Leonard C Kemp - Worthy Mason and Shipmate.

Worshipful Brother Len C Kemp passed over the bar at 1405 hours on the 11 April 2007. Len was a superb beacon of Masonry and an extraordinary Shipmate of the Royal Naval Association. He will be sadly missed by those in Masonry and his RNA colleagues as well as all of those people he touched in his long and illustrious life.

Len volunteered for the Royal Navy on the outset of WW2 preferring to pick the service he wished to serve his country in. A non-swimmer, he managed somehow to pass the naval swimming test and leave the navy still a non-swimmer. A life long teetotaller he used his ration of rum to barter for other goods; a practice well entrenched in the Navy. These skills he would utilise later in life for Masonic purposes. It is said his uniforms were always washed steamed and pressed by others, courtsey of Nelsons Blood. In HMS Anson he crossed the Arctic Circle 48 times on Russian convoy protection duties. When VE day arrived, Len was sent into Japanese waters until hostilities ceased.

Masonic Career Summary of W.Bro. Leonard Charles Kemp.

Craft - Initiated in Rushcliffe Lodge (Notts) 10.10.1984 probably unaware that there was a Naval Lodge in the Province. He became joining member of Trident Lodge 06.01.1987 and resigned from Rushcliffe 10.10.1994. He was appointed Senior Warden of Trident in 07.04.1992 and Master in 06.04.1993. Offices held thereafter were Almoner and Assistant Director of Ceremonies. He was also Tyler for Royal Sussex Lodge and appointed Past Provincial Grand Registrar 05.05.2006.

Chapter - Exalted in Harlequin Royal Arch Chapter 18.05.1987 and resigned 13.09.1994. Joined Duke of Portland Chapter 17.01.1995 and resigned 26.03.2002.

Mark - Woodthorpe Mark Lodge Past Prov.G.Sword Bearer (previously Acting PrGSwdB) Arthur Morley Custance Mark Lodge; Nottingham Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners - Past Commander

Len was a committed and hardworking Freemason who was well liked for his enthusiastic approach to Masonry and his willingness at all times to assist his brethren in any way he could.

He proved to be an excellent Almoner with great compassion for ailing brethren and unstinting support for the widows of the Lodge . It was only because of his own ill health that he had reluctantly to retire from the office which he truly enjoyed and to which he was totally dedicated. For some years he assisted in the Provincial Regalia store but again due to ill health had to retire from that position.

Apart from his Masonic duties Len will always be remembered for the coach trips which he delighted in organising for Masons and their wives and friends.

These outings were always meticulously planned by Len and his wife Mary in every detail and they ensured that all the passengers were furnished with full information about the places being visited and even took the time to visit those places beforehand.

Inevitably, there was a raffle during the journey, the proceeds of which always going to a charity: The New Masonic Samaritan Fund benefited from the proceeds gained by Len giving his talks to many Lodges, Probus meetings and other organisations about the Russian convoys in the second world war and in which he was involved during his Naval career.

We shall all miss him.

Len’s funeral will be held on 23rd April at 1100 at Mansfield Crematorium for family and RNA colleagues. A further service will be held at 12:00 hrs at Hucknall market place Church, followed by refreshments at the church hall on Ogle St. In lieu of floral tributes, donations will be gratefully received by Hanson & Sons Hucknall and will go to the Notts. PGL Charity Account.

Reported by Bro. Les TC Cooper Greatly assisted by Len’s Lewis Tony and W Bro Gordon Hawksworth.