Keith was born in Lambeth, London in 1945. After attending secondary school in Tooting Bec, he went on to train as a teacher in Worcester. He started teaching in Warwickshire, before being promoted to schools in Nuneaton and then Liverpool. During this time he obtained degrees from Leicester and Liverpool, and was then appointed as head’ of Denbigh High School in Luton. Moving from Blundellsands on the edge of Liverpool in 1983, Keith moved to Harpenden where he still lives. In 1991 he was appointed as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools, a post from which he retired in February 2005. However, he has continued to inspect schools, and will be working about four days a month over the next two years.
In 1973 Keith was Initiated into his father’s Lodge, Radius No 5474, meeting at Freemasons’ Hall, London. His moves around the country resulted in membership of Athelstan Lodge No 1333 in Warwickshire and Skelmersdale Lodge No 1380 in West Lancashire, where he was Installed as Master in 1983. This Lodge handed in its warrant in October 2006. He joined Harpenden Lodge, where he was Secretary for ten years, before becoming Master in 2001. Keith is a member of Herts Masters’ Lodge, was Secretary of and then Master of the Provincial Grand Stewards’ Lodge and is Secretary of White Star Lodge. He was appointed a Provincial Grand Steward in 1995, was Provincial Grand Registrar in 1997, 1999 and 2000 and was Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary from 2001 to 2003. He received the rank of PAGDC in 2004. Although still working, Keith was able to assist in the Provincial Office over the seven years before being appointed Provincial Grand Secretary.
Joining Harpenden RA Chapter in 1984, Keith was MEZ in 1995; he was MEZ of the Provincial Grand Stewards’ Chapter in 2005. He received the rank of PPGSoj in 1999 and the rank of PAGDC in Supreme Grand Chapter in 2005. A member of Harpenden and White Stone Mark Lodges, he was Master of Harpenden Lodge in 1995 and Commander of Harpenden RAM in 1994. He was appointed ProvGSO in 1997, Provincial Charity Steward in 2001 and received PAGDC in 2004 and ProvRAMGR in 1999. Keith’s only other commitment is to the Rose Croix Chapter of St Alban, where he is DC.
Keith has a daughter of 30 who is a solicitor in London and a son of 28 working as an estate agent in St Albans. Although he enjoys occasional sojourns to the sun, cycling and gardening, Keith has no other hobbies other than Masonry, his time being taken up with family life with Jane, his wife, and their children.
“I believe I have been most fortunate to have been asked to be the Secretary of this great Province. We have been lucky to have such a dedicated band of volunteers, who give so much of their time to ensuring that the Secretariat functions effectively. Celia and Judith, the only paid members of the team are essential to our smooth running. The whole team in the office play a significant part in developing ideas and initiatives. There has been an increasing amount of delegation of responsibility, which gives personal satisfaction to those involved. I am excited at the initiatives and innovations that have taken place over the past three years. I realise there is much to do, and I am grateful for those Brethren who have made valuable suggestions to improve our efficiency.”
May 2007