Top official ‘always showed leadership and empathy’

Tributes have been paid to “a wonderful Sir Knight, a friend and a brother in Christ” following the death of one of the Royal Black Institution’s most senior officials.

Imperial Deputy Grand Master Alan Goody, who lived in Fairlie, North Ayrshire, passed away last week, aged 68.

Sir Knight Goody, born in the East End of Glasgow, joined the Institution in 1975 (RBP 263 Govan) and was Grand Master of Scotland in 2001-02.

A Past Assistant Sovereign Grand Master, he had many friends throughout the Institution due to his roles at Imperial level, and also his work as a lecturer.

He was particularly well known and respected in Northern Ireland, and had spoken from the platform at numerous Last Saturday demonstrations, and also at the Scarva Sham Fight.

At the time of his death he was a member of RBP 457 Paisley.

After leaving school he became an electrician by trade, before later becoming a manager with Glasgow City Council.

His electrical background proved invaluable when he was part of a 17-man squad that travelled to Uganda to undertake building projects at Kiwoko Hospital as part of the Royal Black Institution’s Designated Charity Appeal. Sir Knight Goody described the experience as “humbling”.

A proud family man, he was devoted to his wife Heather, children Alison and Andrew, and grandchildren Rachel, David, and Callie.

Sovereign Grand Master, Rev William Anderson, a close friend of Sir Knight Goody for many years, said: “Alan was someone who you could trust and who had a great depth of knowledge and experience of our Royal Black Institution.

“He had a great eye for detail and was always keen to keep improving how we do things within our Institution. Nowhere was this more evident than when he was delivering a lecture. He had great empathy with those listening and was a very capable teacher.

“He always showed leadership and offered great encouragement to Sir Knights around him. He will be sorely missed.”

Rev Anderson paid tribute to the personal support he had received from Sir Knight Goody as the pair travelled through the Institution together.

“I have lost a dear friend, one who many times has guided and encouraged me in my journey within the Royal Black Institution.

“I could always turn to Alan for advice as I knew he would share it openly and honestly with me.

“From the time we met at a Lecturers’ Conference in Scotland in the mid-1990s, we have shared many great times and also some sad times together. I believe that our friendship flourished in that we both shared a passion for our Institution and the extension of the Reformed Christian Faith.

“Alan was someone who I was blessed to have known – I will miss him greatly but I know that he is with Christ, which is far better, and that one day we will meet again.

“On behalf of the Royal Black Institution, I as Sovereign Grand Master extend our deepest sympathies to Alan’s wife, Heather, his daughter Alison and son Andrew, and the wider family circle. We understand your sense of loss as we too have lost a wonderful Sir Knight, a friend and a brother in Christ.

“As an Institution we will continue to uplift you all in prayer in the weeks and months that lie ahead.”