Hi. Im Chris Moore the West Groups Building Lead
My name is Chris Moore and I am the ‘Buildings Lead’ within the ‘West Group’ initiative, to offer help and support to Freemasonry in our area where we can.
Just to give you a bit of background, I have been a practicing building consultant and Chartered Building Engineer with my own company for the last 19 years and before that I worked in Building Control for 20 years. Within Freemasonry, I am a member of Felpham Lodge based at the Gordon Centre in Bognor Regis and for 14 years I was a director of the Hall Company looking after the Gordon Masonic Centre and was Company Secretary for 9 of those years.
During my time at the Bognor Regis Hall Company, other than the general running of the Centre, I took the lead in the design, submission and project management of various alterations and improvements to the Centre, including the installation of a new lift and also the demolition and rebuilding of our front porch. I am aware of the issues being faced by our Masonic Centres not only in the maintenance and improvement of the fabric of the building but also the hire of the Centres by outside groups which have provided a much needed revenue stream to in turn, subsidise the use of the facilities by Freemasons.
Within the West Area we have 9 Masonic Centres, (Chichester, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Clapham, Worthing, Southwick, Midhurst, Petworth and Pulborough), each with their own particular issues and constraints. These days the revenue from our centres is becoming ever more important with the general reduction of member numbers and the increased costs associated with the running and heating of the buildings. Likewise, Health and Safety legislation plays an ever more important role on the buildings’ management.
I shall be working with W Bro Colin Ballard in being available for help and advice for those centres seeking it. I am not saying that we will have all of the answers but even if is just a fresh pair or eyes, it may be a help. I would also like to think that we could be a conduit for good working practices between our Centres and that where we see innovative ideas and solutions to issues, that these could be passed on to other company secretaries where it may be of use.