Who's who
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HRH THE DUKE OF KENT, KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC
// First Grand Principal
Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, born in 1935. Educated at Eton and Le Rosey, Switzerland. He is a cousin both of the Queen and of the Duke of Edinburgh. His father, who was Grand Master 1939–42, was the fourth son of King George V, and his mother, Princess Marina, was the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. He has been the First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England since he was first elected in 1967. -
PETER GEOFFREY LOWNDES
// Pro First Grand Principal
Peter Lowndes was born in 1948, educated at Eton, and is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS). He served as Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies from 1984–87, as Grand Sword Bearer in 1992–93, and as Grand Director of Ceremonies from 1995–2003. Promoted to Past Grand Scribe N in 2000, and to Past 2nd Grand Principal in 2004, he was installed as Pro First Grand Principal in April 2009. -
Russell Race DL
// Second Grand Principal
Russell Race was born in 1946 and educated at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester, and the University of Liverpool. He served as Metropolitan Grand Superintendent from 2009 until October 2015, having previously served as Deputy Metropolitan Grand Superintendent since 2003. He was installed as 2nd Grand Principal on 11 November 2015. -
GARETH JONES OBE
// Third Grand Principal
Gareth Jones was born in 1957.
He served as a Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in South Wales in 2001, and was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 2008. Appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer in 2011, he was promoted to Past Deputy Grand Sword Bearer in 2014. He was installed as 3rd Grand Principal in April 2016. -
WILLIE SHACKELL CBE
// Grand Scribe E
Willie Shackell was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1962, and served in Germany, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Nigeria.
During the first Gulf War he headed the Welfare Conditions of Service and Casualty Department and was awarded the CBE. He retired as Brigadier, and joined SSAFA Forces Help.
He subsequently served as President of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) from 2007 to 2013 and as President of the Masonic Samaritan Fund (MSF) from 2013 until the four Central Masonic Charities consolidated into the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) in April 2016. He was appointed Grand Scribe E in June 2016.
