Eminent Knight Geoffrey Thomas Orde, P.Prov.W of R.
25 May 1931 – 27 September 2013
E Kt Geoff Orde was called to higher service by our Great Captain at the age of 82 years. In his earlier life he had been a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force and was a holder of the Territorial Decoration.
He was initiated into Freemasonry in Ponteland Lodge No 8026 in March 1981, acting as Master in 1988.
He was also a joining member of the Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School Lodge No 7463 and the Reserve Forces Lodge of Northumbria No 2666, maintaining membership of all three until the time of his death.
His service to the Craft brought appointment to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1997 and later promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
In the Royal Arch he was exalted in Castle Wardens Chapter No 8213 in 1984, though the Chapter closed just six months before his death.
He had been its First Principal on two occasions in 1994 and 2003 and he was appointed in the Provincial Grand Chapter of Northumberland to Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in 1999 and promoted to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2005.
He joined our Templar Order when he was installed as a Knight in the Royal Kent Preceptory No 20 in September 1991.
He acted as Preceptor in Royal Kent fifteen years later, in 2006 (owing to the large number of members of the Preceptory, it was common for Knights to wait many years before attaining the Chair).
In Provincial Priory he was promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Warden of Regalia.
He had also, briefly, held memberships of the Mark Degree in Tristram Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 346, and of the Order of the Secret Monitor as a member of the Conclave of Friendship No 241, though he did not maintain a life-long association.
His passing was deeply regretted by the Knights of the Provincial Priory of Northumberland and by all the Brethren and Companions who knew him.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior