VW. Bro. Richard Walker ARCHIVE

Richard was born in London on 18th September 1942 and now lives with his wife, Geraldine, in Kings Langley in Hertfordshire having been introduced to the county as a very young child by being evacuated during the war years to a cottage not far from Bovingdon airfield.

His early school days were spent at various schools in Friern Barnet and Muswell Hill following which – at the age of 9 – he attended the Royal Russell School, a boys boarding school just outside Croydon, which immediately after his leaving (the very next term) became co-educational.

Having obtained a BSc degree in Chemistry from London University he joined Kodak Ltd as a chemical microscopist in its Research Division at Harrow before moving 10 years later into the production environment in the field of health, safety and environment. After 37½ years with the company, during which time as a mature student he also obtained an MSc degree in Occupational Hygiene from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (London University) and an MSc degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Aston University Birmingham, he retired in 2002. After a further 3 years as a consultant – mainly to the film production industry at Pinewood, Shepperton and Elstree Studios – he retired fully, mistakenly expecting some peace and relaxation.

His Masonic career began in 1979 when he was initiated into Aquila Lodge No. 5189 in London; being appointed LGR in 1994, promoted to SLGR in 1999 and appointed to the Grand Rank of PAGDC in 2006.

In 1986 he was exalted into the Royal Arch in the Polish National Chapter No. 534 in London and was subsequently appointed to LGCR in 1999 and promoted to SLGCR in 2006.

It was in 1991 that he was perfected into the Berkhamsted Chapter Rose Croix No. 532 being elected to the 30th degree in 2005 and it was thanks to one of the members of this Chapter that he was introduced to the Mark degree.

Advanced into the Berkhampstead Lodge of M.M.M. No. 1172 in 1997 he was appointed a Provincial Grand Steward in 2006, promoted to Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2007 and then to Provincial Grand Secretary in 2008. His current appointment to Deputy Provincial Grand Master took place in 2011. He holds the Grand Rank of PGJO to which he was promoted in 2015.

Elevated in 2002 into the Berkhampstead Lodge of R.A.M. No. 1172 he was appointed to RAMGR in 2011.

Outside of Freemasonry his main interests include:

  • Amateur Radio – having obtained his full amateur radio transmitting licence in the late 1960s. He is a Past Controller and Treasurer of South West Hertfordshire RAYNET (Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network), a voluntary organisation providing emergency communications in times of disaster or other need.
  • Computing – by no means an expert, but enjoys ‘dabbling’ in most aspects of the subject.
  • Attending meetings of the local Kings Langley & District Probus Group of which he is a Past Secretary and Chairman.

Additionally since other duties have led to the neglect of his garden over the past few years he feels that it is likely that gardening will have to become his major ‘hobby’ for the immediate future.