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Excellent Companion Barry Keith Woodside.
| A message from the:- Deputy Grand Superintendent in Charge |
| It is with great sadness that I announce the passing to the Grand Chapter Above of our much loved and respected Grand Superintendent in and over the Province of Somerset – Excellent Companion Barry Keith Woodside, on Friday 6th August 2021. The phrase that is found in our ritual, and that we often refer to in these extremely sad situations, is “lived respected and died regretted”. In Barry’s case this is so very true, and I struggle to sum up our sense of loss any better. I would also ask you all, at this very sad time, to keep Barry’s wonderful wife Peggy, and all the family, in your thoughts and prayers. |
| Barry Keith Woodside was a Cornishman, having been born in the principality. His early formative years were spent in East Africa with his family, in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, then referred to as Tanganyika, before returning to England in 1961. Barry, in his youth, joined and progressed through both the Cubs and Scouts and in addition was an active sportsman, taking part in sailing, horse riding, football, rugby, cricket and golf. Barry’s professional life was in the construction industry, starting at the bottom as a Scaffolder, progressing into management, and eventually retiring as a director of a specialist division for one of the largest national scaffolding companies in the UK. Barry’s Masonic journey started when he was initiated in 1977 in Breanick Lodge No 8610 at St Agnes in Cornwall, progressing to the chair of the Lodge in 1986. He subsequently received the rank of Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer in 1993 in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall. Barry was exalted into Trevaunance Chapter No 4668, also at St Agnes, in 1978 and succeeded his father as First Principal of the Chapter in 1990 and continued as First Principal in 1991. He was honoured in the Provincial Grand Chapter of Cornwall with the Rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah. After Barry transferred with his job to Taunton, he joined Vivary Lodge No 8654 in 1992 and after a combined period of 17 years as Assistant Director of Ceremonies and Director of Ceremonies, he became their Worshipful Master in 2015. He joined Taunton Deane Chapter No 5221 in 1993 and was later awarded the Past rank in Somerset of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah, so matching his rank in Cornwall. It was Excellent Companion Denis Calderley who in 2007 recognised the potential in Barry when he offered him the appointment of Third Provincial Grand Principal. May 2008 saw the installation of Excellent Companion D John Bennett as Grand Superintendent and it was Excellent Companion John Bennett who invested Barry as Third Provincial Grand Principal. One year as Third Provincial Grand Principal was sufficient to convince the new Grand Superintendent that Barry could not be left on the shelf, and in 2013 Barry was invested as Second Provincial Grand Principal for a two year period. It was later realised, by the Grand Superintendent, that his term would end in 2015, and as this was going to be the year that Somerset would be celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the first records of the Royal Arch in the Province, Barry was invited to continue in office and to serve for a further year. In early 2016, Excellent Companion Bob Moore announced that he would be retiring as Deputy Grand Superintendent at the Annual Convocation in May, and this left an opportunity to appoint Barry to the office, an office which he accepted. Finally, on the retirement of Excellent Companion D John Bennett as Grand Superintendent in 2018, Barry was Installed as the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent in and over the Province of Somerset on the 18th of October 2018. In the United Grand Lodge of England, Barry was appointed to the acting rank of Junior Grand Deacon in 2019, and was promoted to Past Deputy Grand Sword Bearer in 2021. Barry was also very proud of his membership of the Ancient and Accepted Rite, particularly his role of Officer in Charge of Sentinels, and was deeply honoured when he was promoted to the 32nd degree. |
| Finally, Companions, our thoughts and prayers go to Barry’s dear wife Peggy and all of their family and friends. Barry sadly lost his first wife of 33 years following a long illness in February 2004. He subsequently met Peggy and whilst on holiday together in the USA in June 2010, he proposed to her on 24 June. They were married four days later under a purpose-built canopy at the end of a pier in the middle of the May River at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina, USA, on 28 June 2010. |
