As a boy from Sunderland, and practicing Kung Fu in a building adjacent to the Burdon Road Masonic Hall and almost next door to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham head quarters, I was familiar with the sight of Freemasons attending meetings, in what looked like (and is) a huge and impressive building. It always stirred a feeling of wonder within me. What do they do there....?

I've since stopped training, gotten older, gotten bigger, been married and had children. But the intrigue never went away.

I used to manage the IT for a large Oil and Gas services company covering 33 sites in 15 countries. It was then, during those random visits to the US, Europe and elsewhere that I noticed the universality of Freemasonry.

I never personally knew any freemasons, but felt it was an organisation I would like to learn more about....so I wrote an email!

I became a Freemason in 2005 aged 30. I wish I had done it earlier!

My career has since moved more into Research and Product Development, developing new innovative technologies for multi-million dollar, large, complex and critical engineering projects.

So what do I make of Freemasonry? Well, from the first day I joined, I was astounded by the welcome I received. Yes, I was nervous. What was this organisation I was joining? What is going to happen?

That lasted all of 2 minutes, when many of the members and visitors came over to me, introduced themselves and made me feel so welcome.

My wife and I enjoy the social aspects of Freemasonry, my kids enjoy the many family activities we attend, and my friends.... well, our circle of friends has just exploded... It makes summer BBQs so much more fun!

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