Geoff Finney - Acre Chapter
Geoff Finney is well known, not only as a Freemason in the Province of Berkshire, but also within the local community of Maidenhead. Geoff was born in Derbyshire where he attended Chesterfield Grammar School between 1939 and 1948, leaving with “A” levels in English, French, Latin and History. Geoff readily admits that not all his time was spent with his head buried in text books because he was already showing his keenness for sport – particularly athletics and outdoor activities. This was the era of National Service and Geoff fulfilled his commitment by joining the Royal Air Force as a Secretarial/Accounts clerk, spending most of his time in the York area. This allowed him plenty of time to continue his sporting activities, while at the same time he started to help out the Education Officer by teaching Latin, who rewarded him by supplying him with two seats every Saturday night for the York “Empire”. This experience of teaching was to begin a career in teaching that was to last until his retirement in 1989.
After his National Service he went to St Paul’s College, Cheltenham, before returning to Derbyshire to teach during the period 1952 – 1960. His love of sport prospered and he captained an Old Boy’s side in the South Yorks Amateur League for six years. He also took the opportunity of qualifying as a FA Coach, FA Referee and an AAA Coach and Judge.
Aged just 29, Geoff went to Norfolk as the Deputy Head of a large new Secondary School, sharing the teaching of Upper School English with the Head of Department. Again he followed his love of sport by taking responsibility for Boys’ Games. Outside the confines of the School he coached Thetford Town FC in the Eastern Counties League and also ran the Thetford Athletic Club. Geoff had been Initiated in the St Thomas Lodge in Derbyshire in 1957 and it was during his time in Thetford that he joined the Thet Lodge and was Exalted into the Thet Chapter in 1963, becoming the First Principal around 1970.
After five years and still only 34, Geoff moved to Windsor to become Headmaster of the Royal Free Boys’ School. At this time he was the third youngest member of staff! It was during this period that he took a party of boys camping on the Isle of Arran for two weeks. Among the boys was a certain Paul Davy – now the Scribe Ezra of the Acre Chapter!
Throughout his professional life, Geoff spent every opportunity to spend his holidays and weekends in the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and Scotland. He has cycled from John o’Groats to Lands End three times including twice when he led a party of school boys. In the longer summer holidays he has visited Norway, Austria, the Pyrenees, Vosges, and Massif Central with parties of school boys, either by coach or driving the school bus. He says that on two occasions he was breathalysed while driving the school bus, but he assured me that it was negative on both occasions!
Not all Geoff’s activities revolve around academia – he has been a Rotarian since 1969 as a member of the Windsor and Eton Club, being their President in 1986. He has been involved for over 35 years in Community Service, particularly with the elderly. (Photo top right)
Geoff was made a “Paul Harris Fellow” for his work on behalf of the Rotary movement with the senior citizens in the area. (Photo bottom right)
Freemasonry also forms a major part of his life. Geoff was the Founding Master of Acre Lodge when they were Consecrated in 1972 and acted as their Secretary for 31 years! He was also the Founding First Principal of Acre Chapter when they were Consecrated in 1983. He is also involved in the Mark Degree and a number of side Orders. His enthusiasm and dedication to Freemasonry has resulted in him being awarded Grand Rank in the Craft, Royal Arch and other Orders. When asked why he joined the Royal Arch he replied,” While in Norfolk, I decided to become a Royal Arch Mason when I was told it was about the return of the Jewish Tribes from their Babylonian captivity and the beginning of the building of the Second Temple in Jerusalem”.
