New Rulers for Masonic Orders in Yorkshire

We are delighted to welcome two new Heads of Orders to our Masonic family in Yorkshire, West Riding. 
 
Following the sad death of David Cordell, earlier this year vacancies were created to the local leadership for The Allied Masonic Degrees and the Order of Royal and Select Masters, both of which David held previously.

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Right Illustrious District Grand Master for West Yorkshire, Order of Royal and Select Masters, Right Illustrious Companion Fraser McPherson ​

Fraser McPherson is a 3rd generation on his Fathers’ side and at least 5th generation on his Mothers’ so there is no doubting his Masonic pedigree.  His parents actually met at a Masonic dance! 
 
Fraser was Initiated as a ‘Lewis’, aged 19 years, into Lodge Possilpark, Glasgow, No. 1330 on 24th April 1980, soon after completing his other Craft degrees including, under the Scottish Constitution, his Mark Degree. 
 
After moving to Yorkshire in 1984 he joined Trafalgar Lodge No. 971, Batley, in August 1991.  Fraser joined Prince Edward Mark Lodge No. 14 in 1995, Royal Ark Mariners in 2002, Secret Monitor in 2003, the Royal Arch in 2004, Royal & Select Masters in 2007 and the Royal Order of Scotland in 2015. 
 
WM of Trafalgar Lodge during 2009, Craft Provincial Rank came in 2015 as an Acting Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies before being promoted to Past Provincial  Deputy Grand Registrar in 2017. 
 
In the qualifying Orders for R&SM, Royal Arch and Mark, Fraser became MEZ of Scarborough Chapter in 2012, was appointed as an Acting Provincial Grand Steward in 2018 and promoted to Acting Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2019, a role he currently holds.  In Mark, Fraser was WM of Prince Edward in 2002, soon after becoming Lodge Secretary, a role he relinquished in 2019 to become their current WM for the second time.  In 2006 he was appointed as Acting Provincial Grand Steward and was honoured to be appointed as Grand Standard Bearer in Mark where in November 2017 became Provincial Grand Secretary for the Province of West Yorkshire.   
 
In R&SM Fraser was appointed in 2013 by the then District Grand Master for Yorkshire, Right Illustrious Companion David S. Pratt, as Assistant District Grand Recorder, and when the District of Yorkshire was divided into West and N&E Yorkshire in July 2014, became District Grand Recorder for West Yorks under David M. Cordell.  Fraser received his Silver Trowel Degree in 2014, was promoted to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Council in 2016 and received his Excellent Masters Degree in 2018. 

After 41 years working in the NHS, Fraser retired from Leeds Teaching Hospitals in July 2019 as a Senior HR Business Partner.  He now spends his time focussing on his Masonry, a huge list of accumulated d.i.y. jobs, reading scientific publications, his garden (especially recently!) and maintaining his wife’s Land Rover!  Fraser has been married to Tina for 32 years, and they have two sons, Benjamin and Lewis and a daughter, Hope. 
 
The Masonic suspension permitting, Fraser will be installed as Right Illustrious District Grand Master for West Yorkshire on 1st August 2020, otherwise, he will 
assume the position from that date and take responsibility for overseeing the 8 Councils in the District. 

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Right Worshipful District Grand Prefect for The Allied masonic Degrees in Yorkshire 
Right Worshipful Bro. Graham Bailey. 

Born and bred in Doncaster Graham first became a Mason in December 2000 when he was initiated into De Maulay Lodge No 6358.  He became WM of the Lodge in 
2010 before later serving as both Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
Graham is a member of two other Lodges in Doncaster, Danecastre No 4843 and St Georges No 242 and also holds subscribing memberships of a Lodge in Warwickshire, Thomas Harper No 9612 and one in the German Constitution, Lodge Niederrhein No 892. 
 
Graham was appointed Acting Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2017 and promoted to Past Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2018. 
 
He was Exalted into the Royal Arch in Magdalen Chapter No 242 and after serving as MEZ was subsequently appointed as Acting Provincial Grand Standard Bearer and now holds the rank of Past Provincial Deputy Grand Registrar.  Graham is also a member of 2 other Chapters meeting in the Doncaster area. 
 
A keen member of many other Masonic Orders including Mark, Royal Ark Mariners, Royal and Select Masters, Red Cross of Constantine, Order of the Secret Monitor, 
Scarlet Cord and Rose Croix. 
 
In the Allied Masonic Degrees Graham joined South Riding Council No 243, became Master in 2019 and is currently IPM.  While serving as Master Graham was appointed as Deputy District Grand Prefect and as Past Grand Standard Bearer in Grand Council in 2019.  Graham was appointed as District Grand Prefect by Patent on 
2nd May 2020 and will be installed when the current Masonic suspension ends. 
 
Graham attended schools in Doncaster.  Always a keen golfer Graham started work as an Assistant Professional in 1976 becoming fully qualified in 1982.  He then held 
appointments as Head Professional at three clubs before retiring in March this year.  
 
During his career, Graham taught seven young men to become professional golfers and coached the Doncaster Junior Team to winning the Junior Championship in 2015. 
 
Graham and wife Karen have been married for 36 years and have a daughter who now lives and works in London.   
 
Welcoming both Graham and Fraser into their new roles, Provincial Grand Master David Pratt said: 
 
“We pride ourselves in West Yorkshire on being part of a large and varied Masonic family, and I am delighted that two such keen Craft and Royal Arch Masons have been appointed to these important roles. I wish them well in their work over the coming years and look forward to working with them in their new positions.”