It is with great regret that I have to report the passing to the Grand Lodge above of W. Bro. James T. Kelly PPrAGDC who was 85 years old. He was admitted to the Princess of Wales Hospital Bridgend on December 31st 2020 but sadly died two days later.

W. Bro. James, known to all as ‘Ted’, was initiated in the Penybont Lodge No.6743 in September, 1989. He became Master elect in November 1996 and was installed in February 1997. He remained very supportive of the Lodge, not just in his regular attendance, but his willingness to participate in an acting capacity when called upon.

A member of the Dunraven Mark Lodge No. 950, he was Master elect and had become the M.W.S. of the Maesteg Chapter No.397 of the Sovereign Princes Rose Croix of H.R.D.M. in 2013.

He grew up in Cumbria, leaving the area to join the Royal Navy at 16 years old. He relished this opportunity to sail around the world and served his time on destroyers and mine sweepers.

On leaving the Navy, he embarked on a career working as a site foreman for a construction contractor. It was during this period that he came to Wales, firstly as a manager of cranes and machinery building the ‘Heath Hospital’ in Cardiff, and afterwards the construction of the DVLA offices in Swansea. Following this experience, he set up his own construction machinery company, Kelmac, undertaking agricultural machinery hire which subsequently provided heavy machinery to open cast coal sites throughout the area.

He then decided to undertake a career change following a path into financial management with the Abbey Life company arranging pensions and then into the Peter Alan Estate Agents group arranging mortgages and other financial products until his retirement.

One of his great interests, as many of his Brethren in Freemasonry will know, was motorcycling.

He will be remembered with very great affection by the Brethren of the Lodge who will miss his warmth, genial company and delightful sense of humour.

Our sympathies are extended to his daughters, stepson and, of course, his widow, Pat.