CHARITY AMBASSADOR RECEIVES 50 YEAR CERTIFICATE

Having achieved 50 years in Freemasonry, W Bro Chris Grove, MBE, PAGDC received a Certificate from the Provincial Grand Master, W Bro David Macey, following a wonderful presentation to mark this milestone, precisely 50 years after his Initiation into the Lodge of Integrity No 4563.

In a remarkable masonic career, W Bro Chris has been involved in the Charity side of the Province since 2001, having been six years as Provincial Charity Steward, five years as Provincial Almoner, four years as a Trustee of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity, and since 2016 is currently a member of the Masonic Support Committee of the Masonic Charitable Foundation. He received appointment to Grand Rank in 2005 and promotion to his present rank in 2012.

In the Lodge of Integrity, Chris has been heavily involved in every aspect and Office in the Lodge, and is their senior active Past Master, and has been their Organist for at least the last ten years. Chris is also Organist of his Worcestershire Lodge, Francis Burgess Lodge No 9287, of which he was a Founding member in 1989.

Chris is also a prominent member and Secretary of the Warwickshire Provincial Choir. He has had numerous significant achievements, some of the most memorable being the Initiation of his son Simon in the Lodge of Integrity, becoming Master of the Warwickshire Installed Masters Lodge in 2013/4, and proposing and initiating W Bro John Emms in 1983. The photograph below shows the three of them together following the presentation of the Certificate.

In his professional career, Chris joined Birmingham City Police in 1961, and retired in 1995 after serving in many roles, including a six-year secondment to the Regional Crime Squad, as a sub-Divisional Controller, eight years in the Uniform Operations Department at Regional Headquarters, and finally co-ordinating the establishment of a new Divisional Control centre. For most of that time and beyond, Chris was a member and Secretary of the West Midlands Police Male Voice Choir, and in 1997, received the MBE for his services in that respect.

Surrounded by many members of the Province and beyond, Chris was delighted to receive his certificate, particularly being presented by the Provincial Grand Master, and in the presence of R W Bro Michael Price, Past Provincial Grand Master, who had selected him to his first Charity Office appointment.

Long may this remarkable man and mason continue to entertain and fulfill his numerous roles for many more years to come.

JBH