Fred was Initiated into the Old Berkhamstedians Lodge No 4903 in 1994 and served as Master in 2001. He subsequently joined the Hertfordshire Masters Lodge No 4090. He is also a member of the Royal Arch, as well as the Mark Master Mason and Royal Ark Mariner degrees.

Fred was born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1954. He is divorced and has one son, two daughters and one grandson and one granddaughter. He is a retired schoolteacher with an interest in ‘fair weather golf’ and Freemasonry in general.