At a recent Annual Convocation held in Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London on Monday 3rd November 2025, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent was to have presented his Certificates of Service to Royal Arch Masonry to four worthy recipients, but unfortunately, one unable to attend that meeting. However, at the Convocation of Ware Chapter C3002 on the following Thursday, 6 th November 2025, where they were undertaking a double exaltation ceremony, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, Comp David Hampton accompanied by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, E Comp Jason Roberts demanded admission into the Chapter meeting to not only witness the final part of an excellent double exaltation ceremony, but also to right the wrong and present E Comp Errol Uttridge PPGScN with his Certificate of Service to Royal Arch Masonry.
An extract from the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent’s oration to E Comp Errol Uttridge reads as follows:
“E Comp Errol Uttridge was born on 31 st October 1940 and so turned eighty-five last week…a
belated Happy Birthday. The day of your birth coincided with the end of the Battle of Britain and
as we know Britain had been at war with Germany since 1939, so your early life could not have
been easy during those turbulent times. You also share a birthday with Eric Griffiths, a Welsh
Skiffle Guitarist who joined a group called “The Quarrymen,” formed by John Lennon in 1956
and of course later to be known as the Beatles (1960). In your working life you worked in the
Insurance Industry as a Broker from which you have been retired for many years.E Comp Errol, was initiated in Freemasonry on 18 th May 1983 in Amwell Lodge No 6459, passed on 16th May 1984 and raised at the Christmas meeting on 5 th December 1984. He became the WM in 1991 and held two offices thereafter, as Chaplain & Director of Ceremonies. In 2007, he embarked on yet another journey up the ladder and was Worshipful Master again in 2009, since which he has held the offices of Assistant Secretary, Almoner since 2015, an office he continues to hold today and JW & SW. You were a joining member of Hertfordshire Masters Lodge No 4090 in 2014.
In the Craft Province, he was first appointed as ProvGStB in 1998, promoted to PPGSD in 2001, promoted to PPGSwdB in 2008, promoted to PPGReg in 2015 and finally promoted to PPSGW in 2023.
In the Royal Arch, E Comp Errol was exalted in Ware Chapter No 3002 on 7 th November 1991 and quickly ascended the ladder, as he was Third Principal in 1994, Second Principal in 1995 and First Principal in 1996. Since then, he has held a succession of Offices including Charity Seward, Almoner, Assistant Director of Ceremonies. He obviously hadn’t had enough of being the First Principal, as he was again installed as MEZ in 2013 & 2022 and is again continuing as a Principal within Ware Chapter. Having held the First Principals Office on three separate occasions, I note that you haven’t yet joined Hertfordshire First Principals Chapter No 4090….maybe it is about time!
In the Royal Arch Province, he was first appointed as PPGReg in 2000 and promoted in 2007 to PPGScN, a rank he continues to hold today.
They say, you cannot keep a good man down and your masonic career to date has certainly proved your zeal and enthusiasm for both the Craft and Royal Arch. It is therefore with great pleasure that I present you with my Certificate of Service to Royal Arch Masonry and I shall read the citation”
The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent proceeded to read the Certificate citation and then presented E Comp Errol Uttridge with his Certificate of Service, a gold tie pin insisting that it is worn at every Royal Arch Chapter meeting he attends and the heartiest of congratulations on receiving this well deserved honour. The Companions gave a spontaneous and rapturous round of applause after which E Comp Errol thanked everyone for their support over the many year’s he had enjoyed his Craft and Royal Arch Masonry.
Unfortunately, it was with deep regret that we received the news that E Comp Errol Uttridge passed to the Grand Chapter above on Monday 17th November 2025. His passing has affected many who knew this warm and caring man, who lived his life according to the masonic line and rule and will be greatly missed by all that knew him. May he rest in eternal peace.
