News - Congratulations to our District Grand Assistant Secretary. W.Bro. Mark Woolcott

As District Grand Prefect I am delighted to share a bit of news which is hot off the press concerning our District Grand Assistant Secretary W.Bro. Mark Woolcott. Mark has been offered and has accepted the high office of Provincial Grand Almoner for the Province of Kent in the Masonic Order of Athelstan.

W.Bro. Mark Woolcott, District Grand Assistant Secretary

Mark sporting his newest collar of office

Background on Mark:
Mark spent most of his professional career working at the British Museum, starting in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, it was therefore inevitable that he was bound to be interested in the Masonic Order of Athelstan. King Athelstan, was the grandson of King Alfred and the first King of England. He was referred to as 'The King of All the English'.

The order of Athelstan, was formed in 2005 and grew out of the shared interests that a number of like-minded individuals had in the origins of Masonry. Units within the order are called ‘Courts’ and the Province of Kent has seven of these courts, which meet across the county.

Due to work commitments at the time, Mark was unable to be a founder of the Order in 2005 but upon retirement he was proposed and ‘Instructed’ into the Court of Hengist and Horsa at Bromley, on the 4th June 2018.

Mark, ever the keen and enthusiastic mason, seized the opportunity when it presented itself, and jumped at the chance of holding office, and thus started his journey to the chair. Within a year of holding office Mark volunteered to be fast tracked to the Junior Wardens pedestal, a year later the office of Senior Warden followed before being installed as Worshipful Master, in 2022.

Whilst in the chair Mark conducted a couple ceremonies for new candidates before installing his successor into the chair. Rather than relax and reflect on a busy year in the chair Mark became Secretary of the Court in 2023.

Historically, Mark has held the office of Almoner in various masonic units, but he was absolutely delighted when invited by the Provincial Grand Master for the Order of Athelstan R. W. Bro Alan Cook to become Almoner for the Province of Kent.

As a parting shot Mark said he would whole heartedly encourage anyone with an interest in English and Kent History to consider joining the Order of Athelstan and would be delighted to propose them into the order. My parting shot was let’s get them into the Allied Degrees first.

For further in formation on the Order of Athelstan click here.

R. W. Bro. Brian Alan Ward, District Grand Prefect

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