Provincial Rulers
Click "Pen portrait" to read more about each officer
John became a Freemason as a 21 year old lewis in St Aidan Lodge in his home town of Blackhill near Consett in 1984. At the time of his initiation John was a Detective Constable having already completed 5 years police service after joining Durham Constabulary as a Cadet in 1979. During the 1980s his police career took him on major enquiries throughout the UK but by 1990 he had settled as a Sergeant in his home town and was Exalted into Constance Chapter. The following year he became the WM of St Aidan Lodge. In 1993 he joined Lambton Lodge and was a founder of Lambton Chapter in 1995 and Hammurabi Lodge in 1996. He was 1st Principal of Constance Chapter and Master of Hammurabi Lodge in 2001, Master of Lambton Lodge and 1st Principal of Lambton Chapter in 2004.
He first received Provincial rank as Acting Sword Bearer in the Craft (1999) and Chapter (2006), was Provincial Deputy Director of Ceremonies from 2001 to 2004 and appointed in Grand Lodge as Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2004.
Retiring from the Police as a Detective Inspector in 2011 he received the Northumbria Police Lifetime Achievement Award and subsequently attended the annual national police awards ceremony where he was specially commended by the Home Secretary.
John was Durham's first Provincial Communications Officer and appointed Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Royal Arch in 2010. He was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 2012 - a post he held until 2018 - to which he was subsequently reappointed in 2022 prior to becoming Deputy Provincial Grand Master in January 2024.
John has served twice as Chairman of Durham Freemasons Charity, and is an active member of many of the Companion Orders. He was Head of the Order of the Secret Monitor for the North-East Province until June 2026, and was Provincial Secretary of a companion order, and until June 2024, Chairman of Durham2029, Mark Benevolent Fund charity festival.
In 2013 John had the great honour of proposing the re-election of HRH The Duke of Kent as our Grand Master at the quarterly communication of Grand Lodge in March and was appointed as the Senior Grand Deacon at the Annual Investiture the same year.
He met his partner, Mark, an architect, in 1999, and they live at a marina development on Newcastle's Quayside and in any spare time enjoys foreign travel, caravanning in Northumberland, DIY, gardening, and motoring including being a volunteer Blood Bike rider and a Widows Son masonic motorcyclist.
On the appointment of his predecessor John Paul Thompson as Assistant Grand Master in April 2025 John Watts became DepProvGM in charge until his investiture as Head of Durham Freemasons on 28 June 2025.
"The Provincial mantra of STRONGER TOGETHER will continue, with a KISS. We are going to KEEP IT STRAIGHTFORWARD & SIMPLE. Freemasonry has made me a better person. We have a duty that Freemasonry continues; to ensure future generations of men and women have the opportunity to enjoy what we enjoy today."
Andrew was born in Darlington. He was educated, with his brother, at the Royal Masonic School in Bushey after the untimely death of his father.
He married Angela in 1978 and they have a son, Timothy, a daughter, Rebecca, and three grandchildren. He worked in Darlington at Whessoe Heavy Engineering for 25 years before moving to Stanhope and then York where he took up similar roles. Andrew enjoys Golf and was secretary to the local Rugby and Cricket clubs for some 25 years.
He joined Freemasonry in 1981. He was appointed Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2002, was the Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies for 5 years before becoming Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, an office he held for six years. He was the Founder and first Worshipful Master of the Durham Provincial Grand Stewards' Lodge and was awarded the Provincial Grand Master's Certificate of Service to Freemasonry in 2016. In Grand Lodge he was appointed to Past Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2007 and promoted to Past Junior Grand Deacon in 2015.
He was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master and invested on 25 June 2022 and subsequently promoted to Deputy Provincial Grand Master on 28 June 2025.
Clinton was born in Bromley in Kent and educated in Surrey. After graduating with a degree in Modern History from Oxford in 1975 he joined the Hong Kong Government, where he worked mainly on immigration, internal security, relations with China and developing Hong Kong's infrastructure. In 1999 he was awarded the OBE and returned to the UK with his family. He has since worked on delivering UK rail infrastructure, along with several charitable projects, while retaining close business links with the Far East.
Clinton has been married to Victoria, a ceramics artist, since 1986 and they have two adult sons.
He used to be a keen marathon runner but now prefers hill-walking, swimming and cycling, while retaining his lifelong passion for history.
Clinton was appointed as Assistant Provincial Grand Master Designate on 26 June 2021 and assumed responsibility for lodges that meet in the South West of the Province. He stepped down as Assistant Provincial Grand Master on 28 June 2025 and was the same day appointed and invested as Deputy Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch.
Tom was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, moving to the North East in 1979 after qualifying as a Primary School Teacher in Birmingham, and has over 35 years' experience in education, 25 of which were spent in the role of Primary School Head Teacher. He retired from Education at the end of 2014.
He has been happily married to Gillian for 45 years. They have two grown up children, Jonathan who is a Barrister (and a Freemason) and Ellie who is a Primary School Teacher, as well as two grandchildren.
Tom is a subscribing member of three Craft Lodges, with Tees Lodge No. 509 in Stockton being his Mother Lodge, as well as being a Royal Arch Mason. Having served the Province as Communications Officer for the South, Tom became Provincial Grand Secretary and Scribe Ezra on 1 January 2016, retiring in 2024. He was then appointed as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in July 2024, with responsibility for Lodges in the South East of the Province.
Outside Freemasonry Tom follows Leeds Utd. AFC, loves cricket, cooking, walking, gardening and playing the guitar - badly!
Martin was Initiated into Eslington Lodge in 1991 and became their Worshipful Master in 1999. After being the Lodge Secretary for 17 years he was once again Installed into the chair in April 2024 having the great honour of being their Worshipful Master in the Lodge's Centenary Year.
Martin has served as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies from 2025 until his appointment as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in April 2025, looking after the North West area. He is also Chairman of Durham Freemasons Charity.
In the United Grand Lodge of England Martin was appointed as an acting Assistant Grand Standard Bearer in 2018, appointed as an acting Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2024, and promoted to Past Junior Grand Deacon in 2025.
Martin has worked in the Funeral Industry since 1989 and currently runs his own Funeral Directors based in Whickham. He married Deborah in 2011. Other than Masonry his great passions are playing golf at Whickham Golf Club and watching Dunston Football Club.
Michael was born and educated in Stockton-on-Tees. After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Leeds, he enjoyed a career of 40 years as a chartered chemical engineer. Since his return from a long-term secondment to South Africa in the mid-1980s, Michael has lived in the village of Long Newton, just outside Stockton.
In addition to Freemasonry, Michael's interests include music, especially classical. He organises regular concerts and musical events in Long Newton, and is organist at the village church as well as being the church secretary.
Michael followed his grandfather and father into Freemasonry in 1982. He was promoted to Deputy Grand Superintendent in 2018, a position he held until he was invested as Assistant Provincial Grand Master on 28 June 2025.
He has also held the position of Inspector General for the District of Durham in the Ancient & Accepted Rite (the Rose Croix) since 2022.
John has been a serving member of His Majesty's Armed Forces for over 40 years, joining as the equivalent of a Private and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has served all over the world and currently is the MOD lead for the Defence Recovery Capability responsible for the wounded, injured and sick service personnel from across all three services.
He has been happily married to Gillian since 1988 and they have two grown up children and three grandchildren.
John is a member of Sanctuary Lodge No 8613, Anglers Lodge No 10049, Durham Lodge of Installed Masters No 4441, Chapter of Concord No 124 and Sportsmans Chapter No 9440.
He set up the Durham Cornerstone in late 2023 and led the Retention & Retrieval Team until recently. He was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master and invested on 28 June 2025.
Paul Swansbury was initiated into Freemasonry in 1995 at the age of 21. After an initial period focused on his professional career and further education, his active Masonic involvement increased from 2009, progressing through a range of senior leadership roles. He has since been widely recognised for his commitment, experience and leadership within the Province of Durham and nationally.
Alongside his Masonic responsibilities, Paul has extensive professional experience in estates and facilities management across the public, private and third sectors. This expertise has been central to his work overseeing the stewardship, sustainability and long-term strategy of Masonic buildings.
Sunderland-born and raised, Paul regards Sunderland Queens Street Masonic Centre as his Masonic home, a Grade I listed building he has managed for many years. He was appointed Assistant Head of Durham Freemasons and installed into the role at Queens Street on 9 January 2025, supporting and guiding Freemasonry across the North East of the Province.
Steve was born and brought up in Houghton-le-Spring. After serving an Engineering Apprenticeship with Wadkin Bursgreen he emigrated to South Africa working mainly in the Petro-Chemical and Power Generation Industries. Returning to the UK in 1986 he worked in machinery sales for market leading companies for the Sheet Metal and Fabrication sector in the North of England. Retiring in 2022, Steve became a Magistrate in the Commission of the Peace for South Northumbria.
Married to Jackie since 1990, they have 2 daughters, Georgia and Grace.
Steve was initiated into Fawcett Lodge No.661 in 2005, becoming Worshipful Master in 2012 and again in 2023. He was appointed Senior Grand Deacon for the Province in 2019 and Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2023. Exalted into Unity Chapter No.661 in September 2006, he served as 3rd Provincial Grand Principal in 2024 and was Invested as 2nd Provincial Grand Principal in June 2025.
Julian was educated at Durham Johnston School and then trained as an accountant. He has a degree in Theology from Durham University. He was previously Finance Director of Northumberland Health Authority, before starting his own direct mail business which he ran for 30 years. He is currently Director of Business and Finance for a theological college which trains priests and ministers. His wife Vanessa works for Newcastle Cathedral and they have two sons.
Julian is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Diocese of Durham and regularly takes church services. He plays the organ and piano. He and Vanessa are keen skiers and enjoy caravanning and hill walking.
Julian joined Freemasonry in 1994. He has been Master of Kepier Lodge 8308 three times and was appointed Provincial Grand Chaplain in 2021. He was appointed Third Provincial Grand Principal in 2025 with responsibility for RA Chapters in the South of the Province.
