Page 9 - Essex Mason (Issue 92)

Provincial

A Grand Display of Family Values

There was a grand display of family values at the
Installation Meeting on 5th November 2021 at Frinton
and Walton Masonic Hall with the Investiture of Robert
John William Eels (Rob) as an Assistant Provincial
Grand Master (APGM) by Paul Tarrant, the Provincial
Grand Master for Essex.
Very happily married for 33 years to Sarah, and with two
children Sophie and Will, Rob is first and foremost a family
man. The 124 Brethren who attended saw Rob’s son, Will;
father Harry and Sarah’s father Rob Humphrey, all take part
in the ceremony. From being Initiated into Ostrea Lodge
in 1991, Rob rose to become Assistant Grand Director
of Ceremonies (AGDC) in 2012 and on one memorable
occasion he escorted the Pro Grand Master, Peter Lowndes,
to a parliamentary lodge and was DC for him.

Since joining Freemasonry 30 years ago, Rob has a clear understanding of the impact
on lifestyles caused by economic, social and technological changes affecting working
conditions, job security and the pressures of life. As such he is a befitting Pathway Lead
for the Province and will apply the poignant advice which has helped him through life:
‘You reap what you sow’.
Those who know Rob have found honesty and fairness as two of his key attributes but
he is also a ‘driver’ and prepared to go the extra mile to complete the course, as he
has done as a competitor in the famous Mille Miglia from Brescia to Rome and back
for five years running. In 1955 Stirling Moss beat Juan Manuel Fangio in this legendary
race of 1,000 miles.

Rob is keen to successfully steer the Members’ Pathway forward with Ray Quiddington,
the Provincial Grand Membership Officer, and his team to help lodges plan, gain new
members, engage with existing brethren and encourage back inactive Freemasons.
Rob added “I have seen first-hand the benefit to my Mother Lodge of being part of
the University Scheme and the enrichment young members have afforded membership
and fellowship within”.
With much praise for the work of Almoners. Rob is a believer in the motto ‘Audi, Vide,
Tace’ (listen, observe and be quiet) which first appeared in the Freemasons’ Calendar in
1777 and he is pleased to see more involvement by Almoners especially in encouraging
those brethren who simply want to come for the mindfulness of listening, observing
and being quiet at Lodge Meetings.

In Rob’s Masonic career the Brother who has had the biggest impact is John Robertson,
his Mentor from when he joined Freemasonry. “I emulated lots of the good things John
did” said Rob “and I also learned from Terry Nicholson for always being straight to
the point as a DC”. With lots more to do for our ‘Masonic Family’, Rob Eels is looking
forward to meeting many more Brethren during his formal visits to Lodges as APGM
and at the upcoming Pathway events being held across the Province.

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