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Maidstone Freemason is Honoured for 60 years Service
The Duke of Kent Lodge No 5818 held a special ‘white table’ evening at Maidstone Masonic Centre, Tovil on Friday 14th November 2008 to commemorate the achievement of 60 years in Freemasonry by W. Bro Keith Sharp PGStdB, PPJGW.
The Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master, Michael Robin Bailey personally presented Keith with his 60 year certificate in recognition of the achievement. Brethren were joined in the Temple and later at the Festive Board by their partners and Non-Masonic guests.
Keith was born in Maidstone and attended Maidstone Boy’s Grammar School and was a choirboy at All Saints’ Church, Maidstone. After National Service with the Royal Marines between 1943 and 1946 he joined Kent County Constabulary serving as a Police Officer at Ramsgate and Police Headquarters. He married Margaret Farmer, the daughter of late W. Bro Fred Farmer (Robinson and Garden of England Lodge) in 1949 and they were happily married until Margaret’s death in 1988.
Keith resigned from the Police in 1958 and took up the appointment of Bass Lay-Clerk at Rochester Cathedral, taking part in TV and Radio broadcasts.
Before retiring in 1986 Keith was employed by Kentish Church Builders, Kings School at Rochester and local Estate Agents.
Keith was initiated into the Duke of Kent Lodge No 5818 on the 12th November1948 and became WM in 1966. In 1967 he was appointed Provincial Grand Steward and joined the Kent Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge.
Keith was a Founder member of Watch and Ward Lodge No 8809 and became WM in 1992. He was also a Founder member of Sir Edward Elgar Lodge No 9837 in January 2008.
He is a member of the Mid Kent Masters Lodge No 3173 and became WM in 2007. Keith is probably best known throughout the Province for his accomplished Organ music and is the Organist for a number of Lodges, Chapters, Mark Masons and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges. In 1991 Keith was appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer and in November 1998 he was presented with a 50 year certificate by the then APGM W. Bro Michael Bailey (who said history doesn’t repeat itself!)
Keith was Exalted into the Duke of Kent Chapter in 1954 and became First Principle in 1974. He received Provincial Grand Superintendent Award in May 2006. He was a Founder of Monckton Chapter 9236, and is a member of a number of other Chapters.
In 1969 Keith was Advanced into Robinson Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 255 and became WM in 1979. He is a member of a number of other Mark Lodges and received his first Provincial appointment in 1982 and was appointed Past Grand Senior Deacon in 2003. In 2008 Keith was appointed Past Grand Junior Overseer.
He was Admitted to the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner (Robinson Lodge No 255) in 1971 and became Commander in 1990. He achieved Provincial Grand Rank in 1995 and Grand Rank in 2001. Keith was a Founder of the Kent Installed Commanders Lodge N0 999 and became Commander in 2004.
60 years in Freemasonry Certificate to W. Bro Keith Sharp of the Duke of Kent Lodge 5818, by the RW PGM on Friday 14th November 2008 at MMC.
The celebrations included the presentation of 2 cheques for over £3200 each to the Heart of Kent Hospice and Cherished Memories by W. Bro Alan Chitty, which was monies raised during his year as WM of the Duke of Kent Lodge 2007/8. |
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