‘Gordon Davie, R.I.P.’

     

Magpie file photo

Prestonian Lecturers Gordon Davie, John Wade, and Trevor Stewart, September 2009.

Bro. Moises shared on Facebook the sad news of the death today of Bro. Gordon Davie of the United Grand Lodge of England, and a Past Prestonian Lecturer. I met him only once, but he made an impression.

  

Magpie file photo

Bro. Gordon Davie

Hard to believe it’s been more than ten years since, but in September 2009 there was a very special event that Bro. Rob and I put together in New Jersey. Collaborating with Bro. Trevor Stewart, we arranged a banquet at which Trevor and two other Prestonians took turns at the lectern while we lucky ones supped on a five-course feast. We called it the Prestonian Gala. You can see a little more about that here.

Anyway, between the serious discussions of historical importance both Trevor and Bro. John Wade brought to light, Davie gave us the story of the early days of the Grand Stewards Lodge with some wonderfully hilarious factual details.

Magpie file photo

It was a great night thanks in large part to Bro. Davie. I wrote it up for an early issue of The Journal of the Masonic Society. This photograph of the jewel of the Prestonian Lecturer, that I use repeatedly here on The Magpie (and that many others have borrowed), is of Gordon’s jewel.

Alas, my brother.

Davie was a Past Master of Quatuor Coronati 2076, whose website says:

Gordon Davie was initiated into the Chelsfield Lodge, No. 6405, Province of West Kent in 1964. He became Master of Chelsfield Lodge, No. 6405, in 1964, and has been Master of the following lodges: Lodge of Regularity, No.91 (1988); West Kent Masters Lodge, No. 5778 (1998); Founder & PM of Good Neighbour Lodge, No.83789 (1984); Helios Lodge, No.8311 (1987); West Kent Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge, No.8565 (1976); Fiennes Cornwallis Lodge, No. 9279 (2000); West Kent Lodge of Charity, No.9610 (1999); and Lodge of St Julian, No.5076. Appointed Provincial Grand Steward (Kent ), 1969; Provincial DGDC, 1973 (West Kent), Provincial DC, 1977-8 (West Kent), APGM, 1988-93 (West Kent); AGDC, 1978; PSGD, 1988. Nominated Grand Steward by the Lodge of Regularity, 1988, and Secretary to the Board of Grand Stewards, 1988, he was Cornwallis Lecturer, 2004, and Prestonian Lecturer, 2005.