It is with the deepest regret that the Province reports the passing of W.Bro John Henry (Jack) Irving, aged 77, to the Grand Lodge Above on Friday 2nd October 2020.
W.Bro Jack was held in very high regard in both the Craft and Royal Arch, to the extent that he held Grand Rank in both orders. In the Craft, in 1996, he was appointed to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Past Junior Grand Deacon, in 2006, whilst in the Chapter he was appointed to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer in 1998.
Jack was initiated on 17th December 1964, into Wallsend Lodge No.2703, and became Worshipful Master in 1976. He subsequently became a member of Carliol Lodge No.5419, after the closure of Wallsend Lodge. and during his time in the Craft held the offices of Charity Steward, Auditor and Organist, as well as holding the office of Lodge Treasurer for an impressive 25 years. He was the founding Junior Warden of The John Stephenson Lecture Lodge No.1994, becoming the Worshipful Master in 1996. He was presented with his 50 year certificate in December 2014 and by April 2015 had represented the Provincial Grand Master/Grand Superintendent on 100 occasions, 80 times in the Craft and 20 times in the Chapter.
Jack was exalted on 8th June 1965, into Tyne Royal Arch Chapter No.991, and became First Principal in 1985. He subsequently became a member of Carliol Royal Arch Chapter No.5419, after the closure of Tyne Chapter, and during his time in the Chapter held the offices of Treasurer, Auditor and Organist. He was, once again, presented with his 50 year certificate in June 2015.
Away from his own Lodge and Chapter, Jack was very active within the Province. He was the Treasurer of the Northumberland Masonic Charity Association for 11 years and was one of the driving forces in the 1999 Charity Festival. In the Chapter he was appointed as the Provincial Third Grand Principal in 1998, being promoted to the rank of Provincial Second Grand Principal a year later.
He was also held in very high esteem in a number of other Orders in the Province, in particular the Knights Templar and the Knight Templar Priests.
Jack will be sorely missed by all in the Province, across all of the Orders. He lived respected and died regretted.
The funeral took place on Wednesday 14th October in the West Chapel of the West Road Crematorium. Regretfully, due to the present Corvid 19 restrictions there were only 20 mourners allowed in the chapel which were allocated by the family.
Donations in Jacks memory may be made to St, Oswald’s Hospice or Myeloma U.K.