Knight Robin David Lillie
1st November 1944 – 3rd November 2023
It is with deep regret that the Provincial Priory reports the death of one of the most senior and highly respected Freemasons in our Province – Knight David Lillie was summoned to Higher Service on 3rd November, passing away peacefully surrounded by his loving family.
He had been a Freemason for 56 years, after being initiated on 22nd February 1967 in the Lodge of Stability No 6985. In 2002 he changed Lodges to become a member of Epicure No 9618; he had also been a member of the Northumbrian Masters Lodge No 3477. After first taking the Chair in Stability, he received first Provincial appointment to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 1985, before promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1991.
The following year he joined the Provincial Director of Ceremonies team as a Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies until 2000, and was then promoted to Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies until 2012.
Such was the esteem in which he was held that, in 2012 he was invited to become an Assistant Provincial Grand Master and, two years later, promoted to become the Deputy Provincial Grand Master. It was under his Directorship that the 2020 Provincial Craft Festival on behalf of the RMBI was successfully concluded with a total charitable donation of £3.25 millions …. far in excess of the target that had been set five years earlier.
In Grand Lodge, his first appointment to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1995 was followed by a succession of promotions to Past Junior Grand Deacon in 2004; Past Senior Grand Deacon in 2012; and finally Past Grand Sword Bearer in 2015.
He was exalted on 21st October 1975 in Heaton Chapter No 2723, and was its First Principal at least three times, in 1985, 1995 and 2001; but when that Chapter was erased in 2013 he became a joining member of George Stephenson Chapter No 3390. He had also been a Founder of the Chapter of Stability No 2723, and was a member of the Northumbrian First Principals Chapter No 3477.
First appointment as Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 1987 was followed by promotion to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 1992; Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1996 and finally Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2009 until 2012. Accordingly he received Supreme Grand Chapter appointment as Past Grand Standard Bearer in 1996 before promotion to Past Assistant Grand Sojourner in 2006.
In the companion Orders, he was a Mark Master Mason, having been advanced on 11th December 2002 in Hexham Mark Lodge No 1161, later moving to De Umfraville Mark Lodge and finally Carville Mark Lodge, remaining a member of the latter until last year, when it surrendered its Warrant. He acted as Master of De Umfraville Lodge of Mark Master Masons for two years from 2013.
In our own Knight Templar Order, he was installed a Knight on 9th December 1988 in Chibburn Preceptory No 232, and he was also a Founder of Northanhymbre Preceptory in 1994. He later consolidated his Templar membership in 2005 at the St George of Throckley Preceptory No 525, and remained a member until his death, though he had elected not to take the Preceptor’s Chair in any of his Preceptories. As a member of the Red Cross of Constantine he was, however, a Grand Officer with the rank of Past Grand Prefect in 2009 from his membership of Bishop Acca Conclave No 333 from 1992, where he was Sovereign ten years later in 2002. He had also been a member of the Order of the Secret Monitor; he was inducted in Severus Conclave No 351 in January 1991 and held the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer in Grand Conclave.
Such an important, active and well loved member of our Province will be greatly missed by all of the Brethren, Companions and Brother Knights who knew him.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior