Provincial News
- Written by: Super User
E Comp Richard Stainton SANDBACH PGSupt, OSM
Companions all,
Nearly a week has now passed since we received the sad news that our Past Grand Superintendent, E Comp Richard Sandbach, had passed peacefully away last Saturday morning at the RMBI Residential Home at Devonshire Court and where he and his late wife, Wendy, had spent their last few years together. E Comp Richard was in his 100th year.
We have already written to the family to convey our sincere condolences and to assure them that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this sad time. We understand that a memorial service will be held to commemorate his life in due course.
E Comp Richard was the ME Grand Superintendent of this Province from 1978 to 1990 – he was appointed some six years before being installed as our Provincial Grand Master in 1984. Having been initiated in 1949, he was later exalted into our St Peter’s Chapter No: 442 in 1952. There followed a very distinguished and illustrious Masonic career, not only in this Province of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire but also in London and in other Orders of Freemasonry in which he held high office and in which he was greatly respected and held in the highest regard.
In March 2006, he was awarded the Grand Master’s Order of Service to Masonry (OSM) – an accolade afforded to just a privileged few. He was greatly influential in the revision of our Royal Arch ritual in 2004 when recommendations and amendments were accepted and approved by Supreme Grand Chapter in November of that year.
Indeed, we have a great deal for which to be grateful and for which we are indebted to our Past Grand Superintendent. He will be sorely missed by all those that were privileged to have known him but through our amended Royal Arch ritual, his memory will continue to live on. He certainly lived respected and he truly died regretted.
Wayne E Williams ME Grand Superintendent
Royal Arch Province of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire.
- Written by: Super User
As the 2014/15 Masonic season comes towards a close and the Holy Royal Arch Chapters hold their last meetings, Excellent Companion David Jackson enjoyed a most convivial evening of companionship at Ailwyn Chapter which was his last official visit as Deputy Grand Superintendent. E Comp David, has served on this Province’s Executive since 2002 which is over 13 years dedicated service, the last 9 years have been in the capacity of Deputy Grand Superintendent. It should be noted that he has served under 2 Grand Superintendents.
During this period, E Comp David has enjoyed many official visits across the province and has represented Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire across the country at numerous Provincial Grand Chapter meetings. His last visit at Ailwyn on Monday night was an excellent occasion and enjoyed by all those in attendance. The Three Principals wished E Comp David well in his retirement and thanked him for his services to the Holy Royal Arch, which met with unanimous agreement from all the Companions present.
- Written by: Super User
Excellent Companion Geoffrey Barnes PAGDC 1938-2015
Geoffrey was born and raised in Manchester in the year preceding the Second World War. As a youngster he enjoyed a career in the Boy Scouts, after which he joined the Navy in whose care he travelled extensively World Wide for a number of years. After leaving the Service he returned to Rochdale and set up a successful business in the shoe trade, became married to his beloved Susan and became the father of two sons, Simon and Michael.
Much of his later life was spent in Ramsey where he quickly became involved in the local scene and was able to enjoy his many hobbies of shooting, fishing ,bowls and golf………and Masonics but not necessarily in that order!
He was Installed as MEZ in Ailwyn Chapter 3535 in 1998 and promoted to PAGDC by the MEGS in 2012 in recognition of his sterling work on behalf of the HRA in the easternmost borders of the Province. As he was always keen to tell us….. “that glorious luminary the Sun, rises in the East from whence it diffuses light and influence to rest of the Province…”
The packed Memorial Service, held at St Thomas a Becket Church, Ramsey on Thursday 12 March was a testament to his popularity within the wider community. A poem “Footprints” was read by his dear friend Ex. Companion Esmond Edwards and a comprehensive and moving Eulogy was presented by his sons, Simon and Michael who between them gave an amazing insight into his long and very full life.
He will, of course, be greatly missed by his widow Susan, his family and the “Ramsey Boys” at the Abbey Rooms. We send them our deepest sympathy.
- Written by: Super User
The Province was again represented in the Silverstone Half Marathon on Sunday 15 March 2015 when four Brethren ran in aid of Lifelites, the children’s charity being supported by the Province.
They were
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