At the forthcoming annual Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter Convocation on Thursday 17th May, the Grand Superintendent will be appointing and investing Excellent Companion Martin Ransom as Second Provincial Grand Principal, and Excellent Companion Brian Barden as Third Provincial Grand Principal. We heartily congratulate both, and wish them every success and happiness during their term of office.

Born on Boxing Day 1946, EComp Ransom was educated at Chatham Technical High School for Boys and went on to complete a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, before joining his father’s vehicle accident repair business, which he now owns. A third generation Freemason, he was initiated in 1968 as a twenty one year old by his grandfather, who was eighty four at the time, and went on to become Worshipful Master of the Manor of Gillingham Lodge No. 3983 just eleven years later in 1979. He was Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Craft from 1989 until 1996, and was appointed to Grand Rank in 1998 as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies. He is also a Past Master of the Pentalpha Lodge of East Kent No. 8535, and the Mid Kent Master’s Lodge No. 3173.

EComp Martin John Ransom, PGStdB, PPrGDC

EComp Ransom’s Holy Royal Arch career began with his Exaltation into the Triangle Chapter No. 184 in January 1979, where he is a Past First Principal. He also belongs to St. Mary’s Gillingham Chapter where he was First Principal in 1992, going on to serve as Scribe “E” for five years. Additional Chapter memberships include Radnor Chapter No.2587, and East Kent First Principals Chapter No.3931, where he is currently the Director of Ceremonies. For an eight year period between 1998 and 2005, EComp Ransom served as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. In 2003 he gained Supreme Grand Chapter rank as Past Grand Standard Bearer.

There are also a number of memberships of Other Orders, and he is extremely well supported by his wife Susan in his Masonic interests and activities. He is a dedicated family man with three adult children and a brace of grandsons. Diverse interests such as rugby football, philately, music, ornithology, and country walking, are all second to his great love of motor sport and classic cars.

EComp Brian Robert Barden, PAGDC, PPrGSwdB

Also a mechanical engineer specialising in the vehicle sector, EComp Barden was born in Dover in 1938 and educated locally at St Bartholomew’s and Astor schools before completing an apprenticeship and then going on to two years of National Service. Moving around the south of England with various positions in fleet transport and other engineering management roles, he returned to Kent when joining a London based Energy Management business in 1980, where he remained until accepting an early retirement in 1997.

His Craft Freemasonry began with his Initiation into the Cathedral Lodge No.7753 in Portsmouth in 1974, where he went on to become Worshipful Master only eight years later in 1982. He gained Hampshire & Isle of Wight Provincial honours with an appointment to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 1990, and was promoted in 1999 to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden. After having returned to Kent, he joined the Fleur de Lis Lodge No. 8969, and became Worshipful Master in 1991. In 1999 he joined the Rochester Castle Lodge No 9260, immediately became Secretary, and served in that role until 2005. His first East Kent Provincial appointment came in 1999 when he was appointed as Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, later being promoted to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 2005. In the same year, he was appointed to Grand Rank as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.

EComp Barden was Exalted into the Wayfarer’s Chapter No.5740, based in Cosham near Portsmouth, in 1977. A joining member of the Bearsted Chapter at Maidstone in 1981, he went on to become First Principal in 1986. Appointed as Past Provincial Grand Sojourner in 1992, he was promoted in 1999 to the active Rank of Provincial Grand Sword Bearer. He was appointed as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of Supreme
Grand Chapter in 2002.

Greatly admired and respected for his organ playing, EComp Barden currently plays for eight Lodges and Chapters, and is also the guest Organist for the East Kent Provincial Grand Stewards Chapter No. 5866. He enjoys and holds office in eight Other Orders.

EComp Barden benefits from the unselfish support of his wife Evelyn, to whom he has been happily married since 1959. They have a daughter and two grandchildren.

From Ed46, P10