It is with extreme personal sadness that I bring you the news of the passing to the Grand Lodge Above of W.Bro. Richard Thomas Mountjoy, PPrJGW, PM5084. He was 91.

W.Bro. Richard - or Richie as he was universally known was a Retired Junior School Headteacher, he had control of Bettws Junior and Infants school in Bridgend for many years. In lots of ways that was a very challenging position, but Richie would have been the ideal man for the task. He possessed that wonderful blend of wisdom, firmness, humanity, humour and sheer wiliness that makes a good manager of people and would have suited him perfectly in his professional calling. Richie was also head of Penyfai Church in Wales School.

Richie lived on Bryntirion Hill in Bridgend for many decades up to the time of his death, which was around 2am this morning. I am informed that he was in hospital following a fall at home last week, and some complications that came as a result. He tended his wife Mary for many years up to the time of her death - probably some 10 years or so ago. The couple had no children of their own but both being teachers - Mary taught at St Clare's School, Porthcawl - they were blessed with probably thousands who they never stopped seeing as, in some way, their children. Richie was lucky enough to have a companion in life, Mrs Chris Henry, some years after Mary's passing, our thoughts are with Chris at this sad time.

Richie was Initiated into Bridgend's Morganwg Lodge in March 1975 and became WM of that Lodge in January 1987. His "blood" Brother, John, had been a member of the Lodge for some eight and a half years at the time of Richie's entry. Richie was strictly a "one Lodge" man and he never entered any other Masonic order either.

Richie was an excellent ritualist and combined the offices of Director of Ceremonies and Preceptor to great effect for many years. On a personal note, I have much for which to thank Richie for (which I am now pleased that I told him, many times). Without his gentle prodding steering and encouragement, I would have remained a "knife and fork" mason (ironic for those that know me!) until this day. I will miss him enormously and I know that's true of so many others.

The source of this information is W.Bro. Brian Murrell, Lodge Almoner, who was informed by W.Bro. Andrew Lawless, PPrJGD, PM6743, who was, I know, a close family friend.