Sir Knight Gerard McIntosh Ritchie
It is with deep sadness that the Provincial Priory learned of the death of Sir Knight Gerard Ritchie, of Royal Kent Preceptory No 20, on 3rd December 2020.
Gerard was initiated into Freemasonry in Hotspur Lodge No 1626 in February 1987, subsequently serving as Master in 1994. He was elected as Master on a second occasion this year and, after installation in January, he was its reigning Master at the time of his death.
In the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland, he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Registrar in 2003.
His promotion to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon was in 2017.
In the Royal Arch, Gerard was exalted in Ridley Chapter No 2260 in 2011, subsequently serving as First Principal in 2018.
He was installed a Sir Knight in Royal Kent Preceptory No 20 in November 2014, becoming a Knight of Malta in March the following year.
Illness prevented him from assuming office within the Preceptory.
In addition to the Templar Order, Gerard was installed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, in the Royal Kent Conclave No 152, in March 2016.
He had been the Standard Bearer (Constantine) in 2017 but, again, illness prevented his further advancement.
Gerard was a much loved and respected Freemason in our Province, and Northumberland is the poorer for his untimely passing.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior