Brethren, many of you will be aware of the loss that has been suffered by the Craft  by the death on 10 February of RW Bro. the Honourable Edward Latham Baillieu, Past Deputy Grand Master.  I believe that a memorial service will be held in due course, but in the meantime I should like to say a few words in Grand Lodge now, so that those of us who knew him can be reminded of what sort of man - and Mason - he was and those who did not may have some idea of what they have missed.

Bro. Baillieu, known to all his friends as “Ted”, was born in 1919 and was educated at Winchester, and Oxford University, where his career was interrupted by the Second World War.  He served in the Royal Horse Artillery and was invalided out after being wounded.  In 1946 he was initiated into Empire Lodge, No. 2108 in London and two years later was exalted into Empire Chapter.  Meanwhile he was making his career in the City as a stockbroker.  In 1962 he was appointed a Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies ands served in that capacity for three years under the late Brother Frank Douglas, whom, he succeeded as Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1968.  When he relinquished that office in 1976 he became Assistant Grand Master in succession to the present Lord Cornwallis, in this again following in Frank Douglas’s footsteps (though this time at one remove).  When Lord Cornwallis became Pro Grand Master in 1982, Ted succeeded him as Deputy Grand Master (and Second Grand Principal), finally retiring in 1989.

Ted was a larger than life character with an imposing presence, forthright in expressing his opinions, but commanding great affection among many of those who worked with or for him.  He was an most impressive Grand Director of Ceremonies, but was nonetheless modest enough to claim in later years that Bro. Alan Ferris who succeeded him was the true professional in that office.  As a Ruler of the Craft he had no need to grow into his office, for he already brought with all the necessary characteristics.  After his retirement he only rarely attended Masonic functions in London - the last one of any magnitude being the 275th anniversary of Grand Lodge at Earls Court in 1992 - and increasing infirmity in his later years meant that we saw less and less of him.  He nonetheless retained a keen interest in the affairs of the Craft, which is left the poorer by his passing.

Brethren I ask you to stand for a few moments in silence in his memory.