ALDERMAN Mark Rae, the Deputy Lord Baron Steward of Dunham Massey, was found dead outside his Altrincham flat early on Tuesday, March 13, aged 57.

The much-loved man who formed his own catering company after leaving British Gas in 1998, was, for many years the popular chef at Altrincham Conservative Club.

Following his successful chairmanship and presidency of Altrincham Festival committee, he was made a Freeman of Altrincham in 1986 and was twice its Provost.

In 2017, he successfully recreated the Guild of Freeman, a working group of officers.

In 2003 he became Bailiff to the Barony of Dunham and, in 2012, became Deputy Baron’s Steward to the Barony of Dunham Massey.

In 2016, the descendants of the Earl of Stamford invited him to take on the role of Lord Baron’s Steward, the Lord of the Manor.

Mr Rae was the National Secretary of the Freemen of England and Wales for nine years from 1990.

As a Knight’s Templar, Mark formed the Preceptory of St John, England in 2013. On the weekend before his death he had attended a special Templars’ event in Paris

In 1986, Mr Rae became a Freemason and rose to the rank of worshipful Master of Marsland Lodge.

Mark’s community work began when he was eleven and joined the Church Lads and Girls Brigade at St Catherine’s Church, Park Road, Timperley.

His commanding Officer at the time, Colin Yates BEM, remembers how he rose through the ranks to become Company Warrant Officer and later Battalion Warrant Officer and how he helped form their national marching band.

Mr Rae assisted with Hale Civic Society and supported Altrincham Rotary Club. He helped St Margaret’s Church and The Children’s Society fundraise.

Mr Rae, the eldest of three children, grew up on the Grange Estate, Timperley and attended Heyes Lane Primary and Wellington Boys Secondary School.

The funeral has yet to be arranged.