RW Bro Colin Harris, Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire, was born in the City of Chichester in West Sussex in 1942. After attending the local grammar school he went up to Oxford in 1961 to read Physics - rather presciently perhaps at Hertford College. He began his teaching career at St Albans School in 1965 and, although remaining at the school only until 1969, it was through this connection that he was proposed by VW Bro Geoffrey Pryke (subsequently Deputy Provincial Grand Master) and then initiated in 1972 into the Old Albanian Lodge, No 4999, of which he became Worshipful Master in 1984.
He joined The Herts Masters Lodge in 1990 and was Worshipful Master in 2001 Other Hertfordshire Lodges of which he is a currently a subscribing member are White Star Lodge, No 8727, Veritatem Sequere Lodge, No 9615, and Michael Batham Jones Lodge, No 9675.
Appointment as Provincial Grand Registrar in 1990 was followed by that of Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1992, of Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1996 and Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1999. In this respect, he has followed the example of his predecessor, R W Bro Michael Jones, in dealing with the ceremonial side of the Province's activities before joining the Executive. He was appointed in United Grand Lodge to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1992 (the "Birthday Honours" year) and then to the Active Rank of Senior Grand Deacon in 2000.
His career took him out of Hertfordshire to Westminster School, London, and thence to Eton College where he spent the last 21 years before retiring in the summer of 2002. At both these schools, he was Director of Studies with the task of orchestrating the academic organisation, producing the timetable and chairing, or sitting on, rather a lot of committees. In retirement he now lives in Harpenden, conveniently sited for access to London and to Masonic centres in Hertfordshire itself. Wider travel, some voluntary work, a continuing interest in reading and learning, a range of cultural interests, and bridge fill some of the time which Masonry leaves unclaimed. Antiques in general, antique furniture in particular, and the houses in which such things are often displayed remain a continuing source of stimulus and pleasure. Physical fitness and the time to think things through are provided by walking, cycling and some gentle gardening.
May 2007