Here at the Provincial Communications Team we regularly get submissions for news to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter. When we’d opened the folder marked ‘Peter Knell’ we were met with an array of cut outs from the press. Articles of a man appearing next to everybody from Tony Blackburn, the Chief Rabbi, HRH The Prince of Wales and many others. It was clear here was a man with a story to tell, and one that is committed to benefiting others.
‘I joined Freemasonry 41 years ago’ Peter recounted, ‘whilst living at home I’d occasionally see my uncle Jack float around in this long coat’ It was his aunt, who back in the day explained that Jack belonged to something called Freemasonry. The coat his uncle sported was in fact regalia associated with the Knights Templar (KT). As far as his professional career, Peter Knell of Potters Bar Lodge, was a successful businessman in the rag trade. ‘My mum used to teach me the basics as she was a seamstress back in the day, so things just grew from there really.’ It was a tough old game and he made the point of mentioning, ‘you’re only as good as your last order!’ Joining Freemasonry came as a result of a Brother he had known within his trade, and on the day of his initiation he’d actually smacked his head at work and was suffering with concussion. Nonetheless he fulfilled his commitment and went off to his initiation, and has enjoyed his masonry ever since.
In amongst a varied masonic career it seemed to me the skills of Director of Ceremonies (DC) and Almoner were clearly transferable attributes that enabled Peter to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity. Most of the fundraising was directed towards Macmillan Cancer Care. ‘At the age of 17 my brother passed away, and for my family we’d literally had to watch him over 10 years slowly ebb away.’ Caring was very much at the top of the list for the family. His mother had to work during the day, and his father had to take a job in the night time too. ‘You see back then there was no help, we were all literally mucking in and I remember having to take time off school to care for my brother.’
Needless to say other family members too succumbed to cancer and so when it came to deciding what to support as a charity when Peter became Mayor of Hertsmere in 2011, this was a no-brainer for him. ‘I had a great mayoral committee during my year chaired by councillor Martin Worster of 5 Orders Lodge London, who arranged for the Antiques Roadshow to do the valuations for an event run at the Potters Bar Golf Club’. Peter recalled how the stars of the show got really involved and took part in the valuations. This was one of many events that were extremely successful, and he was keen to emphasise how Martin Worster and the team were very helpful in the fundraising during his mayoral year.
Peter’s influence in bringing people together to achieve his ambitions inspired other partners to get on board. Having already raised in excess of a staggering £30k, his partnership with Barclays and the Potters Bar Golf Club at the time saw a further £21k raised by them continuing to host an annual golf day for the following 3 years. The Peace Hospice in Watford also benefited from some of the funding too.
As he spoke of who’d he’d had the pleasure of meeting along the way I could easily visualise him as fitting the bill from Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem, someone who is able to walk with Kings nor lose the common touch. Anyone and everyone, from the cast of Eastenders to HRH The Prince of Wales he’d have no hesitancy it appeared. As a county councillor Peter was asked to represent the county in meeting HRH The Duke of Kent when he was visiting a company in Borehamwood. ‘I wore my masonic tie and cufflinks, ‘ Peter recalled, ‘and when he noticed, he gave a very warm smile together with the obligatory handshake’. In terms of being publicly ‘out there’ as a Freemason during his career Peter never really associated what he did with Freemasonry. ‘I never had people that were hesitant to support what I was doing, and where people would ask what ‘masonry is I’d simply explain what it was all about.’ He’d often invite those who were interested to attend the many Ladies Festival’s held over the years to let them discover more for themselves.
Now retired, he keeps himself occupied with maintaining his garden and quality time with his two beloved bichon frise dogs. On keeping himself well, ‘For me is to just try and be as normal as you can be. I’m cautious obviously, but being friendly, connecting with people it’s that kind of thing.’ Going forward Peter decided to step aside from being Almoner of the lodge, ‘I think it’s important to let others have a go’ he said, ‘I’ll always be there to give advice and support – but as a past master, it’s important to give others a chance’.
Often we are reminded by those who are retired that they’ve never been so busy, and again this is true of Peter. Whether that be through his work as Trustee of an over 60’s luncheon club, or collecting as he still does for Macmillan’s; the grass does not appear to be growing under his feet.
To round off our chat I’d asked if Peter would share some of his top tips when it comes to successful fundraising. ‘Believe in what you are doing it for’ he said, ‘1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetimes. No-one asks for it, no-one wants it – so anything you can do, no matter how small, if it can make a difference then it’s worthwhile.’ Authority to undertake activities is an integral part and to this day he still has his letter of authority from the charity (now held together with Sellotape) that allows him to raise funds. In summary he said ‘Look the part, be a part of it and with the team that you have, work together and you will make a difference’.
