Congratulations to both W.Bros Brian Team and Norman Kinnafick of the St Anthony’s Lodge No.4423, which meets at Byker Masonic Hall, on reaching fifty years of uniterrupted service to the Craft, from all at Northumberland Freemasons.
Brian was initiated into Freemasonry in January 1972, into the St Anthony’s Lodge, becoming Master of the Lodge in 1985. He was a Founder member of Gavel Lodge No.8928, which meets at Cramlington Masonic Building, resigning in 1987 and joined Dudley Lodge No. 5425, which also meets at Cramlington Masonic Hall, in 2014, of which he is an Honorary Member.
His dedication to the Craft was acknowledged, in Provincial Grand Lodge, when he was appointed to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, in 1994, being subsequently promoted to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 2004 and finally Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2017.
Brian was Exalted into Cramlington Royal Arch Chapter in November 2001 and has held the office of Steward since 2010.
His Masonic adventures have taken Brian to a Lodge in Cyprus as well as being a regular attender of Lodge Friendship No.1712 in Edinburgh, Scottish Constitution.
Away from Freemasonry Brian had a long and varied career serving in the Merchant Navy on such ships as the QEI and QEII, as well as running a mobile shop for over thirty years.
Norman was initiated into Freemasonry, into the St Anthony’s Lodge, in May 1971, attaining the Masters Chair in 1984. He was rewarded in Provincial Grand Lodge when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon in 1993, subsequently being promoted to Past Provincial Grand Registrar in 2003 and finally Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2021.
In April 1989 Norman was Exalted into the Chapter of Security No.7299, which meets at Wallsend Masonic Hall, resigning in 2016, but not before being appointed to the active rank of Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1999.
During his time in Freemasonry Norman has been a member of eleven different orders, having attained the Chair in several of them and remaining active in many of them.
Away from Freemasonry Norman trained in Quality Control and was a member of the Merchant Navy for seven years during which time he held many engineering roles. He spent much time offshore and finally retired in 2005.
Congratulations from everyone at Northumberland Freemasons to both Brian and Noman on reaching their fantastic milestones.
Many thanks to W.Bro John Robinson for the submission of this article.
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