Grand Rank Appointments & Promotions 2021

A message of Congratulations from The Provincial Grand Master 

​My most hearty congratulations to the Brethren receiving such wonderful preferment from the Most Worshipful Grand Master in Grand Lodge.  

Normally there would be a great celebration at the Annual Investiture in London followed by a formal acknowledgement with acclamation at our own Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting at Harrogate. Alas!  Things are anything but "normal" however, that takes nothing away from your achievement.  ​
Wear your regalia with pride, not only to reflect your great contribution of service to the Royal Art but also in anticipation of the even greater service of example and precept that is now expected from all Grand Officers. 

When normality returns, as it will, it will be my intention to hold a magnificent local celebration with yourselves as the focus of our congratulations. 

Well Done! Worthy Masons All!​

---

FIRST APPOINTMENTS (CRAFT)

---

Michael John Holmes,​ PAGDC

Initiated into Mawsis Lodge No 4644 in April 1987 and raised in February the following year.

Exalted into The Chapter of Judea No 265 in October 1999.
Progressed through the offices to be installed as Master in September 1997. And again in 2013.

Became Charity Steward in 2007 and had several terms as Director of Ceremonies including from 2016 to the present day.

First Provincial appointment in 2004 was an acting office as Provincial Grand Steward with promotions to PProvSGD in 2005, PPGReg in 2009.

In 2014 was promoted in the field to PProvJGW.

Joined Area 3 Charity team in 2007 as a PCA , appointed Area 3 Chairman in 2014  and in 2018 was appointed Prov GChStwd.

A metallurgist by profession but now retired after spending the majority of my working life in sales and marketing.

Married to Chris his wife of 51 years with two sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter.

---

Steven Michael Sheard,​ PAGDC

Initiated in Perseverance Lodge 3917 in Pudsey September 2001

Joined Goderich 1211 in 2003 and was WM in 2007 and currently DC, Mentor and LMO, also a member of Leeds and District Lodge of Installed Masters 7918.

Appointed to the Acting Provincial Ranks of Assistant Grand DC (3Years),Provincial Junior Grand Warden and then Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden and one of the highlights as the Acting JW was assisting the RW ProvGM  and his team in Consecrating a new Lodge.

In Royal Arch he joined St Laurence Chapter in 2004 and has been 1st Principal, a member of Goderich Chapter in 2011 and now has the Provincial Rank of  PProvGSojourner.

Part of an Acoustic Band which has performed dozens of times for various Masonic functions, including Ladies nights, Christmas parties, Sunday Lunches and afternoon teas etc. giving 25% of the fee back to the Lodges for their chosen Charities.

Has served on the Castle Grove Masonic Hall Company Ltd Board as a Director for the last 13 years.
​
When not working within the Building Industry  spends most of his free time with his young Grandchildren who live very close by, ‘we are a small Family but very close.’ ‘I enjoy life to the full, live for my Family and Freemasonry, what more could a man want?!!’ ​

---

Malcolm Keith Whiteley,​ PAGDC

Employed by West Yorkshire Police from 1977 to 2017 both as an Officer and a member of Support Staff.

The son of a Mason and his father joining the year he was born so, literally, has grown up with Freemasonry. Initiated into Studley Lodge 6364 (which is in the beautiful valley of the river Calder) in 1986 and was Master in 1999 and again in 2014. A member of the West Riding Acting Officers Lodge No. 9645 and a Founder of Garforth Lodge No 9987. Exalted into Chantry Chapter No 4065 in 1992 and has been 1st Principal there on two occasions also.

In Craft was appointed PPSGD in 2006 and promoted to PPJGW in 2011 and then PPSGW in 2017.  In 2019  was the Acting Senior Warden ‘which was a great privilege and great fun’. Was involved previously as Deputy and Asst Secretary and appointed to his current role as Provincial Secretary in Oct last year. In Chapter was appointed Acting Dep Provincial Swd Bearer in 2009 and promoted PPGSN in 2014 then appointed Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra in November last year.
​
His 2 daughters have left the family home to have their own families (7 Grandchildren) and he now lives with his wife, Larraine and Scottish Terrier, Lexie. ‘I spend too much time with my dog and my laptop and nowhere near enough time with my wife.’

---

John Edward Vause,​ PGStB

Initiated as a 21 year old Lewis in Harrogate and Claro Lodge 1001 in 1981 and Master in 1990.

Lodge Director of Ceremonies for six years.

First Provincial appointment was PPAGReg, then Acting ADC for two years and Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies for three years. Promoted to PPJGW in 2005, he has taken part in or assisted with the Provincial AGM in Harrogate every year since 1999.

Exalted in to the Royal Arch in Harrogate and Claro Chapter 1001 in 1991 and First Principal in 2004. Director of Ceremonies for four years. First Provincial appointment was PPGSoj then promoted to the rank of PPGSN.

In Mark Masonry he was advanced into Haywra Mark Lodge 1983 and Master in 1988. After several acting Provincial Offices became Provincial Director of Ceremonies in 2014 holding that Office for six years. In 2015 he had the very high honour of been promoted to Acting Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies for three years which involved working in The Grand Temple and escorting the Grand Rulers all around this country and across Europe.

In 2020 was promoted in Grand Lodge to the rank of Past Grand Junior Overseer which holds the title of V.W. Brother.
​
Is the holder of Grand Rank in the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner and a member of Knights Templar.

---

PROMOTIONS (CRAFT)

---

Anthony Michael Dyson,​ PSGD

A retired Policeman, married with two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Initiated into the Albert Edward Lodge No1783 in 1982, a founder of the Rugby Football Lodge No 9811 and also a member of the West Riding Acting Officers Lodge No 9645.

He has served as WM 5 times in total.

Appointed Acting Standard Bearer in 1998 then PPJGW in 2003 and later the same year to PPSGW. Provincial Office Manager from 2007 until 2018.

Appointed Provincial Grand Secretary until October 2020 when he was promoted to Assistant PGM with responsibility for Area 1.
​
First appointed to PAGDC in 2019

---

Alan Hurdley,​ PJGD

Initiated into the Vale of Nidd Lodge in June 1975 a Lewis whose father was the Junior Deacon at that time.

A Past Master of St Laurence, Horsford Lodge, Prince of Wales Lodge and a member of St John’s Dewsbury also a founder of the Rugby Football Lodge and the Primus Master of Garforth Lodge and a member of the Old Bridlingtonian Lodge in the North & East Riding.

On the international front under the Grand Lodge of Portugal (Legal) an active member of the Britannic Lodge of Madeira No 134.

First appointment within the Province to Past Provincial Senior Deacon, then promotions to Provincial Grand Sword Bearer, Past Provincial Junior then Senior Grand Warden.

Assisted the Province by being part and then lead of the Education and Development Team and the Assistant to APGM Roger Newhouse.

An active member of the Royal Arch in this and our sister Province, being the founding Director of Ceremonies of the Universities Chapter of Yorkshire and a member of Salebeia Chapter that meet in Selby.

Was appointed an Officer of the United Grand Lodge and Supreme Grand Chapter with an acting Rank of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremony (Craft) and Grand Standard Bearer (RA) and had the pleasure of escorting the Grand Rulers on several occasions.
​
Hobbies include Rugby Union and a former Liaison Officer with the Rugby Football Union, married to Christine with a Son Andrew who is a Provincial Officer in this Province and in London holds Senior London Grand Rank.

---

REAPPOINTMENTS

---

Sir David Hugh Wootton,​ Assistant Grand Master

Sir David Wootton was born in 1950 and educated at Bradford Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He became a Founder of Bradfordians Lodge No 9886 in 2013 and is a member or Honorary member of many other Lodges.

​He became a partner in an international law firm in 1979 specialising in corporate transactions and best-practice compliance with law and regulation in corporate governance.

Having a strong interest in the governance of the City of London, he was elected to Common Council in 2002 as Member for the Ward of Farringdon Within, and subsequently elected as Alderman for the Ward of Langbourn in 2005.
Sir David served as Lord Mayor of London for 2011-12.

​He served as Metropolitan Senior Grand Warden in 2007, and was promoted to Past Grand Sword Bearer in 2012, before his appointment as Assistant Grand Master on 12 March 2014.

---

His Honour Paul Frederick Worsley, QC  SGD

Brother Paul Worsley was called to the Bar in 1970 and took Silk in 1990.
He retired from the Bench at the Old Bailey in 2017 after sitting there for ten years.

In retirement he has sat in the Cayman Islands and in the cooler Courts at York and Durham.

He is married, has six grandchildren, writes crime fiction and collects silver.

He was initiated into Northern Bar Lodge No 1610 in 1972.

He joined Zetland Lodge No 1311 in 1974.

He went through the Chair of both Lodges in 1982.

He is a member of Lodge of Antiquity No 2 and is going up the ladder again.
​
He has been LGR in London and PPADC in Yorkshire WR.

---

Dr Jonathan David Lippiat  AGDC

Jonathan was initiated in 2002 in Old Wycombiensian Lodge No. 6754 (Buckinghamshire), and was installed as Master of that Lodge in 2007 and 2010.

He was Exalted in 2004 in Apollo University Chapter No. 357 (Oxfordshire) and installed as First Principal in 2010.

Jonathan has been based in Yorkshire since 2004 when he commenced an academic position at the University of Leeds, involving teaching and research in the Biomedical Sciences.

He joined Wakefield Lodge No. 495 in 2012, was appointed PPSGD in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding in 2019, and was a Founding Officer of Universities Chapter, Yorkshire No. 4047 at its Consecration in 2015.

However, much of Jonathan’s recent Masonic activity has been in the Ancient and Accepted Rite (Rose Croix), in which he was appointed to the office of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies 31st in 2016 and Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies 32nd from 2018 to 2020.

​He was appointed to the UGLE Universities Scheme committee in 2019 and represents the five Provinces that form Regional Communications Group 1.

---