Eminent Knight John Craigs,
J.P., P.Gt.W of R
23rd July 1930 – 1st May 2016
It is particularly sad that, just before the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of St Aidan Preceptory No 469 could take place in early May 2016, John passed away.
Eminent Knight John Craigs was the only surviving founder member of St Aidan Preceptory No 469 at the time of the fortieth anniversary of its consecration.
John passed away five days before the meeting. The plan for the Provincial Prior, RE Kt Alan Hume, KCT, to present him with a suitably engraved decanter to mark the occasion had to be postponed until such time, six months later, that his son, E Kt Ian Craigs, was able to accept the decanter on his late father’s behalf.
John was initiated into Freemasonry in April 1954, in Newminster Lodge No 5328 and was its Master in 1966.
Subsequently promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland, he was appointed by Grand Lodge to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1994.
In the Royal Arch he was exalted into Servavi Chapter No 6105 in 1968.
In the Templar Order, John was installed a Knight in Brinkburn Preceptory No 284 in December 1970 and six years later he was a founder member of St Aidan Preceptory No 469. In recognition of his service to the Order, he was appointed by Great Priory to the rank of Past Great Aide-de-Camp in 1991.
On 6th December 2016 the RE Provincial Prior, with a retinue of Provincial Executive members, was able to attend the meeting of St Aidan Preceptory and give a brief resumé of E. Kt John’s long service history to the Preceptory, illustrated with suitable anecdotes, based on his acquaintance with John over a considerable number of years.
E Kt Ian responded by expressing his honour and pleasure at receiving the award on behalf of his late father who he said would have been immensely proud.
He will be sorely missed by all the Knights of his Preceptories, as well as those Brethren who knew him in other Orders.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior