemasonry” and directed visitors to the stand.
The response from the public was highly encouraging. Many individuals stopped to speak with team members, keen to learn more about Freemasonry. A number of visitors made use of QR codes to access further information, while several expressed a strong interest in joining and completed Expressions of Interest.
Overall, the weekend proved both enjoyable and productive. The team made meaningful connections within the community and looks forward to returning to Elmsleigh Shopping Centre later in the year to build on this success.
