I regret to inform you that R. W. Bro. Stephen Ayre, Past President of the AMD Executive Committee, passed to the Grand Council above on 31st March 2020.

Stephen was a towering figure in Freemasonry and was a Grand Officer in everything he was a member of. He was well known in all Orders in London and was, in particular, enormously supportive to me when I was Installed as District Grand Prefect.

Of note he was the Past Provincial Grand Master of the City of London, Provincial Grand Lodge in the Royal Order of Scotland and the Grand Master of the Order of the Pilgrim Preceptors - a position from which he had only recently announced his retirement.

In our own Order he had been a masterful Grand Director of Ceremonies (2013 - 2014) and then became the President of the Executive Committee (2016 - 2018) where he presided over committees and conferences with his unique character, much humour and always a steely determination to do the best for the Order.

He will be missed most certainly by myself, by the Order, and by all who knew him.

Rest in Peace, Stephen.

Colin Woodcock