Today Northumberland Freemasons congratulate E.Comps Philippe Pages, Alasdair Watson and Gordon Craigs on their well-deserved appointments to Grand Rank within the Royal Arch Chapter.
E,Comp Philippe Pages joined the Royal Arch Chapter in 1995 when he was Exalted into Ridley Royal Arch Chapter No.2260, which meets at Fern Avenue Masonic Hall. He joined Carville Royal Arch Chapter No.2497, which meets at Maple Terrace Masonic Hall, in 2008 and occupied the Chair of Z in 2005 and 2022. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter in 2010 being appointed to the rank of Provincial Grand Standard Bearer, receiving subsequent promotions to Past Provincial Grand Sojourner in 2017, Provincial Assistant Scribe Ezra in 2021 and Provincial Second Grand Principal in 2022. He is a member of the Chapter Working Group and has been acknowledged in Supreme Grand Chapter with appointment to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer.
He was initiated into Freemasonry in 1986 when he joined Hotspur Lodge No.1626, which also meets at Fern Avenue Masonic Hall, and became a joining member of Northumbrian Masters Lodge and David Kenneth Williamson Lodge in 2017. He currently occupies the office of Secretary for Hotspur Lodge, an office he has held since 2000. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge when he was appointed to the rank of Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2002, receiving subsequent promotions to Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works in 2008, Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2011 and Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary in 2021. He received appointment to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, in Grand Lodge, in 2015.
E.Comp Alasdair Watson joined the Royal Arch Chapter in January 1995 when he was Exalted into Northumberland Lodge No.685, which also meets at Fern Avenue Masonic Hall, joining Northumbrian First Principals’ Royal Arch Chapter No.3477, in 2017. He occupied the chair of Z in 2004 and is the current Scribe Ezra, an office he has held since 2017. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter when he was appointed to the rank of Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in 2009, receiving subsequent promotion in 2016 to Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals. He has been acknowledged in Supreme Grand Chapter with appointment to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer.
He was initiated into Freemasonry in Tynemouth Abbey Lodge No.2971 in September 1978, becoming a joining member of Reserve Forces of Northumbria Lodge No.2666 in 1991, Northumbrian Masters Lodge in 2013 and Victoria Rifles Lodge No.822 in 2015. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge when he was appointed in 2008 to the office of Provincial Assistant Grand Chaplain, receiving subsequent promotions to Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2015 and Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 2019. He was acknowledged in United Grand Lodge when he was appointed to Past Junior Grand Warden in 2019, receiving subsequent promotion in 2021 to Past Senior Grand Warden.
E.Comp Gordon Craigs joined the Royal Arch Chapter in October 1981, when he was exalted into St Cuthbert Royal Arch Chapter No.1902, which meets at Bedlington Masonic Hall. He occupied the Chair of Z in 1996 and was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter in 2001, when he was appointed to the rank of Provincial Grand Registrar, receiving subsequent promotion to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehmiah in 2007, and Deputy Grand Superintendent in 2022. He leads the Chapter Working Group and was appointed in Supreme Grand Chapter, in 2014, to Past Grand Standard Bearer and has been promoted to Past Grand Sword Bearer.
He was initiated into Freemasonry into Lodge Palatine No.5345, in April 1979, and became a joining member of Portland Lodge No.6170, which meets at Ashington Masonic Hall, in 2021. He has been Master of both Lodges in 1988 and 2022 and has worked between occupying either Secretary or Treasurers office since 1998 in Lodge Palatine. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge, in 1997, when he was appointed to Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon, receiving subsequent promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2004 and Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 2020. He received appointment in Grand Rank in 2009 to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, receiving subsequent promotion to Past Senior Grand Deacon in 2021.
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