WARWICKSHIRE
CRAFT LEADER
PROFILES
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire is headed by the Provincial Grand Master and he appoints to assist him in the management of the Province a Deputy and four Assistants.
RW BRO PHILIP L HALL
PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER
Installed as the 17th Provincial Grand Master for Warwickshire on the 30th October 2020, Philip is the first since the 1992 to occupy the role as head of both the Craft and the Royal Arch in Warwickshire.
Born and raised in Sutton Coldfield, Philip attended Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, the oldest school in the town. His working life quickly took him into the world of residential estate agency, which continues to the present as he is the owner and managing director of a local firm of estate agents. Married to Julie since 1990, (who also works for the business) they have two grown-up sons, both scientists (one a biochemist and the other a nuclear physicist - sensibly not following Dad into estate agency!) and their ever-faithful companion 'Buttons', their cavapoo dog.
Philip's masonic interest started in his early twenties when his uncle became a freemason. This intrigued Philip who started asking questions about what freemasonry was all about. This culminated in 1992 with his uncle proposing him into the Lodge of St Blaise in Sutton Coldfield, aged just 25. As the youngest member by far, Philip was immediately welcomed, encouraged and mentored by all the members of the Lodge. This support and encouragement from all the members grew his confidence both inside and outside of freemasonry. This lead to him being installed as Worshipful Master (the head of the Lodge) for the first time in 2000, aged just 33. Over the years that followed Philip was given many wonderful opportunities to grow his masonic experience at both County (Province of Warwickshire) and National (United Grand Lodge of England) levels, which lead to him being given the role as head of the Royal Arch Order for Warwickshire in 2016.
Outside of freemasonry (when he has time!), Philip and Julie both enjoy walking, live theatre and cinema, gardening and spending time with their friends in the local village pub. Living on Cannock Chase they are never happier than walking Buttons on a warm summers evening with truly beautiful countryside, or alternatively along a beach in North Wales where they both also like to spend time.
WBro David Butcher
DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER
David was a career banker who completed over thirty years with Nat West/RBS Group. He subsequently became involved in the children’s hospice movement and was a trustee and eventually Chairman of Acorns Children’s Hospice.
He was initiated into Greville Lodge in 1976 by his late father.
He has been Master of the Lodge twice, was the Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2014 and was the Provincial Grand Mentor from 2018 unitil 2020.
David is married to Valerie and they have three sons and three grandchildren. He enjoys golfing , running and cycling and is also a keen narrowboater.
W BRO DAVID J M GREENWOOD
ASSISTANT PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER
David is a member of the Hotel, Catering and institutional management association and has worked all over this country in the Hotel industry. He has worked for a number of internationally recognised brands as well as some smaller independent groups.
His hobbies include Formula 1, The Theatre especially Musicals, Films (Especially classic war movies) and he is a Sci-fi and Blackadder geek.
David was initiated in to Rokeby Lodge 4118 in Rugby by his father. He became Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2014 and was promoted to acting Prov SGW in 2015.
David married Sian in 2004 although they have been together for over 22 years. They just couldn’t find a free week-end to make it official! And they have 6 cats.
W BRO NIGEL J HAWKINS
ASSISTANT PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER
Nigel has been working in the family accountancy firm for some 37 years, lately as the Senior Partner.
He was proposed by his father into the Lodge of Charity No 1551 in 1998. He was the Provincial Grand Treasurer in the Holy Royal Arch for a number of years, but was “borrowed back in the evenings” by the Craft in 2016 to be one of the Provincial Wardens.
His first love is steam engines (both model and full size). Horseracing and “hunting the clean boot” are also important pastimes for him.
He describes himself as the luckiest Freemason in Warwickshire, because of the many marvellous people he has met and the opportunities he has been privileged to have. Sadly that luck has yet to be repeated in terms of the horse racing pastime.
W BRO HOWARD L SMITH
ASSISTANT PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER
Howard works in Facilities Management and is the Owner and Managing Director of CGB Contracting Services in Birmingham.
Howard was initiated into Lodge of Freedom in 1995 and was the Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2017.
He is passionate about Freemasonry, but also enjoys Ferrari’s and Birmingham City.
By his own admission his hobbies have definitely led him to understand the joys and sorrows of life. Howard has been married to Sandra for 26 years, who’s unstinting in her support of his Masonic activities.