2003 – 2013
RW Bro Colin Harris was born in the City of Chichester in West Sussex in 1942. After attending the local grammar school he went up to Oxford in 1961 to read Physics at Hertford College, which, in spite of the name, has no connection with this County. He began his teaching career at St Albans School in 1965 and, although remaining at the school only until 1969, it was through this connection that he was proposed by VW Bro Geoffrey Pryke, later Deputy PGM, and then initiated in 1972 into the Old Albanian Lodge, No 4999, of which he became Worshipful Master in 1984.
He joined The Hertfordshire Masters’ Lodge in 1990 and was Worshipful Master in 2001. Other Hertfordshire Lodges of which he is a currently a subscribing member are White Star Lodge, No 8727, Veritatem Sequere Lodge, No 9615, Michael Batham Jones Lodge, No 9675, and the Lodge of the Red Rampant Lyon, No 9843.
Appointment as Provincial Grand Registrar in 1990 was followed by that of Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1992, of Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1996 and Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1999. In this respect, he has followed the example of his predecessor, R W Bro Michael Jones, in dealing with the ceremonial side of the Province’s Activities before joining the Executive. He was appointed in United Grand Lodge to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1992 (the “Birthday Honours” year marking the 275th Anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England) and then to the Active Rank of Senior Grand Deacon in 2000.
His career took him out of Hertfordshire to Westminster School, London, and thence to Eton College where he spent the last 21 years before retiring in the summer of 2002. At both these schools, he was Director of Studies with the task of orchestrating the academic organization, producing the timetable and chairing, or sitting on, rather a lot of committees. On retirement he finally settled in Harpenden, which is central enough to allow easy travel to Hertfordshire Centres and convenient access to London.
In September 2003, he was Installed as the 14th Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire by the Pro Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother The Right Honorable The Marquess of Northampton. Throughout the following 10 years in office he was, like his predecessor, one of the four Trustees of the RMTGB and was a member of the Panel for Clemency, being appointed to that role annually by the Grand Master. Concurrently, four new Lodges were brought into existence in the Province, all with particular aims in view. The first was the Lodge of Opportunity no 9777 whose members organise fishing experience for children and adults with difficulties in their lives; the second the Hertfordshire Lodge of the Legion no 9827 which offers support to former members of the Services and their causes, as well as making arrangements which ensure that Masonic presence occurs at Remembrance Day Ceremonies throughout Hertfordshire. Thirdly came the re-founding of The Lodge of the Red Rampant Lyon itself – the original was the very first Hertfordshire Lodge – which enables members of the Executive and their guests to meet together. Lastly was Prince Hamlet Lodge no 9864 whose members are drawn from Denmark as well as from this country, promoting new friendships and understandings.
The decade of his rule over Hertfordshire saw some significant events. Among these was the successful 2009 Festival for the Grand Charity and the establishment of a real rapport with the authorities running St Albans Cathedral. In this latter context, the Province has enjoyed some really good biennial Services with refreshments within the Abbey precincts, while we have provided help with Stewarding for their Annual Pilgrimage and for the Enthronement of the Bishop.
Almost certainly the most important legacy of his time is, and will continue to be, the acquisition and fitting out of the Provincial HQ – Fleet House – in St Albans. This was made possible by the generosity of our own Brethren and some shrewd financial management; and it gives Hertfordshire Craft Masonry its own base and facilities which should help the Province to face whatever the future may bring.
