Eminent Knight John Dunford, PProv2ndConst
7th September 1947 – 21st November 2022
Having reported the sad death of John Bradbeer, I must now report the passing of another member of Chibburn Preceptory. Eminent John Dunford was found at home having passed away some time on 21st November 2022.
John had been initiated into Freemasonry in Cowpen Lodge No 4824 on 6th March 1989.
Subsequently Passed and Raised in April and May respectively of that year, John ultimately served as Master in 1994.
To recognise his service, he was appointed to the Acting rank of Provincial Junior Grand Deacon before promotion in 2014 to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
He was exalted into the Royal Arch in Croft Chapter No 3310 on 17th October 1991 before serving as First Principal in 2006 and 2007, subsequently acting as Treasurer for the Chapter for twelve years from 2010. He was first appointed in Provincial Grand Chapter in 2011 as Acting Provincial Grand Sword Bearer before promotion just earlier this year to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah.
He became a member of our Templar Order when he was installed into Chibburn Preceptory No 232 on 10th February 1995. Ten years later he acted as our Eminent Preceptor before subsequently being appointed in 2006 to Past Provincial Aide-de-Camp. Further promotion followed – in 2010 to Provincial Standard Bearer (B) and finally, in 2014, to Past Provincial Second Constable.
In other Orders under Mark Masons Hall, he was in the Mark as a member of Blagdon Lodge of Mark Master Masons, and in the Royal Ark Mariners as a member of Blagdon Lodge of Royal Ark Mariner. He held the rank of Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden in the former and held Provincial RAM Grand Rank in the latter.
Also a member of the Red Cross of Constantine, he was in Astley Conclave, where he was Sovereign on three occasions, and held the rank of Past Divisional Senior General; in the Allied Masonic Degrees, he was in Hotspur Council and a Past District Grand Senior Deacon; and in the Royal and Select Masters he was in Northumbria Council, where he had been Thrice Illustrious Master in the run up to the pandemic from 2018 to 2019.
The Provincial Priory is greatly saddened by the loss of such a well-respected Knight and Freemason, and we shall forever miss him in our meetings.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior