PROVINCIAL PRIOR
R E Kt Richard George Scott
Richard became a Freemason when he was initiated in St. Bede Lodge No.1119 in his hometown of Jarrow in 2002, after reading an article on Freemasonry in a national magazine. Upon finishing school he entered the engineering industry, completing his apprenticeship at NEI Clark Chapman in Gateshead and eventually rising to the position of foreman. He subsequently moved to Nissan Motor Manufacturing in 1988 as a Production Supervisor, followed by a succession of promotions towards his current role of Senior Project Supervisor for Nissan’s premium automotive brand, “Infiniti”. He graduated from the University of Sunderland in 1999 with a BA (Hons.) Degree in Business Studies. He went on to write the book “Business Systems & Practices Within Organisations” and has published several business articles used as reference material for various universities, including the London School of Economics.
Richard served as the Master of St. Bede Lodge No.1119 in 2007. He was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry in St. Bede Chapter No.1119, serving as 1st Principal in 2010. Richard was installed as a Knight of the Order in Finchale Preceptory No.222 at Sunderland in 2004. He was appointed a member of the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard in 2006 and became the Eminent Preceptor of Finchale Preceptory in 2008.
He was first honoured with office in the Provincial Priory with the rank of Provincial Almoner in 2010. Between 2014 and 2016, Richard served the Provincial Priory of Durham in the capacity of Sub-Prior before being appointed as Provincial Prior in 2017. In Great Priory, he was honoured with the rank of Past Great Standard Bearer (Beauceant) in 2016. He has continued to provide service in many Preceptories; as Registrar of Finchale Preceptory and Eminent Preceptor in both Durham Preceptory of Installed Preceptors No.567 and Palatine Guards Preceptory No.622.
In addition to the above, Richard has been active in many other Masonic Orders, including amongst others the Mark Master Masons, the Royal and Select Masters and the Knights Beneficent of the Holy City.
Between 2003 and 2011, Richard took an active role in several Provincial activities, being Assistant Secretary of the Friends of Scarborough Court, Secretary of the Freemasonry in the Community Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Website Working Party and member of the Provincial IT Committee; part of the team who built the Provincial websites and set up the IT systems for all Masonic Orders in Durham.
Richard still lives in Jarrow with his wife Victoria and has four grown-up children; three daughters and a son. His son, also called Richard, now resides in New Jersey, USA and is a professional football player for the New York Red Bulls. In his spare time, the enjoys riding his motorcycle and is a member of the Widows Sons Masonic Motorcycle Group.