The Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison invested John Lee as the new Provincial Senior Grand Warden and Jonathan Heaton as the new Provincial Junior Grand Warden at the 2016 meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge, held in the Winter Garden in Blackpool.
John Lee.
John Lee – Provincial Senior Grand Warden
John was born in Derby in January 1978. His father was a professional musician and he played the organ providing accompaniment to all the stars that appeared at the famous Assembly Rooms. His mother remained at home and she cared for John and his two sisters Sarah and Laura.
The family relocated to Blackpool in 1988. John’s education began at College Primary School in Derby but he was then educated at Thames Primary School, Knowle High School and Blackpool Sixth Form College all based in Blackpool.
When John’s father suffered a shock heart attack in his 30s, his ill health gave John impetus to better himself. He knew that he needed to care for his family at what was a very worrying time. He says he didn’t have the luxury of travelling the world or following interests. He needed to earn money quickly. As it happened, John’s father came through that difficult period although he has been plagued with ill health ever since. John was however, able to identify what was really important in life – family.
He subsequently studied law at the University of Central Lancashire. He obtained a training contract at Cooper Nimmo Solicitors in Blackpool which commenced in June 2000. Whilst working full time, he undertook a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
John says: “My education has always been self-funded. Money was never in plentiful supply in my household. I had something far more important. I was loved and blessed with an abundance of affection. I was taught to believe, trust and be myself.”
John obtained a place at Chester Law School but chose to remain in Preston to be near to his family. After many years of education, he eventually qualified as a solicitor in May 2003.
His career commenced in Blackpool but then took him to Fleetwood, Burnley and eventually Lancaster. He dealt with many areas of law but says criminal defence most suited him. In January 2008 he joined LHD Solicitors Ltd based in Lancaster and is he is still at that practice.
Kathryn Lee.
He met his wife Kathryn in 2002. He says he fell in love with her from the very start. They were quickly wed at the Marriott Hotel in Broughton on 15 February 2003 and John says his marriage to Kathryn remains his greatest achievement.
Kathryn and John have six beautiful children namely; Jack (12), Luke (11), Lucy (9), Katie (7), Joey (4) and Harvey (2). Our latest addition to the family fold is Doug the Pug who is loved by all.
Like most families, they have had their set-backs. John says: “My own personal test came at the age of 31 when I was diagnosed with skin cancer which broke my world in two. That conversation with the consultant shook me to my core and it was the love of my wife, children and close friends who got me through that dreadful experience. I am off the hospital books now and enjoying life to the full.”
He became a Freemason in 2001. John says: “My proposer Brian Tracey had observed my development from afar and we eventually had that chat about joining Freemasonry and doing something different. I was 23 years old and still learning. Brian was adamant throughout that period of time that Masonry would both suit and define me.
I subsequently joined Baines Lodge No 7844. I knew nothing about the organisation or what Freemasons did. I placed complete faith in my proposer.”
The first year was indeed tough as he was the youngest member of the lodge by some considerable years and he says: “I really struggled to feel part of what was going on.” Fortunately luck was on his side as his best friend David Thomas, now a Deputy DC of the Province, commenced visiting.
David joined Baines Lodge because of our friendship, which has grown ever since. He says: “Without David I may very well have left Freemasonry and to this day I regularly thank him for all his support and affection. The late John Brian Wright, who was then an Assistant Provincial Grand Master and Dennis Tofts, the best grand officer the Province never had, took me under their wings.
A rare photo of all the children and Doug together!
The hard work and tenacity meant that I was able to attain the pinnacle of my Masonic career in 2007 when I became WM. The late Provincial Grand Master, Colin Penty Wright, blessed my installation with his presence. That is a day I will never forget.”
John received his first Provincial rank of Provincial Grand Steward in 2011 and he joined Quingenti Lodge No 8516 in November 2011. He is also a member of Senatories Lodge of Installed Masters No 8966. He is currently group membership officer for the South Fylde Group.
John is a member of Fylde Chapter No 2758 and was installed as first principal in March 2014. He is also a member Senatories Chapter of Installed First Principals No 8966.
John says: “2011 was a phenomenal year for many reasons but none more so than my new formed friendship with Bob Bennett. I now understand why senior Masons say that acting years are so very special.
