Past Preceptor Brian delivered the following eulogy on the night of our memorial muster.
Very Eminent Frater Rodger Raymond Kimmett, Past Grand Sword Bearer of the Great Priory of Scotland, Past Procurator on behalf of the Great Priory of Scotland for Western Australia, Past District Grand Secretary of the District Grand Priory of Ayrshire and Past Preceptor of Hurlford. I knew Raymond personally for about 37 years. Raymond was a “Kilmarnock lad,” born and bred.
He was a Master Mason and Mark Master Mason of Lodge St. Andrew No. 126; he was a an Excellent Master and Royal Arch Mason of Moira Union Royal Arch Chapter No. 249, Early Grand 2; A Member of Moira Union Royal Ark Mariners Lodge No 249 and a member of Moira Union Cryptic Council; he was also a member of Ayr Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine No. 7 and a member of Esther Chapter No. 124 of the Order of The Eastern Star.
The Preceptory and Priory were the orders to which he devoted most of his time and he revelled in the pageantry of our ceremonial. His uniform was tailored and always immaculate, his brasses polished and his bearing erect despite his obvious discomfort at times due to his “bad back”.
Raymond served his apprenticeship (in more than one sense,) in Massey Ferguson where he met so many of the brethren, companions and fratres who would later mentor him in his progress through the Masonic orders. Eminent Frater William Clements was one of those who made a lasting impression on Very Eminent Frater Raymond and someone whom Raymond counted as a friend, confidant and support. Raymond often talked of his time at Massey’s with fond memories of the escapades he enjoyed there. Raymond could be a “joker” – though some of his jokes worked better than others. One such was when a bottle of cold tea was passed off as a bottle of whisky during a raffle at an installation muster. The raffle was drawn and a Very Eminent Frater won. The intention had been to get the winner to open the bottle before he left the refectory, unfortunately he left before this could be done. As you can imagine he was not just a little put out to discover that his prize was not what he expected.
One time when it did work, was at Raymond’s installation. Eminent Frater Joe Stevenson had at Raymond’s request, made a batch of wine for Raymond to put on the tables. Joe had as usual made the batch up in bulk and this then had to be decanted to go on the tables. In the absence of suitable carafes, water jugs were employed and placed on the tables prior to the refectory. Some of those in attendance, unaware that the water jugs actually contained white wine used this to “top up” their spirits. When a bemused frater remarked to Raymond that the whisky being served seemed to be very strong, Raymond made a pass over the “water” in the jug and pronounced it to be “wine”.
Raymond went on to set up his own business – Fork Lift Services – travelling the length and breadth of the country training people to drive fork lift trucks, as well as servicing and selling them. However, ill health finally forced him to give up his business.
Raymond had a “big” personality. He was outgoing and gregarious. He liked company but that did not mean that he was always easy to get on with! As I have already said, Raymond suffered a lot of discomfort and pain as a result of damage to his spine. Indeed he underwent a number of operations to repair and stabilise his spine – but Raymond, being Raymond would not “lie down” to his problem. Raymond’s final battle was with cancer and he battled long and hard supported by those he loved. Raymond is survived by Angela and his beloved daughter Claire. Our hearts go out to them.
We’ve lost a Frater and a friend, but their loss is so much more.
