Our Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Robin David Lillie and our Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Brian Denton have announced their retirement from their respective offices.
The Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Ian Craigs, wrote to all Lodge Secretaries with an update on the changes to our Executive team.
“I have some very important and pleasurable announcements that I want to share with you but before I do that I want to extend my sincere thanks and genuine tributes to two very dear and senior colleagues in our Province.
V. W. Bro Robin David Lillie, Deputy PGM, my friend and dedicated servant to Freemasonry in Northumberland has informed me that he would like to step down from that post.
I have shared a very enjoyable Masonic journey with V. W. Bro David. He was our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies before he was promoted to an Assistant PGM in 2012 and I had no hesitation in appointing him as my Deputy when I was Installed as PGM in 2014.
In 2015, I asked V. W. Bro David to take responsibility for the running of our Festival 2020 contribution targets and I am sure that everyone will agree that he has proved to be a wonderful success.
I do not want to lose V. W. Bro David’s enthusiasm for our Festival commitments, and I have asked him to continue his work in ensuring that the brethren receive Festival Jewels in recognition of their own contributions. You will guess that he readily agreed to that request.
W. Bro Brian Walter Denton, Assistant PGM, has also informed me that he too wishes to step down from his post.
Brian has likewise been a wonderful servant to Freemasonry in Northumberland; as a hardworking member of the Provincial Support Team and as the Leader of the very popular Demonstration Team. I appointed W. Bro Brian as one of my Assistant PGM’s in 2014 and I could not have asked for a more dedicated and loyal member of my Senior Team.
In 2018, UGLE announced that it was going to introduce ‘Solomon’ and informed all PGM’s that it was essential that the benefits of Solomon be brought to the attention of the brethren. I asked W. Bro Brian to take responsibility for delivering ‘Solomon’ to the Lodges in our Province and he has done so with determination and enthusiasm.
I feel sure that you will want to join me in saying a massive thank you to V W Bro David and W. Bro Brian for the wonderful and dedicated service that they have given to our Province over many years. Sadly, current circumstances mean that we cannot publicly show our appreciation of that service, but I am sure that we will have an opportunity to do so at some time in the future.
Going forward I am delighted to inform you that I have Appointed WBro Kevin Peter Stannard as my new Deputy PGM. WBro Kevin has been a wonderful servant to our Province as an Assistant PGM and I know that he is thoroughly looking forward to his new responsibilities
I have appointed W. Bro Gordon Craigs as an Assistant PGM.
WBro Gordon is the Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Master Masons and Royal Ark Mariners here in Northumberland and has recently announced that Mark Masons Hall has accepted his request to step down from that position in September 2020.
I know that WBro Gordon has been much loved by the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Brethren in Northumberland and is held in very high regard both in this and many other Provinces.
When I heard that news of that pending retirement, I felt that I just could not let WBro Gordon’s enthusiasm and experience go. When I approached him, to ask if he would agree to be one of our Assistant Provincial Grand Master’s, I would have well understood if he was unable to accept but that wasn’t the case and I am so thrilled that he has agreed to bring his considerable skills to our Provincial Team
I have appointed WBro George Joseph Sanger as an Assistant PGM.
Communications is such an important part of our way forward and the future of our organisation. W. Bro George has considerable skills in that field and currently heads our Provincial Communication Team.
There is still a great deal of work to do and I am delighted that W. Bro George has agreed to bring his skills and expertise to the role of Assistant PGM
Their Appointments become effective on 1st August 2020
Brethren, as we emerge from the difficulties of Coronavirus, we face a number of challenges. Confidence will take time to recover and steps will understandably be slow and cautious, but that confidence will return, and I am confident that we have a Senior Team to successfully lead our Province in the months and years ahead.
RW Bro Ian Craigs, Provincial Grand Master