Eminent Knight Ivan Foster, P.Gt.Swd.B
In July 2017, the Provincial Priory of Northumberland suffered the tragic loss of one of its senior members when E Kt Ivan Foster passed away after a long illness.
Ivan was initiated into Freemasonry in 1978 in his “mother Lodge”, Grainger No 7261, though unfortunately this later closed. After visiting regularly in the mid-2000’s, he became a Joining member of Epicure Lodge No 9618 in 2008.
He was, by then, already a senior Grand Officer and he served as Master of Epicure Lodge in 2010. His first Provincial appointment had been to Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 1994, leading to first Grand Lodge appointment to Past Grand Standard Bearer in 1999 before promotion to Past Junior Grand Deacon in 2008.
In the Royal Arch, he was exalted into Chapter De Sussex No 406 and was its First Principal in 1990.
His first Provincial appointment was to Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 1995 before appointment to the Supreme Grand Chapter rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer in 2006.
In our Templar Order he was installed a Knight in Brandling Preceptory No 239 in 1984, but later moved to St Wilfred of Hexham Preceptory No 461.
He had been a member of the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard and was a Founder member of the Northumbria Guards Preceptory 600 in 1995.
From 1993 he had several Provincial promotions to the rank of Provincial First Constable, and he was appointed in 2006 to the Acting rank of Great Sword Bearer in Great Priory.
In other Orders, he was a member of the Royal Kent Chapter Rose Croix No 8, acting as Most Wise Sovereig 31st Degree in the Antient & Accepted Rite by the Supreme Council.
He was also installed in Royal Kent Tabernacle, Time Immemorial, of the Grand College of Knight Templar Priests and Order of holy Wisdom in 1987 and was the High Priest of the Tabernacle in 1999.
For years he acted as the Recorder of the Tabernacle and had a number of promotions from the Grand College to Past Grand Seventh Pillar, before being awarded the honour of Knight of Holy Wisdom.
Ivan was a good friend and much respected mason within all his masonic Degrees and he is sorely missed by all who knew him.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior