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Quarterly Communication
Peter Lowndes has held the position of Pro Grand Master for more than 13 years
Golden opportunities
As he approaches retirement, Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes refl ects on an extraordinary 50 years of Freemasonry in his June address
PORTRAIT JOONEY WOODWARD B rethren, I can’t tell you what a privilege it has been to be a member of this wonderful institution for 50 years, let alone serving as Pro Grand Master for more than 13 years. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for when accepting the appointment of Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies (GDC) back in 1983, but, if I had done, I wouldn’t have changed a single thing. When I was appointed GDC in 1995, I thought that was the pinnacle of my Masonic career – and I would still say that it is the best job there is, as everyone has to do what you tell them.
When I retired as GDC in 2002, I expected a nice quiet role on the back benches, and had no idea that Lord Northampton was intending for me to take over from Iain Bryce as Deputy Grand Master. I was even more fl abbergasted when he asked me (told me, actually) to take over from him, not least because I had no idea he was intending to step down himself.
The past 13 years have been a marvellous experience, and I could not have hoped for everyone to be so kind, generous and supportive wherever I have visited. During my time in various offi ces, I have been to every Province and genuinely couldn’t say which one I enjoyed the most. They have all been wonderful and I can’t thank the Provincial Grand Masters and Grand Superintendents enough for their support and courtesy. I don’t need to know what they said behind my back.
I have also been to 21 of our 32 Districts, as well as two of our four Inspectorates, and have been so impressed by the pride they all show in being part of UGLE. They all have competition from other Constitutions, mainly Ireland and Scotland, but also in a few other places, such as the Netherlands.
Many also have Grand Lodges of the country in which they reside, often formed by us or other Home Grand Lodges. I like to think that in recent times our relationship with those Grand Lodges has been very cordial, for example the Grand Lodge of India.
My main job is to represent the Grand Master when he is unable to be present and that includes visiting Grand Lodges overseas. It has been fascinating to carry out these visits and see the diff erent ways they perform their ceremonies, and to see the various diff erent regalias that are in use. I believe I have been to more than 20 other Grand Lodges. Many visit us on a regular basis and I like to think that I have made many friends around the world and, most particularly, in Europe.
Brethren, I hope we are all hugely proud of our record of charitable giving, which has always been in our DNA. Whether it is fi nancial assistance or voluntary work matters not, we are just good at it.
However, the highlight of my time as Pro Grand Master was clearly the tercentenary year, when our Provinces and Districts got up to some wonderful antics for the purpose of raising charitable funds and also found imaginative and important ways to donate those funds.
It all, of course, culminated at the extravaganza at the Royal Albert Hall. Afterwards, I received many messages of congratulations for the excellence of the event. I took them all in my stride and most certainly did not admit to having done precisely nothing myself – to the extent of not even knowing, until it started, what on earth was going to happen. My lack of such knowledge made the event even better. It was truly memorable and is still talked about. How lucky we are to have such talented brethren capable of putting on such a show.
Throughout my time in offi ce, I have enjoyed incredible support from so many. I have had the same Deputy Grand Master throughout and could never have asked for better (I have to say that as he will soon become my boss!). David Williamson and Sir David Wootton, meanwhile, have been wonderful Assistants. The Board and its Presidents and the Secretariat have all played such an important part in making my life easy, but I am going to be slightly indulgent and single out Graham Redman who, over the 27 years since I became GDC, has always been the person I relied on to tell me if I was about to make a howler. He did, of course, revel in doing so and I suspect has saved me from many calamities.
Brethren, I shall fi nish by simply saying thank you to all for your support and for putting up with my rather quirky sense of humour for so long.
A celebration of the tercentenary at the Royal Albert Hall in 2017
