The Widows Sons offices are manned by volunteers, they are elected annually and provide assistance and guidance to the governing body of the Widows Sons of Great Britain, which consists of these brothers plus the presidents of all the individual chapters.
Collectively the officers below are called "The Back Office".
The Chairman is the presiding officer of the WSMBA and is there to represent the Association's members to the whole at large. Ably assisted by the Back Office who deal with the day to days issues of running an association with over 1000 members and 37 Chapters allied to the principles and tenents of UGLE.
National Chairman - W. Bro Greg took the office of Chairman in 2022 and immediately started to build on the solid foundation that Peter Younger had laid.
Greg started riding to work as a teenager and then returned to two wheels after getting bored of being stuck in London traffic jams. He joined Masonry in 1983, HRA in 1985, and is always in office in both.
A firm believer in the combination of Masonry and Motorcycles and the synergy it creates based on brotherly love, relief and truth that it embraces. Greg rides a Harley Davidson Road King Classic for the long hauls, rain or shine, and a Tiger 1200xrt for commuting and back up.
The AJS Model 31 is the retirement project.
There are two Vice Chairmen, elected by the Presidents Governing Board, one for the North and one for the South. The division of which Chapter fits into which is based roughly on the dividing line of the country, around Derby.
A candidate for the role of Vice Chairman must be an experienced Mason and, ideally, a ruling or a Past President of a Chapter within the MBA.
The purpose of the role is:
1. To assist presidents in handling any issues that might occur in their respective area.
2. To be closer to the chapters and their officers so as to gather information on local issues that might be of interest to the back office and to provide more detail about national decisions to their local chapters.
3. To help presidents in the well-ruling and governing of their chapters.
4. To be an escalation point for the president of the chapters within their area.
5. To assist in the coordination of regional events and in gaining support from Provincial Grand Lodges.
6. To act on behalf of, or deputise for, the Chairman of the PGB during periods of absence.
This list is not exhaustive, the role is always developing and so a vice chairman may be called upon by the Chairman, or any of the chapter presidents, to carry out other tasks that are deemed necessary.
Vice Chairman North - Andy joined freemasonry in 2010, is a past master in his mother lodge and is currently their Director of Ceremonies and Treasurer. Andy is also active in three side orders, Mark, Chapter and Knights Templar.
Andy is the Primus Worshipful Master of The Widows Sons Lodge 10011, the first Widows Sons Lodge in Europe, something that he considers a huge honour.
A past VP of Ridings Chapter Andy is a founder member of The Parisi Chapter who were chartered in August 2020 and was honoured to be voted in as their founding President. He is also a founding member of the Portuguese Widows Sons Chapter, a little odd but he has a lot of good friends in Portugal and holidays there when ever he can.
Unlike some others Andy was a latecomer to motorcycles, at the age of 16 he bought an old Lambretta and a Honda 70 which he used along the disused tow paths that ran beside the old canals where he lived. At 17 he progressed to the road and now owns 4 bikes, an old 1958 Golden Flash, a Triumph Commander, a BMW RT1250 and a BMW R18.
Vice Chairman South - Riff has been a freemason since 2010, enjoys many different aspects of Freemasonry and is an active member in five different orders. He is a past master in most of them and is the Founding President of the Wyvern Chapter of the WSMBA. Harry is the Director of Ceremonies for his Mother Lodge, he also received Provincial honours in April 2022, when he was appointed Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.
Harry’s love for biking started aged 7 when his Great Uncle sat him on a Triumph Bonneville, once it was started up he was hooked. At 14 he and a school mate acquired a trials bike that they used to ride around the local common. By 19 his preferences has turned to cruisers with a Cagiva 125 low rider.
He currently rides a couple of bikes – a customised Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster 865 and a Triumph Thunderbird 1600.
Assisting the chairman and vice-chairmen are the leadership team, a number of other officers much as you get in any other group or association who help in specific areas.
The secretary is the communications point, if you want something disseminated to the rest of the association then this is the man to do it.
This role describes the development of the association.
Every organisation that has regular bills to pay needs someone to do that. The treasurer reviews the expected outgoings and tells the members how much they have to pay, and why.
Although the role of almoner does not exactly mirror the same one that Masonic lodges have, the office in the WSMBA performs a similar task, making sure that members are OK and if in need, who they can speak to for assistance.
National Secretary - W Bro Gavin Crickett is relatively new to freemasonry having joined in 2013. A past master of his former lodge Finsbury Park 1288 currently in the chair of Paddock Wood lodge and also a member in the HRA and Mark degrees..
Gavin started riding when he was 14, on trials bikes but has since migrated to his current iron steeds, a Triumph Tiger 800 and a Triumph Thunderbird Storm.
Development executive - W. Bro Peter Younger has been a freemason since 1994, following in the footsteps of several generations of his family. He is a past master of five lodges in the Province of Northumberland, a past principal of the royal arch, and other degrees.
Peter got his first motorbike at the age of 13, and has not had a time in his life since when he has not owned a motorbike. Peter currently has a Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, a Harley Davidson Dyna Fatbob, and a Yamaha Fazer FZ1.
Peter was the founding President of the Widows Sons Northumbria Chapter, and became our National Chairman in 2011, a position he held until 2022, growing the Widows Sons MBA into the association we all enjoy today. Peters’ new role, allows his years of experience to develop our association further, and grow our relationships worldwide creating strong friendships with Widows Sons chapters worldwide
National Treasurer W. Bro Martin has been a freemason since 1996. He is a member of four different orders, Craft, Holy Royal Arch, Mark and R.A. Mariners, and is a past master in three of them.
Martin has been in love with motorcycles since he was 15, his first bike being a Honda C90 Cub that was ridden across the fields near where he lived. He passed his full bike test after four tries, which proves that you can do anything you put your mind to... eventually.
His garage contains a varying number of motorcycles, currently it's five. Four are his and one is his eldest daughter's. Sometimes he gets them all out just to remember what 'garage space' actually means.
National Almoner 'Grumpy' has been with the Widows Sons since 2012, originally a member of the now-disbanded National Chapter before becoming a founder of the East Midlands chapter and mosut recently a fonder member of Merlin chapter.
He has been a Mason since 1994 and during that time has been a Craft WM twice. He is also in the Holy Royal Arch, Mark, & other side orders.
John is currently the Almoner for two Lodges and a Visiting Volunteer for the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
To start his two wheeled history John borrowed and rode his Dad's CB250 Honda first time at 14 and got caught. First legal bike at 17 was a Honda C90 and since then he's never stopped riding. He currently rides Triumph Explorer 1200 and a Yamaha Roadstar 1600. There are also some others hiding in the garage that Mrs P doesn't know about.
Backing up the leadership team are a group of Brethren who ensure that we maintain a good public face at all times, making contacting the association and seeing what we are doing easy for all. This team will also respond to any and all queries of a technical nature, from web design recommendations the email etiquette.
As well as being the National Treasurer 'Mandown' is a member of the Communications team. His primary focus being on web design.
W. Bro Clive Andrews-Lewis has been a freemason since 2004 and has served a three year term as Master of Legge Lodge 2784, the Staffordshire Motorcyclists Lodge, as well as St Swithuns, his Mother Lodge and Ashmole 8405 (twice). He has also completed two years as “Eminent Preceptor” of his Knights Templar Priory, and is currently "First Principal" of Burslem Chapter 98 - the Staffordshire Motorcycling Royal Arch Chapter.
Clive has been biking non-stop since he was 16, passing his test way back in 1979. He is a founder, Past President and current Secretary of the West Midlands Chapter of the WSMBA.
Clive is lucky enough to have three bikes – a BMW R1200GS, a Honda Firestorm and a 1973 Suzuki GT550K
W. Bro Richard joined the craft in 2009 and is a past Master of his mother lodge. As well as being a member of another craft Lodge and the Royal Arch he is also the Information Officer for the PGL of Down in N. Ireland.
Richard was an avid fan of Charlie and Ewan's bike trips growing up and followed in their footsteps with his love for adventure bikes and travelling.
Richard is currently President of the Widows Sons MBA Ireland.