Among the many distinguished members of Ulster Lodge No. 2972, few had a career as remarkable as Dr Edward Andrew Gregg CBE.
Born in Belfast around 1881, Gregg was the son of Edward Gregg, a respected teacher at Belfast Model School. Following in his father’s footsteps, he began his working life as a schoolmaster, teaching in Belfast, Dublin and Londonderry before studying medicine at Queen’s University Belfast.
After moving to London in 1909, he established a medical practice in St Pancras and quickly became one of the capital’s leading public health figures. During the First World War, he served as a Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps before returning to civilian life to dedicate himself to medicine and public service.
His achievements were extraordinary. Dr Gregg served as an Alderman and later Mayor of St Pancras, chaired a number of London’s medical and public health organisations, and became Chairman of the Council of the British Medical Association—one of the highest offices in the British medical profession. He was later appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his services to medicine.
Alongside his distinguished public career, Dr Gregg was a committed Freemason. A Past Master of Ulster Lodge No. 2972, he also served as Past Master of the Borough of St Pancras Lodge and later as Senior Warden of the London Masons’ Lodge.
When Dr Edward Andrew Gregg died in June 1969, aged 88, he left behind an outstanding legacy of service to medicine, civic life and Freemasonry. His story is a reminder of the remarkable men who have shaped the history of Ulster Lodge No. 2972 since its foundation in 1903.