Extract from the Grand Superintendent's Address

E Comp Nigel, you were Initiated into the St Elli Lodge on 18th November 1981, passed on 20th January 1982 and Raised on 17th March 1982. By anyone’s standards, that is a speedy progression to Master Mason. You filled all the progressive offices, becoming Junior Warden in 1991, Senior Warden in 1992 and finally Worshipful Master in 1993. You have been a stalwart of the St Elli Lodge, perhaps most notably serving as Charity Steward between 2010 and 2020.

You joined the prestigious Kensington Lodge of Installed Masters, where you have served twice as Junior Warden and twice as Senior Warden. You also served the lodge as Charity Steward; Director of Ceremonies and you were finally Installed as Worshipful Master in March last year.

You joined Unity Lodge in 2003. You have held several Offices in the Unity Lodge, serving the Lodge as Worshipful Master in 2016. You are currently the lodge Treasurer.

In November 2022 you became a Founder Member of Cyfrinfa y Tair Sir our new Welsh Language Lodge.

In the Province of West Wales, your first Provincial Appointment was to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden. That is the highest rank that can be awarded to someone who hasn’t served the province as an active Warden.

In 2013, your dedication to freemasonry in Llanelli and West Wales was recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England where you were appointed to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.

In the Holy Royal Arch, you were Exalted into the St Elliw Chapter on 26th September 1983. You served in the progressive offices becoming Joshua in 1995, Haggai in 1996 and Most Excellent Zerubbabel in 1997.

You have also served the Chapter as Scribe Ezra, Assistant Director of Ceremonies and Director of Ceremonies.

In the Holy Royal Arch Province of West Wales, you were appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1999. Again, a very high rank to start with. You served the province as acting Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 2006 and Third Provincial Grand Principal in 2011.

E Comp Nigel, in the real world, you were born in 1957 and went to school in Ysgol Gymraeig Dewi Sant, Llanelli Boys Grammar School and you graduated in 1979 from Cardiff University with a degree in Optometry. You joined CF Walters, a long-established firm of Optometrists with practices in Swansea and Neath, to do your pre-Registration training, finally qualifying in 1980. In 1994 you became a partner in the practice.

In 1975, you met your wife Jen at the local swimming pool where you had a summer job. You were 18 and Jen was 16. You married in 1981 and had two children Gareth and Rhiannon. You have two grandchildren, Erryn and Rohan.

E Comp Nigel, that is a very impressive set of personal and masonic achievements. You have worked diligently for freemasonry in Llanelli and West Wales for over 40 years and you have been rewarded for that hard work by repeated appointments and promotions, both in West Wales and the United Grand Lodge of England.

E Comp Nigel, your late father was also a distinguished Freemason having served the Province as both Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Deputy Grand Superintendent. I have no doubt that he was very proud of your hard work and success in the organisation he loved so much. It is a great shame that Lawrence isn’t here to congratulate you in person, but I am sure he is looking down from the Grand Lodge above and smiling with enormous pride.

E Comp Nigel, congratulations on 40 wonderful years’ service to the Holy Royal Arch. I am delighted to present you with your certificate and badge. The badge is the one worn by your late father until I presented him with his 50-year Royal Arch Badge in November 2019. I hope you continue to have good health, and you continue to enjoy your freemasonry for many years to come.