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P h i l i p Lo v e l o c k - A R o l e M od e l t o U s A l l
Philip Lovelock - A Role Model to Us All
t the Grand Officers’ Mess on 24th May 2022 at Upminster
AMasonic Hall the Provincial Grand Master (PGM), Paul
Tarrant, announced that Philip Lovelock will be promoted and
invested as Assistant Provincial Grand Masters (APGMs) at
the Installation Meeting of Essex Masters on Thursday 29th
September 2022.
At the Annual Meeting in March 2022, when Philip was invested as the
ProvSGW, he was given a special mention by the PGM who thanked him
for his hard work over the last five years as the Provincial Grand Secretary
(ProvGSec). It was the late Rodney Bass who first asked Philip to be the
Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary (ProvDepGSec) in 2016 and ProvGSec
in 2017 in order to restructure the Provincial Office, which Philip did with
Paul Reeves. They made a big step forward with computerisation, vastly
improving the administration processes with less paperwork and easier
access to much more information. Philip explained “Over the last decade
Freemasonry has become much more open. With more on the web, one
of the biggest challenges is to make sure we keep the enjoyment we
get from our meetings and not get tied down with too much information. Change is inevitable. More recently we have seen the
minimum age lowered to 18 years to encourage a younger membership, Freemasonry for women is becoming more mainstream so
there could be challenges ahead and our festive boards are becoming more relaxed occasions whilst maintaining the formality we
all enjoy.”
Learning about Freemasonry from his father, who was a Freemason but who did not go through the Chair, Philip was Initiated
in 1981 into the Lodge of Good Fellowship No. 276 at Chelmsford Masonic Hall. Being the Worshipful Master in 1989 for the
Bicentenary of the Lodge was a career highlight and one which Philip is very proud of. Another very nice highlight was to Initiate
his own son into Freemasonry.
First promoted to Provincial Grand Steward (ProvGStwd) in 1990, Philip progressed steadily to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden (PPJGW)
in 2004 and to Grand Rank in 2014 as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies (PAGDC). Good mentoring helped every step of the way.
Two Brethren have made a big impact on Philip, one is the late Ron Knott, “who was always there”, and the other is Alf Mitchell. Likewise,
there are two key ‘words of wisdom’ Philip himself will happily give to new initiates: “Ask your Mentor to explain anything you do not
understand and make a daily advancement by learning a few lines every day.”
Philip regards being a good communicator as one of his strengths
and is a good listener both in person and on the phone. In his role
148 Chingford Road, Walthamstow as an APGM, he is keen to help turn the fortunes around of some
London E17 4PL lodges with falling memberships by encouraging them to get in touch
Fax: 020 8527 2229 with past Brethren. Also, there are over 300 lodge secretaries with
derek@clothingdis.co.uk
www.clothingdiscountstore.co.uk whom Philip corresponded with as ProvGSec, so he is now looking
forward to meeting many for the first time and renewing friendships
with those he has met.
BLACK JACKET & W/COAT
£149.50
Wool mix £129.00 inc. VAT Getting together at Christmas as a family with their son and daughter
is a tradition valued by Philip but it does not always happen, so
36” – 46” chest another favourite way of spending time together as a family is having
Extra for sizes up to 60” chest a BBQ in the garden. As well as Freemasonry, gardening is Philip’s
other main hobby. On his odd days off, or very rarely an odd week,
he is found outside in the garden especially during spring and
summer which are his favourite seasons of the year.
STRIPE TROUSERS Wool mix Enjoying the eternal spring and warmer weather of the Canary
£59.50
28” – 38” waist £49.00 inc. VAT Islands, Philip and his wife, Lorna, try to arrange three or four visits
Extra for sizes up to 60” waist a year to Gran Canaria where they know a number of the locals and
are made welcome. About six years ago they went to the Dominican
Republic where the hotel waiters were convinced Philip was the
famous Canadian actor, Donald Sutherland.
TAIL COATS £170.00 inc. VAT Two famous people in history Philip would like to have dinner with
£185.00
ALL WOOL 36” – 46” Chest are Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein. “Winston, to learn how he
Extra for sizes up to 60” chest got through the war and Einstein because he was a very great man
whose inventions helped humanity.” Isambard Kingdom Brunel, with
his designs which changed the lives of so many in the Victorian Age,
is someone Philip would like to travel back in time to meet to see
Also – Dinner Suits – Overcoats how the famous engineer built his bridges, steam railways, tunnels
Raincoats – Suits – Shirts – Etc. and ships.
KINGSIZES our speciality After 16 years of volunteering, Philip is the President of the Masonic
Next day delivery or visit our showroom by prior Housing Association’s Hamilton Court House Committee and Lorna
Next day delivery or visit our new showroom
is the Housing Secretary, a role she could never have foreseen
appointment
by prior appointment when she first met Philip 41 years ago, in the same year he joined
Freemasonry. With a strong desire to remain together in the family
Telephone: 020 8527 4249 home, a deep sense of caring for people, the environment and
living the ‘Values we value’ as Freemasons, Philip Lovelock is ‘A Role
Model to Us All’.
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