Assistant Provincial Grand Master

Worshipful Bro. Andrew Notley PSGD
 

Personal Career

W.Bro. Notley was born in Chatham in 1946 and brought up in Gillingham. After attending the local Grammar School, he started work with the Ministry of Defence, initially at Chatham Dockyard then in London. During that time he qualified in Naval Architecture at the former Dockyard Technical College. In 1975 he joined Yarrow Shipbuilders on the River Clyde in Scotland. Two and a half years later, he was appointed as a lecturer at Anniesland College in Glasgow where he undertook teacher training "on-the-job". In 1979, armed with a newly acquired teaching qualification, he transferred to one of the Kent Colleges in Chatham where he spent the rest of his career, finishing up as head of a department of over thirty lecturing and support staff. During that time he experienced lots of continuous professional development, including several years of study with the Open University. He retired from his full time position in 2007 then continued to work part time at the college until 2010 in a management support role. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and a Member of the Institute for Learning.

Masonic Career

In 1974, WBro Notley was Initiated into Rochester Lodge No 3494 by his late father. After a four-year sojourn in Glasgow, where he joined Lodge Ellangowan No 716, he returned to Kent and resumed his progress in Rochester Lodge, reaching the Chair in 1988. He was appointed a Provincial Grand Steward in 1994 and promoted to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 1999. He became Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2003 and Grand Rank was conferred in 2006 on his appointment to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies followed by promotion to Past Senior Grand Deacon in 2010. He is also a member of the Kent Provincial Grand Steward's Lodge No 5866 and the Pentalpha Lodge of East Kent No 8535.

WBro Notley is also very active in the Holy Royal Arch where he was Exalted into the Brownrigg Chapter No 1424, becoming its First Principal in 1996. He is also a member of the East Kent Provincial Grand Stewards Chapter No 5866 and Mid Kent First Principals Chapter No 3173, and is a Past Zerubbabal of each Chapter. Grand Chapter Rank was conferred in 2008 when he was appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer. In the Ancient and Accepted Rite, he is a member of the Saint Margaret Rainham Chapter Rose Croix No 1029. He was its Most Wise Sovereign in 2005, served as Director of Ceremonies then Recorder and is a holder of the 30th Degree.

Andrew was appointed an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 2009, with special responsibility for Membership Support and Development. In 2011 he was re-appointed with responsibility for the future development of the Kent Masonic Library and Museum.

Personal Life

Andrew likes to keep fit and enjoys walking, swimming and cycling. His long term interest is playing the drums – something he started in the 1960’s - and has kept up ever since.

He married Mary in 1970 and together they have brought up two sons and a daughter, now all happily married. They have been blessed with four young granddaughters and thoroughly enjoy spending time with them whenever possible. Mary is qualified in Information, Advice and Guidance and worked in student support at one of the Kent Universities until her retirement in 2010. She has been very supportive of Andrew in his various interests and together they enjoy spending time with their family, occasional country walks, cycle rides and theatre trips.

 

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