Eminent Knight Roy Hughes, PProvHer
5th September 1949 – 18th May 2023
It is with great regret that we report the very sad death, on 18th May 2023, of Eminent Knight Roy Hughes, Past Provincial Herald.
Roy was a well-known local optometrist who came into Freemasonry in 1990 when he was initiated in Bothal Lodge No 4116, in Ashington. Six years later he became Master of Bothal, for which service, in 2004, he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Registrar.
After serving a second year as Master in 2007, he was promoted in 2010 to Past Provincial Deputy Grand Registrar and in 2020 to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer.
In the Royal Arch, he was exalted in Ashington Chapter no 2868 in 1998, becoming First Principal in 2008, with a second term of office during the covid pandemic years, between 2019 and 2022.
His first appointment in Provincial Grand Chapter, in 2013 to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies was followed in 2022 with promotion to Past Provincial Grand Sojourner.
In the Knights Templar, he was installed a Knight of our Order in Wudcestre Preceptory No 537 in June 2000; he was Eminent Preceptor twice – in 2013, and again during covid between 2019 and 2022, for which service he was first appointed to the rank of Provincial Aide-de-Camp in 2014, before promotion to Past Provincial Herald in 2018.
He was a member of three other Orders – Wudcestre Chapter Rose Croix No 1025 in the Ancient and Accepted Rite, holding the 30th Degree after acting as Most Wise Sovereign in 2012.
He was the Supreme Ruler of Wudcestre Conclave No 390 in the Order of the Secret Monitor in 2010, after which he acted as Provincial Grand Guarder from 2013.
And he was a member of King Oswald Conclave No 316 in the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, serving as Most Puissant Sovereign in 2011, with subsequent appointment as Divisional Registrar in the Division of Northumberland.
His untimely death is a great loss to all his Brethren and Companions, and he will be sorely missed in our assemblies.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior