Meet the New APGM – Barrie Palmer
Barrie Was born at an early age in Bath, where he enjoyed his childhood. On leaving school, he worked as a trainee Quantity Surveyor but soon found that his interest in science led him to become a Constable in the then Somerset and Bath Constabulary. His first station being Bridgwater and then to Taunton. In 1974 the force become the Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Barrie became a CID officer. He then completed his Scenes of Crime course at both the Forensic Science laboratory in Bristol and then for his photography in Durham. His Scenes of Crime work, was his favourite time within the Police and overall was for 22 years of his 32 years in the Police service. He attended many major scenes including that of Shirley Banks whose body was found on the Quantock Hills.
Barrie was always an amateur actor for as long as he can remember. When he retired from the Police, he gained a place at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre school and on graduating almost immediately was cast in the 2005 Comedy Season with The Royal Shakespeare Company on a 15 month contract. Rehearsing in London and performing in Twelfth Night and As You Like It in Stratford-Upon-Avon and the West End. He later formed his own Theatre Company GB Theatre Company touring for 8 years, Outdoor Shakespeare around the UK to places like Arundel Castle for the Duke of Norfolk, also to Norway, Ireland and the Czech Republic. He has appeared in a number of pantomimes around the Country and toured for two and a half years as Stan, in the stage show of Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies with three of the original TV cast. He toured with Felicity Kendal and Simon Callow in a play, Chin Chin.
Barrie was initiated into masonry on 11th December 1984 (The day before his 33rd birthday) into St Bernard lodge, Minehead, where he served in all progressive Offices becoming WM. . On 18th March 1993, he became a joining member of the Emergency Services lodge, having unfortunately missed all of the pre founder meetings. He was WM in 2011 and again in 2018. He received his first Provincial honours PPrAGDC in 1998. He has been the DC for a number of years. He was Area Membership Officer for the SW of the Province for a number of years, then appointed as the Provincial Membership Officer in 2022. A post that he has thoroughly enjoyed, helping to increase the membership of the Province and touring the great county of Somerset.
As a result of his acting, Barrie is also a member of Chelsea Lodge No 3098, the entertainers lodge meeting at Freemasons Hall. He is a member of Somerset Masters Lodge, 261 RA Chapter and Quantock Lodge of Mark Masons No 749. He is due to become a member of RAM No 348 in October.
Barrie was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2020 for ‘Services to Cancer Treatment’ all to do with his Charity SURE The Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment .
He was shocked and surprised but at the same time extremely pleased and honoured to recently receive the invitation from the PGM to become an APGM. He is looking forward to the challenge to continue his work to increase the membership of the Craft and RA within the Province in conjunction with the new PMO Steve Poland and to convince the brethren the advantages of using the Members’ Pathway which will help every lodge to attract more members and to retain the ones we already have.
Barrie will be installed as the New APGM by the PGM Ray Guthrie, at the September meeting of the Emergency Services Lodge in Taunton. We all wish him the very best of luck!
