Very Eminent Knight George Newton Fletcher, P.Gt.Reg.
08 May 1926 – 08 August 2014
In the summer of 2014 the Province of Northumberland lost one of its most respected senior Freemasons when VE Kt George Newton Fletcher was, at the age of 88 years, summoned to higher service by our Great Captain.
George was initiated into Freemasonry in Lodge Vandeleur No 3586 in January 1954 and took the Master’s Chair for the first time in 1966. Subsequently he became a joining member of the Northumbrian Masters Lodge No 3477 in 1967, was its Secretary for many years and then acted as its Master in 1987, delivering his Inaugural lecture entitled “The Installed Master’s Lodge”.
In addition he joined the North Durham Lecture Lodge No 8125 in 1969 and was a Founder member of Vanbrugh Lodge No 8412 in 1972 as well as a Founder of the John Stephenson Lecture Lodge No 9571 in 1994.
Exalted into the Royal Arch in Vandeleur Chapter No 3586 in 1961, he was its First Principal in 1972 and the following year became a member of the Northumbrian First Principals Chapter No 3477, passing through the Chair of Zerubbabel twice, in 1986 and in 1996.
For his service to the Craft he was promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland and recognised in Grand Lodge by appointment in 1980 to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and promotion, in 1990, to Past Junior Grand Deacon.
Similarly, his service to the Royal Arch brought promotion in Provincial Grand Chapter to Provincial Second Grand Principal in 1991 and appointment in Supreme Grand Chapter to Past Grand Standard Bearer in 1992 followed by promotion to Past Assistant Grand Sojourner in 2004.
He was particularly prominent in other Orders, being the Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Northumberland for eight years from 1991, having been a member of four Mark Lodges – De La Val No 1290, Adoniram No 1483, the Grand Steward’s No 9002 and the Grand Master’s No 9001.
He was also the Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners for a year from 1991, and a member of Blagdon RAM Lodge No 547 and a Founder of Ponteland RAM Lodge No 1550.
In the Ancient and Accepted Rite George was the Head of the District of Northumberland when he was the Inspector General 33rd Degree for a decade in the 1990s. He remained a subscribing member and Past Sovereign of the Royal Kent Chapter Rose Croix No 8 until his death.
In our own Templar Order he gave over forty years of devoted service after he was installed a Knight in Chibburn Preceptory No 232.
His talent was spotted at an early stage when he was appointed a member, and in 1985 became the Commander, of the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard – an office he held for eight years.
He helped to Found two other Preceptories – the Prior’s Haven Preceptory No 522 in 1983 and he was the Founding Preceptor of the Northumbria Guards Preceptory No 600 in 1995.
Owing to his great service to our Order he was first appointed to Great Priory rank as Past Great Chamberlain in 1991 before promotion in 1996 to Past Great Standard Bearer (Beauceant) and further promotion in 2002 to Past Great Registrar.
He was a senior member and Past High Priest of the Royal Kent Tabernacle T.I., having joined in 1975 and been HP in 1990. In Grand College he held the rank of Past Grand Seventh Pillar.
In other Orders under the auspices of Mark Masons’ Hall he was a keen member of Royal Kent Conclave No 152 in the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and in 1998 had been the Acting Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Imperial Conclave. He was a member of the Order of the Royal and Select Masters as a longstanding member of the Prior’s Haven Council No 173.
His commitment and hard work on behalf of all his masonic Orders was second to none and his like will never be seen again. He was greatly missed by all his Brethren and Brother Knights throughout the masonic Province of Northumberland.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior