Eminent Knight Francis Woods, P.Prov.Reg.
26 February 1928 – 16 December 2013
E Kt Woods was called to higher service at the end of 2013 at the age of 85 years.
He had been initiated into Freemasonry in Plessey Lodge No 6242 in March 1970, taking the Master’s Chair on two occasions in 2003 and 2006. He was also a joining member of Apollo Lodge No 8347 in 1991, remaining a member until the Lodge closed in 2006.
In the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Registrar in 2005.
He was exalted in the Royal Arch in Croft Chapter No 3310 in 1975, but never took senior office.
He joined the Knight Templar Order in April 1989 after he was installed in Chibburn Preceptory No 232 and later, in 1993, he became a Founder member of St Ronan Preceptory No 580.
Whilst he never took the Chair in his mother Preceptory, he did act as Eminent Preceptor in St Ronan in 1998.
For this service he was appointed in Provincial Priory to the rank of Past Provincial Registrar.
As a member of the Mark and Mariners Degrees, he was in Ridley Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 1439 and was Commander, in 1988, of Blagdon Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No 547 and a holder of Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand rank.
His passing has deprived the Provincial Priory of Northumberland of the service of a dedicated Knight Templar and he will be forever missed by the Knights who knew him.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior