At the Annual Meeting held in Derby on 19th October 2016, WBro Peter Hodcroft stepped down as Chairman, an office he had held for six years since 2010. This, however, marked the culmination of seventeen years service to the Charity, which he served initially in 1999 as Secretary and later as a Standing Committee member and Vice Chairman.
His final report showed that he leaves the Charity in excellent shape with funds of over £1.3m. Under his chairmanship the Provincial Fun Fair for children and adults with special needs has grown rapidly each year since 2012 and there has been a general increased involvement in community work by the Province.
In 2011 the Charity invested £100k in the Derbyshire Community Foundation , obtaining a matching amount in Government Funds and further investments have been made in 2013/14 and 2014/15 of £135k with Community First to which £67.5k have been added. Grants are being made from these funds and over £13k was distributed over the Province to worthy causes in 2015/16. All these initiatives have taken place under Peter’s chairmanship.
Apart from his involvement in Provincial Charity matters, Peter is of course well known in Craft circles. Initiated in the Lodge of St John № 8070 in September 1974, he became Master in 1987. His first Provincial appointment was as Provincial Steward in 1993. He became Assistant Provincial Secretary in 1997, taking over as Provincial Secretary in 1999 and serving four years in that office until 2003. His appointment to Grand Rank followed in 2001 when he became PAGDC. In 2007 he was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master and promotion in Grand Lodge followed in 2008, when he was appointed SGD.During his five year spell as APGM from 2007 to 2012, he chaired the special committee to look at recruitment and retention and to assist individual lodges to reflect on their current situation and their future.
He was also a founder of Bradelei Lodge № 9205 and their founder Secretary; he became their Master in 2001. He is also a member of Derbyshire Lodge of Installed Masters № 8509 and served as Master in 2006.
Peter has been very active in the Royal Arch joining Beaureper Chapter № 787 in 1977 and becoming their MEZ in 1989. He has held many active offices in Provincial Grand Chapter, starting with AGDC in 1992, Scribe N in 1995, GDC in 1996, Asst Scribe E in1997 and Scribe Ezra for seven years from 1999 to 2006. He was promoted in Supreme Grand Chapter in 2000 to the rank of PGStdB. He is also a member of Derbyshire Installed Principals Chapter № 8509. He is a member and Past Master of John Spencer Lodge of MMM and a Prov Officer of the Derbyshire Mark Province.
However he is very well known and respected by the many Derbyshire members of the Rose Croix as their Inspector General 33rd degree of the Antient and Accepted Rite for the District of Derbyshire.
Now that his charity duties have decreased, we wish him well and good health to enjoy the great outdoor pursuits, which he loves and the chance to make more visits to historic sites and buildings which have always interested him.
New Chairman
In handing over to the new Chairman, WBro Graham Sisson, it is certain that Peter will be followed by a brother, who probably knows more about our Provincial Charity than anyone else in Derbyshire. Graham, who has been Secretary since 2001, is a most worthy successor, whose experience makes him eminently suitable to fill the roll.
Graham was born in Stanley and educated at Ilkeston Grammar School and Derbyshire Technical College. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy and spent his working life in local government, ending his full-time employment as Treasurer of High Peak Borough Council for 15 years.
He was initiated into the High Peak Lodge № 1952 in April 1970, becoming Master in 1983. He was Senior Warden of the Province in 2004 and appointed PADC in Grand Lodge in 2008. In 2016 he was awarded the PGM’s Certificate of Merit for his services to Derbyshire Craft Masonry, an honour rarely bestowed.
His service in the Royal Arch is second to none. He was exalted into Phoenix Chapter of St Ann in 1973, became MEZ in 1989 and from 2002 to 2012 held the most important office of Deputy Grand Superintendent of the Derbyshire Province. His service was recognised by Supreme Grand Chapter in 2003, when he was appointed Grand Sojourner and promoted to PGSwdB in the following year.
New Secretary
Graham will be well supported by the new Secretary, WBro Martyn Bailey, who is also a member of High Peak Lodge. Martyn was born in Chesterfield and was educated in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire and worked in Local Authority as an Environmental Health Officer for 30 years. He was initiated into Connal Wilson Lodge № 9171 in 1990 and became its Master in 1997, serving as Treasurer and Secretary, before joining High Peak Lodge № 1952 in 2006, which he has also served as Secretary. Martyn received the acting rank of Provincial Grand Steward in 2004 and was Assistant Grand Secretary from 2005-2009 and has held this office again since 2012. He was appointed Past Senior Grand Warden of the Province in 2007 and was this year appointed Provincial Migrations Officer as part of the drive to keep brethren in freemasonry.
VWBro John Beard