I had no aspirations beyond my lodge and I want to recognise the input of David Randerson, the late Leon David Tax, Ian Ward and my current mentor David Winder. Without those men I would not be where I am today. I have had many successful moments in Freemasonry since. However, the only true constant is enjoyment.
The appointment to Provincial Senior Grand Warden will be an incredible moment. I don’t want to hide my trepidation about what lies ahead because it shows everyone that it means something to me. To have such an incredible opportunity at 38 years of age is frankly breath-taking. Freemasonry is changing and I will always be indebted to the Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Secretary for giving me this opportunity.”
Jonathan Heaton.
Jonathan Heaton – Provincial Junior Grand Warden
Jonathan was born in Leigh in 1969. His primary education was at Pennington School in Leigh, he was later educated at Bolton School and then Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he read Natural Sciences (maths, physics, chemistry, materials science).
Jonathan and his wife, Sarah, met as teenagers at the local church youth club in Leigh and they were married in 1994. They now have two young daughters, Isabel (10) and Amy (7). Having lived in Leigh for most of their lives, Jonathan and Sarah relocated their family a few miles north to Bolton in 2012, to shorten the children’s’ school run.
After university, Jonathan’s career moved into IT and he is now the managing director of Key Computer Applications Ltd, a company he first established with his father to develop specialist software products for certain business sectors. Over the years, Key has grown to have offices in Leigh, Southampton and Bangalore, India.
Outside work and Masonry, Jonathan and Sarah enjoy spending time with their daughters and socialising with friends. Recent family holidays have been by the beach in Portugal, in Cornwall and skiing in Spain.
In 2013, together with some friends, Jonathan and his eldest daughter abseiled from the top of Manchester Velodrome in aid of ‘The Message Trust’, a charity which aims to transform the lives of young people.
Jonathan and Sarah.
A keen hockey player at school and university, Jonathan is now an enthusiastic but, he says: “Not a very accomplished, player of any game involving a racquet“, squash being the game he currently plays most frequently. Always keen to try new ways to keep fit whilst avoiding the boredom of the gym, he recently joined Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club, to take up real tennis.
It was through his work as an IT Consultant that Jonathan met Malcolm Parr, his proposer into Freemasonry, as they worked together on the implementation of a production management system for Tronic Gravure Ltd (a company which engraved cylinders for the printing industry).
Of that time, Jonathan said: “Malcolm and I worked together in various capacities for quite a few years. I knew that Malcolm was a Freemason and we chatted about it on and off for a long time. The concept of the charitable work of Freemasons always appealed to me and I enjoy the camaraderie of spending time with friends. I attended a few ‘Directors’ Dinners’ at Leigh Masonic Hall and met other Masons, but it wasn’t until Sarah and I attended a summer jazz evening together that we realised that Freemasonry would be good fit for us both, something in which Sarah could be included, with social events that we could attend together.”
In 2004, Jonathan was initiated into Lodge of Truth No 6235 which meets in Leigh. He has been master of that lodge twice, first in 2011-12 and 2014-15.
Jonathan and Sarah with their two daughters.
He was exalted into Atherton Chapter No 4488 in April 2007 and served as first principal in 2012-13 and again in 2014-15.
Jonathan joined Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters No 9057 in 2014 and has since served as a steward and junior warden.
During his time as master of Lodge of Truth in 2011-2012, Jonathan became interested in supporting the Association of Friends of Ecclesholme, a charity which he holds dear as a shining example of Freemasonry in action. He was then pleased, in January 2014, to be appointed treasurer of the association and to become a trustee of the fund a few months later.
Jonathan was appointed Leigh Group Secretary in May 2015 and is also a member of the Tercentenary Committee.
Of his forthcoming appointment Jonathan says: “I am very surprised and of course, extremely pleased to have been offered the appointment of PrJGW, particularly as this will be my first Provincial appointment.
I am eternally grateful that Sarah and my daughters are willing to support me in accepting it and also to those many Masonic colleagues who have mentored and supported me over the years, particularly my good friend and proposer Malcolm Parr, without whom my Masonic journey would not have begun.
I am looking forward to a busy year in office, travelling and working with the PrGM and the rest of his team. Above all, I am looking forward to the opportunity of visiting so many places in the Province and meeting many new people.”