New leaders for Province of Shropshire

On Wednesday, 20th August, 2025 a meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter was held to install the successors to Roger Pemberton and Jeremy Lund - the new Provincial Grand Master being David Purslow, well known already to us as Provincial Learning and Development Officer and Provincial Second Grand Principal. He then appointed his Deputy, chartered surveyor Nicolas Garavini, who holds Active Grand Rank having played a key role in the restoration work now in progress on UGLE’s Great Queen Street headquarters.

This ceremony was conducted by Past Deputy Grand Master Sir David Wootton who led an impressive team from United Grand Lodge. Sir David was also in charge of the Installation at the Provincial Grand Chapter meeting earlier in the day at which David Purslow was invested as ME Grand Superintendent for Shropshire. This left a vacancy as Provincial Second Grand Principal - we are delighted to say that this was filled by E Companion Tony Clayton.

Most Provincial Officers in both Craft and Chapter were simply reconfirmed in their posts until next Spring: the exceptions being that Provincial Grand Secretary Ian Edgington was suitably thanked after a lengthy and distinguished career and replaced by his Assistant, Andy Delamere, while David Purslow’s replacement as Provincial Learning and Development Officer will be former DPGM Jeremy Lund.

The whole day (including the now legendary Shropshire lunch) was watched by a full audience of Masons including many distinguished visitors from neighbouring Provinces. We wish the new appointments well in their new roles!