Kenneth Edward Coatsworth Howe was born in Bishop Auckland and brought up in Spennymoor then Chester le Street and eventually in Durham City.

He was educated at Askam House School in Gosforth then Durham School.

On leaving school he completed an engineering apprenticeship with AEC at Southall in Middlesex.  They made London buses as well as lorries and buses generally.  During his apprenticeship he served his time in every department in the factory where he made his own set of tools, and worked in gear grinding, engine assembly, chassis assembly, engine testing and the service department.  With that experience he joined his father’s business E. Howe (OK Motor Services) Limited.  For a short while, during an illness of his father he ran the business which had a route between Bishop Auckland and Newcastle upon Tyne at which point he found it necessary to instruct Solicitors on licensing work.  When he attended Court with them he decided that his vocation was to become a Solicitor.

He therefore changed courses and entered the Legal Profession studying at The College of Law in London and then at Guildford and became Articled to a firm in Durham City.

On qualifying he became an Assistant Solicitor with a large firm in Newcastle, later joining the firm of Swinburne & Jackson which had several offices and where he became a Partner.  In the early days he appeared in many Courts both civil and criminal being a specialist in bus licensing but eventually specialised in Commercial Law, Wills and Trusts.  He retired from the Partnership in 2007 and is now a Consultant.

His father was a Member of both Rowlandson Lodge and Roger De Fery Lodge in Ferryhill.

Kenneth’s mother was very keen on Freemasonry and supported Kenneth’s father and Kenneth throughout.  She was very grateful and appreciative of his father’s Lodges remembering her as his widow and for the cards and presents which were sent to her on an annual basis.  She always wrote a letter in thanks.

He was initiated into Old Dunelmian Lodge No. 8100 being his old School Lodge, becoming Worshipful Master in 1982 and served the Lodge thereafter for many years as Treasurer.

In 1991 he was honoured by the Province when he was appointed Junior Grand Warden.  He had a very active year during which he was a Consecrating Officer of Sportsman’s Lodge No 9440, Nevill Lodge of Installed Masters No 9441, Indaba Lodge No 9454, and Achates Lodge No 9465.  He says that it was during that Provincial Year where he attended 45 meetings under the Provincial Banner by way of Representing the Provincial Grand Master and attending Deputations, Freemasonry was completely opened up for him and he had the opportunity of meeting some splendid freemasons and he acquired and maintained many wonderful friendships.  At the end of his year as PrJGW he was promoted to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden.

In 1997 Kenneth was appointed Provincial Grand Registrar in which capacity he was Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, a position he held for 5 years.  He was also honoured by being appointed to the Appeals Board of the United Grand Lodge of England and he sat hearing Appeals in Great Queen Street, London.

W Bro Kenneth became an Officer of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1998 with the Rank of Past Assistant Grand Registrar.

Provincial Grand Master, RtWBro Dr Alan Martin Davison appointed him as the first Chairman of the Durham Provincial Freemasonry in the Community Committee, a position he held until September 2008.

Being appointed as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham in 2002 his first role was to be in charge of the Northern Area.

At the launch of the 2010 Provincial Festival for the RMBI he was appointed Chairman of the Festival Committee.  On giving up his duties in the Northern Area he became responsible for the whole of the Province in heading up the Festival as well as Freemasonry in the Community.

In 2007 he was appointed a Trustee of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, which entails travelling to Great Queen Street, London on a regular basis to attend Trustee Meetings looking after the administration progress and development of this most important Masonic Charity.

Kenneth is married to Patricia and they have celebrated forty years of marriage.  They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.  Patricia has been very supportive of Kenneth’s Masonic activities and as he states himself, he would not be able to devote the time that is required to his duties if he did not have his wife’s complete and utter support.

By way of other hobbies Kenneth is a keen golfer, being a member of Golf Clubs at Chester le Street, Seahouses and Bamburgh.  He is a Past Captain of Seahouses Golf Club.

His other interests involve music; playing keyboards and drums in a band and he and his wife often attend opera, ballet and jazz festivals.  His taste in music is very cosmopolitan and he is always keen to attend live music performances.

WBro Kenneth obtains a great deal of pleasure attending Lodge Meetings and Festive Boards which are vibrant and happy, and where Brethren are fully integrated and having a thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling time.  He is keen to integrate our Freemasonry into the Community and to help change the public's perception of Freemasonry by openness.

Convinced that on the basis that we are careful who we admit into our Organisation and by discreet marketing, and that we concentrate on retaining our Freemasons through Mentoring and Education, WBro Kenneth is sure the future of Freemasonry will be secured with a solid and robust Membership which will prove to the world that Freemasonry is a force for good.

To contact the Assistant PGM email him at: pgl@pgldurham.org