Eminent Knight Brian Watson
14th February 1943 – 25th October 2023
The Provincial Priory of Northumberland is sad to report the death of Eminent Knight Brian Watson last month.
He was initiated into Freemasonry in Agricola Lodge No 6343 on 2nd January 1985, and acted as its Master in 1990 and again for two years between 2000 and 2002, following which he was the Secretary of Agricola for eighteen years until 2020.
When that Lodge was erased in December 2020 he had previously joined the Duke of Connaught Lodge No 3892 in 2011. He similarly offered his services as Secretary of the Duke of Connaught Lodge between 2012 and 2019 and became an Honorary member in October 2022.
In recognition of his services to the masonry, he was first appointed in Provincial Grand Lodge to the Acting rank of Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 1999 before promotion in 2008 to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden.
In the Royal Arch, he was exalted in Tyne Chapter No 991 on 11th December 1990, acting as First Principal in 1998 and later as Scribe E from 2007 till 2012. Sadly, the Chapter was erased in November 2012, but he joined Howdon Panns Chapter that same month and served as its Treasurer between 2016 and 2019; being accorded Honorary membership in 2022.
For his service to the Royal Arch he was first appointed in Provincial Grand Chapter to the rank of Acting Provincial Assistant Sojourner in 2003 before promotion to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2008.
As a member of our companion Orders, he was a Mark Master Mason, having been advanced in Gosforth Mark Lodge No 463 on 26th October 1989.
He was the Master of Gosforth Mark Lodge in 1997 and had Honorary membership of the Lodge conferred in 2022.
His service to the Mark Degree resulted in him attaining the rank of Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden in 2012.
Finally, in our own Templar Order, he was installed a Knight in Templar Segedunum Preceptory No 586 on 15th June 1998. He attained the Chair of the Preceptory as its Eminent Preceptor in 2008 and was accorded Honorary membership in 2022. To recognise his service to our Order, he was first appointed as Acting Provincial Aide-de-Camp in 2009, then promoted to Acting Provincial Standard Bearer (VB) in 2013, and finally Acting Provincial Registrar in 2017.
A hugely dedicated and committed member of our masonic Orders, he will be greatly missed by all of his Brethren, Companions and Brother Knights throughout the Province.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior