W.Bro. Rev.Cannon.Geoffrey Moore, celebrates 50 years in Masonry, and receives a letter from the R.W. Past. P.G.M. Colin Penty Wright.

On Thursday January 11^th, 2011 Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Leon Tax presented a tribute to W.Bro. Rev. Cannon. Geoffrey Moore. The Masonic Hall at Blackpool saw a packed Lodge Room, with Masons attending from all over the Province.

 Leon started by informing the Brethren that Geoffrey was born on 27^th, May, 1927, being the youngest son of Kenneth and Clare Moore.  After being educated at Burnley Grammar School, he went up to Oxford University reading History, but after his first year he changed direction to study Jurisprudence Law.  It was at Oxford that the idea of becoming ordained occurred to him. At this stage in his life National Service intervened and Geoffrey was stationed in Trieste, Italy, and as Leon succinctly pointed out, it was here that he was promoted to Lance Corporal, which was rather like being made an Ink Monitor. In 1951 Geoffrey was ordained Deacon.

 Leon then described the years between 1955 and 1967, Geoffrey had now moved to Blackpool taking responsibilities for, St Michael and All Angels, St Luke’s Church and significantly the Victoria Hospital.  In 1967 a move occurred to the Parish of St Barnabas in Morecambe, and in 1986 he became the, Rev Cannon Moore.  With a long and distinguished career, Geoffrey retired in1992.

 After serving as Vicar at Charnock Richard he moved out of the Province to live in Exeter.  Leon then paused for a short while, and then recalled the wonderful story about a baptism that had taken place at Charnock Richard  “The baby, parents and god-parents were gathered round the font, and Geoffrey requested they name the child. The response was SPINDONNA. Geoffrey asked again, and Spindonna was repeated, so he launched into the ceremony. I NAME THIS CHILD SPINDONNA. Here the father interrupted rather heatedly, NO, NO, IT’S PINNED ON HER. The poor child’s name being Deborah.

 Leon then progressed to explain Geoffrey’s Masonic history.   He was Initiated into Brotherhood Lodge No 3967 on the12th, January 1961, becoming Master in 1973.  Geoffrey then served the lodge as Chaplain for 12 years from 1976 to 1988 which brought about the rank of Pr.Ass.G.Chap, promoted in 1987 to Pr.Dept.G.Chap. and again in 1988 to Pr.G.Chap.  In 1998 he was appointed to Grand Rank as P.A.G.Chap.  Leon went on to explain that although he lived in Exeter he had attended over 70% of Lodge meetings and in recognition the Lodge had made him an Honorary Member, a position of which he was very proud.

 At this conjuncture, Leon informed the Brethren that he was in possession of a letter from the R.W.Past.P.G.M. Colin Penty Wright, who had sent his warmest congratulations and outlined how he had known Geoffrey when he was at Morecambe, and also how greatly missed he was.  The ceremony was then concluded by the presentation of a certificate bringing the personal greetings from the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master.  The certificate was read out in the Lodge by the Chairman of the Blackpool Group of Lodges, W.Bro. Ian J Robertson.