
Many will undoubtedly recognise W Bro Neal Evans, PAGStB, PProvJGD as the Secretary of Prince Michael of Kent Lodge No 9120, the Service Lodge to the Province. Initiated in January 2000 Neal went through the Chair of his Mother Lodge in 2008 and was immediately appointed Lodge Secretary the following year when IPM. Appointed a Provincial Grand Steward in 2013, Provincial Junior Grand Deacon in 2015, the same year additionally honoured with Provincial Grand Steward in the Royal Arch, W Bro Neal became Secretary of PMK Lodge in 2017 having been asked in 2016 to take on the responsibility by the late Deputy Provincial Grand Master VW Bro Simon Thoday, PGSwdB.
Appointment as Provincial Grand Steward is considered a signal honour; indicating that the individual has been identified as someone with the drive and ability to engage fully with Provincial activities, but being appointed Secretary of the Service Lodge is a further honour as he provides the link that ensures Stewards are on hand to support the various Provincial functions, such as the Annual General Meeting, the Provincial Thanksgiving Service and other events where Past Provincial Grand Stewards assist in the smooth running of Provincial activities.
Since becoming Secretary, he has been involved in many AGM’s and Thanksgiving Services, not to mention the Tercentenary celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall. This year many will have already spotted him at the AGM managing the team of Past Provincial Grand Stewards, but there is an additional activity at Great Queen Street this year for the installation of W Bro/E Comp David Allan as the new Pro Provincial Grand Master/Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, the second time Neal has been involved as he was also in post when RW Bro Peter Baker was installed. ‘Once a Steward, aways a Steward’ is a phrase often repeated by Provincial Grand Stewards and Neal has demonstrated that for many years in a very active capacity.

On The Grid At Spa
Away from the Square, Neal can be found on the grid. A motorsport grid that is. Currently racing a Caterham 310R, he has competed in both the Caterham Motorsport Championship and Caterham Graduates Championships since 2019. Racing at iconic tracks including Silverstone and Spa Francorchamps F1 circuits, I think it fair to say this is a very different pace to his Provincial duties. Neal says when the opportunity to race presented itself he grabbed it with both hands. Since starting he has achieved several podiums, including a second place at the Brands Hatch GP circuit however, despite achieving 3rd place in the Championship in 2021 the top step seems to have eluded him.
Motorsport is very similar to Freemasonry in that commitment is needed, it isn’t just a case of turning up at the track and jumping in the car. Seat time is required, Testing and Practice sessions are just like learning ritual, you learn what needs to be done and put it into practice at a Lodge of Instruction or at a circuit in qualifying and the race. On the day it should hopefully all come together, and a satisfactory result is the outcome. But even the most accomplished Mason can make mistakes in delivering ritual and the same can be done in a racing car, albeit with different outcomes, but Neal doesn’t want to dwell on costly track mistakes!
In April 2024 Neal will be handing over the Secretary reigns after a longer than normal stint but believes he is handing over the office in good standing. Neal says, ‘It’s time to let someone else to take on the office of Secretary for this amazing Lodge; I’m grateful for the opportunity given to me and thankful for the unstinting support of the Brethren during my tenure.’