Excellent Companion and Very Worshipful Brother Denis Calderley – Past Grand Superintendent in and Over the Province of Somerset, Past Grand Sword Bearer – Obituary
Brethren and Companions,
It was with great sadness that I learnt of the death of Excellent Companion Denis Calderley on Thursday 15th October. It is not our normal practice to publish obituaries however, we do make an exception for brethren and Companions who were past rulers of the Province to acknowledge the vital part that they have played in the Life of the Province.
Denis was a proud Lancastrian born in January 1934 at Moorside, Oldham, where his father was the local Vicar. He attended Hulme Grammer School in Oldham moving on to St Peter’s College in Birmingham and qualifying as a teacher in 1956. Shortly afterwards he married Muriel, who was also a teacher, at Moorside where his father was still the Vicar. In 1958 Muriel & Denis moved to Keynsham both having been offered teaching posts in the Bath area, they would live in the town for over 60 years. Denis had moved from Keynsham to Rugby before his 90th birthday to be close to his daughter Elaine and it was there that he passed away.
Denis’s main interest, apart from Freemasonry, was Music and he became a very accomplished Organist and would later hold the Office of Organist in every Lodge and Chapter that he joined. He would also be appointed to Grand Rank in every Order of which he was a member.
Denis was initiated into Royal Albert Edward Lodge No 906 at Bath in December 1963 and was Master 3 times in 1975, 2011 and 2012 when the Lodge celebrated their 150 Anniversary. He was also a member of Somerset Masters Lodge No 3746 and Master in 1996. It was the Royal Arch that was Denis’s real love, exalted into Royal Cumberland Chapter No 41 at Bath in 1966, he was 1st Principal in in 1979. Denis held several jobs in the Province and in 1990 the then Grand Superintendent, Tom Hughes appointed Denis as Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra, he served for 6 years. When Ted Mear was appointed as Grand Superintendent he appointed Denis as 2nd Provincial Grand Principal, serving for 4 years. When Ted Mear retired, Supreme Grand Chapter appointed Denis Grand Superintendent, an office he filled with great distinction for 10 years retiring in 2008. In April 2011, with the permission of the then Grand Superintendent, Excellent Companion John Bennett, Denis consecrated the Calderley Chapter of Union No 906 at The Webbington Hotel. The Chapter is known as the Grand Superintendent’s Chapter, meeting twice a year for a discussion on current matters of interest to Companions of the Royal Arch. By coincidence Denis passed to the Grand Lodge Above on the day the Calderley Chapter met at Clevedon, Thursday 15th October 2026.
Denis was also an enthusiastic Mark Master Mason. Advanced into Royal Cumberland Lodge of MMM T.I. he was Master of the Lodge in 1979. He was appointed a Mark Grand Officer in 1995 as PAGDC and promoted to Past Grand Junior Overseer in 2005. In Royal Ark Mariners he was elevated into the Bath Lodge of RAM TI and was Commander in 1981, he was appointed to Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank in 1993.
The funeral will be held at 11am on Monday 16th November 2026 at Rainsbrook Crematorium in Rugby. If you can attend please inform the Provincial Scribe Ezra, David Weatherill so that he can let the family know.
Denis was a consummate Freemason, well skilled in the noble science. He was a friend and mentor to generations of Freemasons. All of us who were fortunate enough to know him mourn his passing. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Ray Guthrie
Grand Superintendent, Provincial Grand Master.
