Eminent Knight Thomas Gordon Rowell, P.Prov.Gt.Reg.
In November 2019, St Wilfred of Hexham Preceptory suffered the loss of one of its longest serving members after the sad passing of E Kt Gordon Rowell, P.Prov.Gt.Reg.
Gordon was initiated into Freemasonry in Hexham Priory Lodge No 6318 in October 1965 and served as its Master in 1974.
In the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland he attained the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1989 – one of the highest ranks attainable in Provincial masonry.
He was exalted into the Royal Arch in Albert Edward Chapter No 1557 in 1967, was First Principal in 1988 and attained the rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in the Provincial Grand Chapter of Northumberland.
He also held memberships of Carville Royal Arch Chapter No 2497 and the Northumbrian First Principals Chapter No 3477.
In the Templar Order, he was installed a Knight in St Wilfred of Hexham Preceptory No 461 in 1990, acting as Preceptor in 2000. In consequence of his service to the Order, he was promoted to Past Provincial Great Registrar in the Provincial Priory of Northumberland. Active in many other Orders, he was appointed Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons and held Grand Rank in the Royal Ark Mariners;
Past Grand Prefect in the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine;
Past Grand Standard Bearer in the Order of the Royal and Select Masters;
Past Master in the Allied Masonic Degrees; and he held the 30th Degree in the Ancient and Accepted Rite.
In his retirement, he moved to Limassol in Cyprus and maintained an active masonic involvement with memberships of Apollo Lodge No 7886 in the District of Cyprus as well as Kypros Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 1835 and Kypros Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No 1835.
The Provincial Priory of Northumberland is greatly saddened by the passing of this long serving and much respected senior Freemason.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior