Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire><br /> <h1 class=The Provincial Grand Master

About our Provincial Grand Master / Most Excellent Grand Superintendent

Jack Price was born in Manchester in 1937 and raised in Tyldesley where he attended the local Mission School then continued his Education in Tyldesley before entering Wigan Technical and Mining College, now the Wigan College of Technology. In 1954 Jack entered the Royal Air Force where he spent five years on postings in the UK and overseas, on duties in the Pacific.

After a training period, Jack became a Prison Officer at Stafford Jail, moving on in 1965 to Risley Remand Centre, then in 1975, to Strangeways where he served as the Principal Officer (a rank similar to a Police Inspector). He progressed to becoming Chief Officer and from 1984 to 1988, began to move through the Governor grades, becoming responsible for security and management including training, disciplinary procedures and enforcement, sitting on parole boards and taking charge of general operations. Jack then worked at the Prison Service Regional Headquarters at Manchester House, conveniently situated next to the Masonic Hall at Bridge Street!

The Hindley Youth Custody Centre received the benefit of Jack’s wisdom where as Deputy Governor, he worked from 1988-1992, finally being promoted to Head of Operational Training for England and Wales in which capacity he ran five training units (Wakefield, Doncaster, Melton Mowbray, Oxford and Rugby). He was in charge of training, which ranged from riot control, hostage negotiation and incident management to that required for 400 dog handlers and their charges.

Jack retired in 1995 after exactly 35 years service and together with his wife, Dorothy, they have been able to devote more time to the family and, of course, their great enjoyment of Freemasonry. They both enjoy gardening, motoring and have a great love for the outdoors, frequenting places of English Heritage and of historical interest. They also share eclectic tastes in music and reading, particularly history and historical fiction. Dorothy makes the best lemon meringue pie North of Watford and their tomato plants have received homes throughout East Lancashire and the neighbouring Provinces.

Jack and Dorothy were both choristers at Tyldesley Parish Church and St Ann’s Church, Hindsford, through which they first met. They have two children: Janet, an honours graduate of the University of Leeds, who lives in the West Midlands where she is a Catering Adviser to Birmingham City Council and Jonathan, an honours graduate of University College London, who is the Managing Editor for Thomson International.

The Provincial Grand Master was proposed by WBro Irving Jefferson, seconded by WBro Norman Cuttle and Initiated, Passed and Raised in Justice Lodge, No. 4632, in 1971. The same two brethren brought Jack into Empire Chapter, No. 3803, in 1974.

In the Craft Jack has served as the Charity Steward, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the then Manchester District Number 2. In the Royal Arch he has been Assistant to the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent (RWBro James Dunsford Hemsley, PProvGM) from 1995 to 1998 and then Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals from 1998 to 2000.

Under RWBro Peter Walthall, PProvGM, he served as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master having responsibility for two of the Manchester Districts between 2000 and 2002, and then Bolton and Bury until 2005. He was appointed by RWBro Peter Walthall, PProvGM, as Deputy Grand Superintendent, a position he continued to occupy under RWBro Paul JE Rink, OBE, PProvGM, until his appointment to Provincial Grand Master and Most Excellent Grand Superintendent in and over the Masonic Province of East Lancashire on 18 June, 2008.

In the Craft, Jack progressed quite rapidly from Provincial Grand Steward to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden, receiving Grand Rank as Past Assistant Grand Sword Bearer in 1992 and Past Senior Grand Deacon in 2001. In the Royal Arch, he was appointed Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1993, Past Assistant Grand Sojourner in 2004 and Past Grand Sword Bearer in 2005.
The Provincial Grand Master is also a Mark Master Mason and a Royal Ark Mariner Mason and holds Grand Rank in both Orders. His membership of the Ancient and Accepted Rite (Rose Croix) extends to five Chapters and he was appointed to the 32° in 2007. He is a founder member of three of those Chapters.

He is also a member of the Order of the Secret Monitor and the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist.

Those who know and those who will come to know our Provincial Grand Master and Most Excellent Grand Superintendent will be aware of his ability to attract and mobilise the talents of those around him and then actively participate in shared work to accomplish their goals and engaging people at all levels. His relationships are governed by integrity, compassion and respect and he inspires those around him, effectively leading the teams and people he serves. Jack portrays a strong positive image to those around him and he will be an excellent ambassador for Freemasonry in this Province. His stamina, drive and enthusiasm will surely be of great benefit to the Province in the coming years and undoubtedly all will be touched at some point by his charismatic personality. 

Jack Price’s achievements are many but, prior to his Installation as PGM and MEGSupt, he is most proud of the development of his Royal Arch Team into one which was cohesive, with each of the individuals being mutually compatible and responsive to each other. Under his superb leadership, both he and the Team have enjoyed a fantastic time in the Royal Arch, most notably during the various series of Joint Convocations they have engaged upon in the Province. The team has given immense support to him, each other and the Province as a whole. Jack is now looking forward to bringing his personal ‘touch’ to the Craft Team of Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, with the assistance of his close friend and very capable Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro. Dr. Nigel Graham Bramley Haworth, PGSwdB, knowing that the Royal Arch will continue to be well managed and ably led by another close friend – the new Deputy Grand Superintendent, EComp Allan Bennion, PAGSoj.

Jack always acknowledges the immense capabilities and collaboration given by the Secretariat under the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro H Alan J Garnett, PJGD, and the Craft DCs team under WBro Norman Cope, PAGDC, and the Royal Arch DCs team under EComp Wesley Marchant, PGStB.

Jack fondest memories include the work he performed with WBro Geoffrey Mangham (a much loved and sadly missed past Chairman) and Harry Ferguson (an equally missed past Deputy Chairman and revered work colleague) in Manchester District Number 2, where they challenged many long standing ideals, much to the benefit of the Manchester Districts.

As for the future, Jack Price acknowledges the accomplishments of his predecessors and their teams. Most recently, through vision and encouragement, there has been a rebranded and remodelled East Lancashire Masonic Charity which has been a vehicle for reconnecting with our local communities through its Community Fund, helping to place Freemasonry more fully within the public domain and making people more aware of the force for good which we represent. The Province is undergoing a period of structured consolidation and to maintain future stability, has to attract new members, keep existing brethren and maintain and improve their welfare and enjoyment. The new Mentoring and Education scheme, which has been introduced recently, will continue to be a key aim. This will evolve and become embedded within the Province in future years and, guided by the support and dedication offered by the Education and Training Committee and its innovative development activities, the District teams and the District Lodge and Chapter Mentors. Jack will encourage good communication within and outside of Freemasonry. With his competent leadership and use of empowering management as the devices and means by which all of us will be involved, we will be made aware and inspired to ensure the future success of the Masonic movement in East Lancashire.