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The next few months are going to be busy for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Durham, not least of all with the installation of our new Provincial Grand Master, David Nigel Hanson, on Monday 28th November 2022. With David's new responsibilities for overseeing the Province in general, he has appointed John David Watts as the new Chairman of the Durham 2029 MBF Festival.
John is Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Durham in Craft Freemasonry and is well-known in the Province, across many different Masonic orders, for his leadership and his dedication to charitable organisations. In particular, John is involved with the Northumbria Blood Bikes; a charity that has readily been supported by Durham Masonic organisations in recent years. John said "I am looking forward to the challenge of being Chairman of the Durham 2029 MBF Festival. The fact that the Northumbria Blood Bikes have been so extremely well supported by the Mark Benevolent Fund was one of the many reasons I leapt at the chance to take on this role. The Mark Benevolent Fund have bought over half a million pounds worth of bikes, cars and other equipment for blood bike charities, starting with the motorcycle named "Mark Master Mason"; a Northumbrian blood bike in 2016. The MBF and the Durham 2029 Festival are worth supporting."
Upon John's acceptance of the role the Provincial Grand Master Designate, David Hanson, said "I am absolutely delighted that John has accepted my invitation to be Festival Chairman. I know you will all want to wish him well in his new role and that he can count on your support." David will continue to act as Festival President in his own new position within Durham Mark Masonry whilst John will direct the Festival itself over the next six years.
Good luck, John! We're with you all the way!