I had known RW Bro Stanley Ward as a friend and client for some time and held regular Trustee Meetings with him over the years. At one such meeting in 1996, I mentioned to him that I had been invited to become a Freemason in London. He expressed no surprise other than to say that he would like to attend my initiation. Up to that point I hadn't known that he was "on the Square". As we parted he handed me a business card with his name and a number of unfathomable letters after it. He suggested that I hand it to the Worshipful Master at my interview.

Come the evening of my interview it was interesting but uneventful until I passed over Stan's card.

Shock and consternation followed. "We'll have to tell Grand Lodge" and "They will have to have someone there" and similar disconcerting comments. However, I appeared to be readily accepted as a candidate for initiation.

I subsequently asked the chap who had done all the talking at the meeting, the Lodge Secretary as it transpired, what the problem was. I was asked if I knew that Stan was a Mason. I said, not until very recently. He pointed to Stan's card and explained that the letters indicated that not only was he a Grand Officer but also District Grand Master of Gibraltar!

I did ask Stan later why he hadn't warned me. His laconic answer "Because you hadn't asked me".

My initiation passed in a flash of spectacular aprons and hand clapping.

Over the years Stan and I became close friends and I learnt that he also held high office in Oxfordshire Freemasonry.

He phoned me one day to say that he was involved in setting up a new Craft Lodge in Henley and would I like to be a Founder. Living only seven miles from Henley it sounded like a good idea. I subsequently attended all committee meetings leading up to the Consecration of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No 9697. It was at the last committee meeting, before the Consecration, that the Secretary broke the news that I couldn't be a Founder because I was one month short of the qualifying period of two years membership. I was however proposed and approved as a joining member at the Consecration and took office as Inner Guard at the first meeting of the Lodge.

It wasn't long before I received a tap on the shoulder with the suggestion that I should become a Mark Master Mason. Not too subtle enquiries revealed that many members of the Lodges in Henley who I knew and respected were Mark Master Masons. I readily joined Thames Lodge of Mark Master Masons and was advanced in 1999.

I was happily progressing through the Lodge and had reached the heady height of Junior Deacon when fate took a hand again. W Bro Ron Date was Worshipful Master and a close friend of Stan Ward. A phone call from Ron revealed that the Lodge was struggling to find a Secretary and that he and Stan had decided that I was a likely candidate. From JD to Lodge Secretary was not a step which had been in my plans but after several phone calls I succumbed to the siren voices.

After my appointment I was encouraged and amused to receive a call from a senior and respected member of the Lodge, W Bro Bob Elliott PGSD, "Remember" he said "Worshipful Masters come and go but the Secretary rules the Lodge". I’ve never had the courage to say that to a Master's face!

The Treasurer of Thames Mark at the time was W Bro Mike Whicker PGStB who lived close by and I used to give him a lift to meetings. The visits gradually extended throughout the Province as Mike became more senior in the Province.

Perhaps thanks to my popping up around the Province or because of the mirth which was caused by a left handed person seeking to get the signs right especially during the Risings, I came to know W Bro, now VW Bro, David Jesson PGJO, while the PGM, RW Bro Richard Slade was also a frequent visitor to Thames Mark.

Again the phone rang in 2007 with the verbal tap on the shoulder and I was appointed Provincial Grand Assistant Chaplain. During my year I was attending a meeting when David Jesson and Richard Slade bore down on me. It was ominous that that they stood on either side of me and between me and the door blocking a quick exit. Richard explained that the Province needed a new Deputy Secretary. In my innocence, although I knew that David did not enjoy the best of health, I expected a few years assisting him before returning to the back benches. It was not to be. A year later David announced that he felt it necessary to stand down the following year and I found myself appointed Provincial Grand Secretary.

I was flattered that Richard had taken a risk with me but disconcerted when he announced that he had decided to retire as PGM the following year!

Little did I realise that the appointment would last 7 years and involve three Provincial Grand Masters. During that time I had the privilege to meet and to be mentored in the early days by W Bro, now VW Bro John Holtom PGMO, then Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. Not only is John a mine of information but also excellent company and I shared many happy visits to Lodges and other Provinces with him. One of the most daunting tasks for a Provincial Grand Secretary is to organise Provincial Annual Meetings and even more so the Installation of a new Provincial Grand Master. John's knowledge and good humour made the tasks less daunting and in fact very enjoyable.

After serving three Provincial Grand Masters, I felt that it was time for new blood and stood down in 2018.

Happily, that tap on the should came again in 2019 and another chapter opened.

To answer the question posed at the beginning of this piece. I definitely think that my Masonic career has been blessed by being in the right place at the right time, assisted by a great number of friends whose true value I did not always recognise at the time. I have never regretted my decision to become a Mark Master Mason, a Degree which has brought me great enjoyment and led me to make many friends, not only in the Province but throughout the country.