Ian was born in Wigan in 1949 and after formal education took a career in sales and marking management firstly in the construction industry and then as a general manager in home decor based in the UK with responsibilities for offices in the London and New York.
Ian and Valerie.
He is married to Valerie, they have three children two daughters and one son and four grandchildren. Ian and his wife very much enjoy their family and friends, the nice things in life holidays, theatre and dining and their support of Bolton Wanderers FC.
Before Ian became a Freemason he was a member of Round Table, a past Chairman of Horwich, Westhoughton and District Round Table No 989 also a past secretary of Area Eight and is today an active 41 Club member.
Ian was initiated into Anderton Lodge No 8470 in December 1987 and after completing every office starting at tyler became WM in 1997. He was appointed to acting Provincial rank in 2003 as Provincial Grand Steward and promoted to Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2006 an office he held for three years at the end of which was promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
In April 2010 Ian was honoured by The Grand Master, Brother His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent by being appointed an officer of the United Grand Lodge of England with the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.
Ian Higham Third Provincial Grand Principal.
In February 1991 Ian was exalted into Coronation Chapter of Westhoughton No 7258 and became its first principal in 2005. In Provincial Grand Chapter he was appointed Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2009 an office held for four years during which he was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2012.
April 2013 was very special for Ian as he became Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies for the Royal Arch Province of West Lancashire and appointed and officer of Supreme Grand Chapter with the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer.
At the meeting of Provincial Grand Chapter he retired as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and was appointed and invested by the Grand Superintendent as Third Provincial Grand Principal, an office he says “I really enjoy my Masonry and it has given me so much enjoyment over the years. In my new appointment I look forward to being able to give something back to this wonderful organisation that has, and still does, give me and so many others so much pleasure.”
Ian is pictured with his colleague DCs at the Provincial meeting in Preston Guild Hall in 2014.