Provincial Deputy Grand Scribe E

Excellent Companion Raymond Harold Veness
 

Personal
A Piscean, born in March 1947, he was the third son of a Coal Miner and educated in Dover. When he left school, aged fifteen, he expected to follow his elder brothers and join his father at the Tilmastone Colliery, but by then his father knew the Kent Coal industry was in decline and he advised him to find other employment.

He commenced work with the Dover Corporation in 1962 as an apprentice Groundsman at Crabble Athletic Ground. Although Dover was then a Kent County Cricket venue, he became bored with watching grass grow and in 1965 joined the Construction Industry. He was a partner in a successful building company from 1968 to 1976 but then opted to attend a college of further education in Stourbridge, West Midlands, for 6 months and gained a London City & Guilds Certificate in Cobol Computer Programming and Management.

He joined the Dover Harbour Board in 1976 as a Customs Freight Clerk. When computers were installed in the mid 80’s, he transferred to the Information Technology Department as a member of a small team supporting Computer Mainframes, networking, hardware installation and peripheral repair. He served on committees representing the workforce and strategic planning for the future. He was also a staff trainer and became an Associate of the Chartered Management Institute. After 31 years with the company, finishing as the Senior Systems Technician, he retired in 2007.

Ray & Sue have two sons, two daughters and four grandchildren between them.

Hobbies and interests

A keen motor cyclist, currently riding a 1000 cc Honda Fireblade, he enjoys F1 and Moto GP holidays in the sunshine and walking but only where the countryside is flat. An enthusiastic DIY person who enjoys all aspects of working around the home, inside or out. A keen track and field sports person in his school days, he represented the County in National Cross Country championships; almost a golfer (having never bettered a 14 handicap on a local long links course) but hasn’t played for many years.

Masonic

Initiated into the Snar Gate Lodge No 6770 in 1979, he was Master in 1989 and Treasurer from 1992 to 2009. Appointed PrGStwd in 1997, Promoted to PPrJGD in 2001 and to PrGSuptWks in 2008.
A member of the Bredenstone Lodge No. 8093, he was Master in 2009.
A Founder Member of the Cornwallis Lodge of Installed Masters No. 9515.
A Member of the Kent Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge No. 5886, the East Kent Masters' Lodge No. 3931, the East Kent Scriveners Lodge No. 9622, and the Bank of England Lodge No. 263 Metropolitan.

Exalted into Corinthian Chapter No. 1208 in 1989.
Joined Military Jubilee Chapter No. 2195 in 1993 he was First Principal in 1997 and Scribe from 2000 to 2009.
Appointed PPrGStB in 2003, Promoted to PrDGSE 2010.

Currently the Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of The Bank of England Lodge No. 263 Metropolitan.
Treasurer, Assistant Scribe E and Dining Steward of the Military Jubilee Chapter No. 2195.
Treasurer and Library & Museum representative of the Cornwallis Lodge of Installed Masters No. 9515.

Joined the Provincial Secretariat in 2007 as an Office Administrator, Appointed Provincial A Team Leader in 2007 for the Craft and Chapter Annual Festivals and Elected Chairman of the Dover Masonic Hall Company Limited in 2008.

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