Masonic History

Alan, (his preferred name) was initiated into Old Portmuthian Lodge No. 8285 on 17^th September 1973 at the age of 27. His proposer was W. Bro. Lawrence Guyer. He was installed as Worshipful Master in 1982 and subsequently held the office of Director of Ceremonies for a number of years.

In 1988 he was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward, and became a joining member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge in the same year. He was among the first batch of Provincial Grand Stewards to become a joining member, following the consecration of the lodge in 1987. He was installed as Worshipful Master in 1992 by the then Provincial Grand Master, the late R.W. Bro. Alan Chun.

In 1990 he was appointed to the rank of Provincial Junior Grand Warden by the then Provincial Grand Master the late R.W. Bro. James E. Bullen. The Provincial Senior Grand Warden that year was R.W. Bro. Mike Wilks.

In 1999 he became a joining member of Thomas Dunckerley Lodge No.9514 and Twelve Brothers Lodge No.785 but took his clearance from the latter in 2014.

He was elected as an honorary member of Absit Invidia Lodge No.6751 in 2004 having served the lodge as Visiting Grand Officer for seven years.

From 1993 to 2000 he served as Group Representative for the 27 lodges meeting in the Portsmouth Area.

He served as Provincial Grand Registrar from 1996 to 1999 and was only the second working registrar to receive the appointment.

In 1994 he was honoured to be appointed to the acting Grand Rank of Assistant Grand Registrar. He was promoted to the rank of Past Junior Grand Deacon in 2005, and was further promoted to the rank of Past Deputy Grand Sword Bearer in 2012. In 2016 he became a Very Worshipful brother when he was promoted to the rank Past Grand Sword Bearer.

He was exalted into Landport Chapter No.1776 on 10^th March 1983 and installed as Most Excellent Zerubbabel in 1989.

In 1993 he became a founder of Old Portmuthian Chapter No.8285 and was installed as the primus Most Excellent Zerubbabel.

In 1996 he became a founder of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Stewards Chapter No.9263 and was installed as Most Excellent Zerubbabel in 1998.

Having been first appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward, he was promoted to the rank of Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 1996.

In 1998 he was installed as Third Provincial Grand Principal by the then Grand Superintendent, the late E. Comp. Reverend Doctor Michael Morgan. and held the office for two consecutive years.

In 2000 he was honoured with the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Sojourner in 2008.

In 2002 he was installed as Second Provincial Grand Principal by his immediate predecessor, E. Comp. Doctor Roger Jago and held that office for 9 years until 2011, when he was  installed as  Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight by the then Second Grand Principal, E. Comp. George Pipon Francis. The Grand Scribe Nehemiah who signed his Patent of Office was E. Comp. Brian Bellinger who not only served the Craft Province as Provincial Grand Master for seven years, but was also Alan’s seconder in Freemasonry and who conducted him around the lodge as Junior Deacon at his initiation.

In 2013 he was invited to become a joining member of Bard of Avon Chapter No. 778 in the Province of Middlesex, and was installed as Most Excellent Zerubabbel on 2015.

he is also a subscribing member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight First Principals Chapter No.5990 and Chapter of Rectitude No.335 in the Province of Wiltshire.

MARK

On 7^th December 1987 he was advanced in Phoenix Lodge of Mark Masters No.2 (acknowledged by Mark Grand Lodge as the oldest Mark Lodge in the world) and installed as Worshipful Master in 1994, by dispensation as he was already the Worshipful Master of another Mark Lodge in the Province.

He was a founder of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge No.1796 and was installed as Worshipful Master in 1994.

In 1995 he was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward, and in 1996 was promoted to the acting rank of Provincial Grand Junior Warden.

He was honoured with the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and in 2013 was subsequently promoted to the acting rank of Senior Grand Deacon. In 2019 he became a Very Worshipful brother when, unexpectedly, he received a field promotion to the rank of Past Grand Junior Overseer. It was conferred by the Pro. Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Raymond Smith, at the celebratory meeting to mark the 250^th anniversary of Phoenix Lodge of Mark Masters No.2 at Portsmouth Guildhall.

He is also a subscribing member of Mercury Lodge of Mark Master Masons No.777.

RAM

He was elevated into Phoenix Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No.2 on 4^th November 1996.and was installed as Worshipful Commander in 2006.

He was a founder of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No.1796 and was installed as Worshipful Commander in 2002.

He was honoured with Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank and in 2010  became a holder of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank.

He is also a subscribing member of Mercury Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No.777.

So far as he is aware he is currently the only Mason in the Province who has had the privilege and pleasure of passing through the chairs of the  Provincial Grand Stewards Craft Lodge, Chapter, Mark Lodge and Royal Ark Mariners Lodge.