Eminent Knight Colin Narey, P.Prov.Gt.Reg.
16 May 1950 – 22 September 2019
It was with great sadness that the Provincial Priory of Northumberland learned of the passing, after prolonged illness, of E Kt Colin Narey.
Colin was initiated into Freemasonry in Monkchester Lodge No 5762 in March 1981 and acted as Master of the Lodge on two occasions in 1989 and 1992. In 2001 he became a joining member of the Lodge of Free Burgesses No 4504 and was its Master in 2004.
In addition to his Masterships he held senior offices in both Lodges – Secretary and Treasurer in Monkchester, and Almoner, Charity Steward and Treasurer of Free Burgesses.
His devotion to the Craft led to his promotion to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden before appointment by Grand Lodge to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2017.
He was exalted into the Royal Arch in Novocastrian Chapter No 3361 and, after the Chapter was later erased, he joined Carliol Chapter No 5419 from 2013 until the date of his death.
In Province he was promoted to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah before Supreme Grand Chapter awarded him Grand Rank as Past Grand Standard Bearer in 2014.
He joined the Knights Templar when he was installed in Templar Segedunum Preceptory No 586 in August 1995. He acted as Preceptor in 2006, being appointed as Acting Provincial Captain of the Guards the following year before promotion to Acting Provincial Great Registrar in 2015.
Colin was a keen member and Past Sovereign of the Royal Kent Chapter Rose Croix of the Ancient and Accepted Rite, and a holder of the 30th Degree. At the time of his passing he was the Treasurer of the Chapter.
He was well known throughout the Province for his devotion to the Mark Degree, being a member of Nepos Mark Lodge and, in 2016, promoted in the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons to the rank of Past Grand Junior Deacon. In the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Northumberland he was the Acting Provincial Grand Charity Steward for eleven years from 2008 and was almost singlehandedly responsible for raising tens of thousands of pounds for the benefit of the Mark Benevolent Fund by the sale of surplus masonic regalia.
As a mark of the esteem in which Colin was held throughout the Province, his funeral was remarkable for the huge numbers of masons who turned out to pay their last respects to a Brother who had lived respected and died very much regretted.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior