MARK MASTER MASONS OF BRISTOL
Bristol Mark Masonry: A Year of Milestones
Bristol’s Mark Masons enjoyed a remarkable year from autumn 2024 through summer 2025, with ceremonies, anniversaries and Provincial highlights showcasing the strength of our fraternity.
The degree continues to grow in number, continuing as one of the most successful Provinces in terms of recruitment and retention performance. The Royal Ark Mariner degree also continues to grow from strength to strength.
Honouring Service
The season began on 8th October at Dunckerley Lodge No. 630, where V.W. Bro. Michael Huggins PGJO, was presented with his ‘VW’ Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master badge by W. Bro. Ashley Hawkins, the newly appointed DPGM.
The presentation recognised five years of dedicated service, and cemented his standing as one of the Provinces most respected leaders.
Charity
Our Provincial Grand Charity Steward, WBro Phil Harrill continues his excellent work to coordinate and manage our charitable donations. The Province continues to perform well, raising significant contributions for our local charities.
As Mark Provinces go, we are one of the smallest. Yet , as a Province during the last year, we donated over £7000 to local charities and to the Province of Oxfordshire in support of their festival year. An amazing effort by the Bristol Mark and RAM members.
As a Province, we are too small to undertake our own festivals on behalf of the Mark Benevolent Fund, it is why each year we support those Mark provinces that are in Festival and we look forward to supporting Hampshire and the Isle of Wight this forthcoming year and our neighbours Somerset who are plannng for their festival. As a Province, we certainly get back from the Mark Benevolent Fund more than we put in. Last year, Southmead Hospital were presented with a cheque from the MBF, sponsored by Bristol Mark for £18,654, being the final amount for the purchase of a Special Microscope.
The fund is there to assist those members of the Mark degree who may be struggling. Brethren, if you know of any Mark Brother that requires some assistance, please direct them to the Provincial Almoner, Worshipful Brother Stephen Carter.
In December, the Bristol Mark Province donated £2000 to the Bristol Mini Festival to support the maintenance of this magnificent building.
In terms of local charities, in the last year we have continued to support the Bristol Baby Bank Network. A charity redistributing pre-loved baby and children items to families in need. This year, this Bristol charity celebrated a significant milestone of supporting 10000 families since it was started ten years ago.
We have also been pleased to provide support to the Bristol Children’s Charity prior to Christmas. This enabled the charity to purchase 5 beds and the necessary bedding for 5 children who otherwise would not have a bed to sleep in.
As a Province we continue to support the local food banks around Bristol with regular donations.
As a Province and as Provincial Charity Steward, we are immensely grateful to those members who have set up regular monthly donations to support our charitable efforts, we could certainly do so much more if more members would consider a small monthly donations, particularly if it can be gift aided through our Grand Charity Chest.
The 200 Club is one of our main sources of raising funds to boost our charity funds which enable us to make donations to deserving local Charities as well as supporting those Provinces in Festival or about to start their Festival. The first draw of the new 200 club took place at the conclusion of Provincial Grand Lodge, followed by two more draws in the new Masonic season. It is not too late to enter, the cost is £10 per number and there are plenty of numbers available to please speak to the Provincial Grand Charity Steward.
It makes a real difference to our communities and you should be proud of the part you play.
Brotherhood in Action
On 11th February, Dunckerley Lodge was in the spotlight as W. Bro. Wills, a founder of the Scoutcraft Lodge, advanced Bro. Ian Williamson in a ceremony attended by leaders from Bristol and beyond, including the PGM of Monmouthshire, R.W. Bro. Ben Dykes.
A fortnight later, the Harris Royal Ark Mariner Lodge T.I. advanced Bro. Jamie Reed in a vibrant evening that also marked the welcome return of R.W. Bro. Steve Rawlings, Provincial Grand Master. The presence of recently advanced Ark Mariners reflected the vitality of this beautiful Order.
Also in February, the Province was visited by the Somerset Ancient Mark Masters demonstration team, which seemed to involve more drinking than ceremony.
The close ties with our local provinces remains strong, with Bristol attracting members from our neighbours in good numbers.
The Camp of Baldwin
Allan Rosengren – Most Excellent Grand Superintendent
Allan has been a Mason since 1986 and has served in many offices in several orders over the years.
He was admitted to the Camp of Baldwyn in 1996 and having served in the Chairs of the Scots Knights, Knight Templar and Rosae Crucis, was appointed as Deputy Grand Superintendent in 2008. He was elected by the Sir Knights of Baldwyn as M E Grand Superintendent since 2020 and is also the Provincial Prior and the Inspector General for Bristol.
Allan seeks to encourage all Sir Knights to be involved, to attend and participate fully in the Five Royal Orders of the Camp. He is keen to ensure that everyone is enjoying their experience of the Camp and making good progress.
He was CEO of a large national financial services business from 1983 until 2011 and has since then served as Chairman or Director of a number of businesses.
STEVE HAWKINS – Deputy Grand Superintendent
Steve grew up in St. George, East Bristol, and naturally became a Bristol Rovers supporter. His passion for the club eventually led him to serve as Club Chaplain. He often remarks that being a Rovers fan has enriched his preaching, no end by providing unique insights into pain and disappointment. Prior to his ordination, Steve worked as a teacher, concluding his career as Head of Physics at Wellsway School in Keynsham.
Although Steve belongs to many Masonic orders, he feels that none compare to the distinctive ceremonies of Camp of Baldwyn which are unique in world masonry. Joining the Camp in 2005, he went on to serve as chair of The Nine Elected Masters, Knight Templar, and Rosae et Crucis. In 2021, he was appointed Deputy Grand Superintendent of the Camp by the Most Eminent Grand Superintendent Allan Rosengren—an honour he considers his most significant Masonic achievement. He says that if masonry can be defined as ‘serious fun’ then the Camp excels in every way. The ceremonies are taken very seriously, performed to the best of our ability, and the after-meeting is simply great fun.
Ian Christopher Satherley. BEM.
Ian has been a Mason for over forty years including a member of the Camp of Baldwyn for thirty years gaining much experience in the many roles. He has had the privilege of holding the offices of Registrar, Recorder and Vice-Chancellor which are mainly secretarial roles across the Five Royal Orders of Knighthood.
Ian has come to appreciate the importance of guidance, patience, and kindness—especially in supporting others through their own challenges. These qualities are reflected both in his career in public service and in his mentoring within Masonry.
Shaun Herron – Treasurer
Shaun was born and raised in the outer suburbs of south Belfast, living next door to the family’s Church, the rear gardens of which provided a secret playground. Shaun was educated at Fullerton House Preparatory School and the Methodist College Grammar School. He took a joint honours degree in Economics and Accountancy at the University of Bristol, and liked the City so much that he stayed. He was accepted onto the PwC graduate training scheme, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant some three years later, and stayed with PwC for a further six years, before moving into the commercial world. For the last thirty years Shaun has held a number of senior finance positions, primarily in the Financial Services sector.
Shaun was Initiated into the Moira Lodge of Honour in February 1998 and served as WM in 2005 and 2007, and as Treasurer since 2009. He was Exalted in the Moira Chapter of Honour in April 1999 and was First Principal in 2011, and has been Scribe E since 2015. Shaun was admitted to the Camp of Baldwyn in 2010, appointed as Treasurer in 2015, and has had the privilege to be Grand Commander of the Order of SKGA & SKoK, and MWS of the Baldwyn Rose Croix Chapter. Shaun has also been the Provincial Account Examiner for the Craft since 2008 and Chapter since 2018, and in 2021 was appointed as Treasurer for the Bristol Masons’ Charity.
Shaun is married to Julie, and they have two children – Theresa (23) and George (21).
Provincial Priory of the City and County of Bristol – 13th Sept 2025
Sir Knights and Brother Knights,
I am delighted to welcome you, especially so if this is your first time at a City and County of Bristol Provincial Priory meeting. It is a great pleasure to have so many distinguished visitors join us for the day. We appreciate your company and generous hospitality whenever we visit your Provinces. We are pleased to be able to reciprocate and I hope you are enjoying your time with us.
For the benefit of our visitors, I should explain that this meeting is rather different to Provincial Priory meetings elsewhere, where all the Knight Templar Preceptories in a Province are represented and parade their respective Preceptory banners.
Here, all our members are Sir Knights of the Camp of Baldwyn, which encompasses no less than Five Royal Orders of Knighthood. The Baldwyn Rite of Seven Degrees Time Immemorial has been practiced in Bristol for some 250 years. The Bristol Craft and Holy Royal Arch form our first two degrees and are followed by the Five Royal Orders of Knighthood. The first three are under our own sole jurisdiction and entirely exclusive to Baldwyn; these are The Nine Elected Masters, The Scots Knights Grand Architect and The East, The Sword and Eagle degrees.
Our sixth degree is the Baldwyn Commandery of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta and Preceptory of Knights Templar. This uniquely combines both the Hospitaller and the Templar degrees in the same ceremony.
Our seventh and ultimate degree is the Baldwyn Rosae Crucis, which has some similarities with the Rose Croix 18º practiced elsewhere, though it predates that ceremony by some 100 years.
In Baldwyn the Knights Templar and Rosae Crucis degrees are indelibly linked, as was the case of old, when both were conferred in Templar Encampments.
The Camp of Baldwyn has made excellent progress during the past year. Four exceptional Candidates have been received into each of the Five Royal Orders and we have also been pleased to welcome a re-joining member into the Camp.
We are looking forward to welcoming two further Candidates into the Camp, being installed as both Knights Hospitaller and Templar in the same unique Baldwyn ceremony later this afternoon.
During the past year, the Grand Commanders, Marshals and Officers of each of the Five Royal Orders have on every occasion conducted flawless ceremonies. The pride they take in delivering outstanding ritual, the enthralling sense of occasion and depth of meaning they have imparted to all our rituals is very greatly appreciated.
It has been a pleasure for us to enjoy the company of a number of visitors at our meetings. A particular highlight was welcoming Most Puissant Brother John Boyington, Sovereign Grand Commander of Supreme Council to our Rosae Crucis meeting in March. He wrote a few days later to say, “Many thanks for a wonderful visit and the generous and warm welcome given to me by all present.”
We receive many compliments on the precision and excellence of our complex ceremonies and the enjoyment that our visitors have shared with us, such as: “The ceremony was remarkable, extremely interesting and expertly conducted. Clearly a huge amount of work had been done by all concerned.” Also “You must preserve your ancient ceremonies. You have something beautiful and immensely valuable in Baldwyn.”
It is a great joy for us to have our members receive well deserved high honours. At the Great Priory meeting in May, Sir Knight The Rev’d Steven Hawkins was promoted to P. Gt. Almoner and Sir Knight Tony Baker was appointed P. Gt. Warden of Regalia. In Supreme Council, Sir Knight Ian Satherley was honoured with the 32º, Sir Knight Jo Davis received the 31º and Sir Knights John Allen and Shaun Herron were both elected to the 30º. It has been a momentous year with no less than six significant honours bestowed upon our members, for which we are most grateful to Great Priory and Supreme Council.
I add my congratulations to Sir Knight Jo Davis and Sir Knight Costas Kkolos on your appointments to office in Provincial Priory, and my thanks to Sir Knight Nigel Middleton, Provincial Marshal for the first time since being appointed last year.
I have much pleasure in congratulating those mentioned, as well as all of the Provincial Officers, the Grand Commanders, Marshals and Officers of the Five Royal Orders for their efforts, dedication and valued contributions to the Camp of Baldwyn.
I must also pay tribute to the brilliant work done by the executive team for our collective benefit. My sincere thanks to Sir Knight Steven Hawkins, Deputy Grand Superintendent of Baldwyn and Sub-Prior for all you do in support of the Camp and myself, as well as for the inspiring and thought provoking Service you led this morning. Sir Knight Ian Satherley, Prov Vice-Chancellor, Registrar in the Preceptory & Commandery and Recorder in the Rosae Crucis, for your efficient administration of so many aspects of the Camp. Sir Knight Shaun Herron, for your diligence as Treasurer of the Camp and each of our Orders, ensuring our finances are in excellent order.
There are many more who make greatly valued contributions, often behind the scenes. I thank on all our behalves, Sir Knights Paul Hankinson and Mike Whitworth for playing the music, which adds to the atmosphere of our meetings; and Sir Knights Andrew Moore and Mike Page for so kindly taking the time and significant effort needed to set up and take down the large amount of furniture and regalia needed for each of our meetings. Your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated by us all.
We are fortunate to enjoy strong and mutually supportive ties with the Craft, the Royal Arch and the Mark in Bristol. Sir Knight Steven Hawkins and I were pleased to be invited to give a talk at the Bristol Masonic Society in January. Lodge Room 3 was packed and we were told that a record attendance had gathered to hear our talk. We spoke about some of the fascinating history of the Camp, the key position we hold in Bristol Masonry and the impact the Camp has had on Great Priory and Supreme Council, as well as describing our Five Royal Orders. This was the first time that such a talk has been given in Bristol and confirmed to us that being more accessible and open is a strong positive for the Camp.
My concluding point, Sir Knights, is that the Camp of Baldwyn is the only one of its kind in the entire world, due in large part to the indomitable spirit of our predecessors over the past 250 years. Keeping it special, maintaining our unique Time Immemorial rituals and continuing to make good progress is now our responsibility. As custodians, it is our duty to protect and preserve our beautiful ancient rituals and ceremonies for future generations. Sir Knights, the credit is deservedly yours for all that is achieved in the Camp.
Thank you all for your kind attention. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and may God bless and keep you and your loved ones safe!
Right Eminent Sir Knight Allan Rosengren
Provincial Prior for the City & County of Bristol
Most Eminent Grand Superintendent of the Camp of Baldwyn