|
© Anthony Howell
| |
The death of Lord Swansea, on 24 June, has
deprived Freemasonry of one of the great
Masonic figures of the last fifty years.
Holding high office in all the major Masonic
Orders he had a breadth of Masonic wisdom
and experience at a high level equalled by
few alive today. His commitment and
service were recognised by the MW The
Grand Master when, on 28 April 1999,
he personally invested Lord Swansea with
his Order of Service to Masonry.
John Hussey Hamilton Vivian was born
on New Year’s Day 1925 and succeeded his
father as the 4th Lord Swansea at the age of
nine. Educated at Eton, where he developed
a talent for rifle shooting, he went up to
Trinity, Cambridge, to read French and
German. On graduating he worked for a
land agent and devoted himself to running
the 11,000 acre family estate near Builth
Wells, until it was sold in 1966. An active
member of the House of Lords until the
hereditary peers were removed in 1999,
he spoke on Welsh affairs, road safety, his
beloved shooting and, latterly, Freemasonry.
As a shot he was one of the greatest
marksmen of his generation. Regularly
captaining Great Britain and Wales, he
took part, under Welsh colours, in five
Commonwealth Games, winning the
Gold Medal in 1966 and the Silver in 1982.
A regular at Bisley, he won the Grand
Aggregate in 1957 and 1960, the Match
Rifle Aggregate in 1971 and 1974 and took
part in the Queen’s Prize on 18 occasions,
coming second in 1958 and 1968. He served
as Chairman of the British Shooting Sports
Council and Vice-chairman of the National
Rifle Association.
He came into Freemasonry in 1956
in the Alliance Lodge No. 1827, London,
being its Master in 1962. After serving as
Senior Grand Warden in 1965 he was
appointed Provincial Grand Master for
South Wales Eastern Division in 1966 and
was to hold office for 33 years, during which
the Province grew from 109 to 176 Lodges.
Such was the Province’s affection for him
that the 25th anniversary of his installation
was celebrated with a huge Festival attended
by the brethren and their wives at Builth
Wells. The then Pro Grand Master, Lord
Cornwallis, on behalf of the Province
presented him with a superb informal
portrait. In the Royal Arch he was Grand
Superintendent of his Province, from 1977
until 1999.
In the Mark Degree he first held office
as GSW in 1975 and from 1979–1999 was
successively Assistant, Deputy and Pro
Grand Master. He was Great Seneschal and
a GCT in Great Priory and held high office
in the Cryptic, Red Cross of Constantine,
Allied Masonic Degrees, Secret Monitor
and Royal Order of Scotland.
|
The citation for his Order of service
to Masonry concluded with the words
“For all this, he remains essentially a modest
man, who combines reticence with
approachability and deservedly gains
the affection of all those with whom
he comes into contact.”
Our thoughts and sympathy go out
to Lady Swansea and his family.
|
|
Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
|
|
Next Page