It is with great sadness that the death of WBro Michael Amps is announced. He died on Thursday 5 March 2015 at the age of 82 years after being in bad health for some time. A pillar of both Oundle Freemasonry and the local community in general he was a successful and much respected local businessman, having taken over the family grocery business from his father, Percy Amps. Michael developed it into a very successful wine merchants.
As a young man he was a keen and much accomplished sportsman, playing for both Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and Northampton Saints Rugby Football Club. At the age of 60, he decided to take up kick boxing and regularly attended the gym in training.
In his spare time he was a keen gardener and boasted that he did not grow anything he could not eat. He was also an enthusiastic caravanner and named his house “Navarac” (caravan spelled backwards). A supporter of his church he was instrumental in raising large sums for church funds.
He loved to visit New Zealand where he had family, and did so each year. He spoke about it so enthusiastically (and often) that in St Wilfrid Lodge there was a rule that he would be fined £5 for every mention of New Zealand.
In 1954 he was initiated by his father into St Wilfrid Lodge No 4453 in Oundle. His brother, Lawrence Amps, installed him as its Worshipful Master in 1974. Michael later served the Lodge for many years as Almoner and Charity Steward. He was a member of the Installed Masters Lodge No 3972, becoming Master in 1993, and a member of his old school lodge, Old Denstonian Lodge No 5490 (Province of Staffordshire). In 2007 he became a founder of Web Ellis Lodge No 9740 and served as its second Master in 2002, following the late WBro Don White PPAGM.
Michael’s first two Provincial appointments were both Acting Ranks – first as Pursuivant and secondly as Sword Bearer. He also served as a very fine Group Officer for 20 years and was a frequent visitor to all the Huntingdon Group of Lodges.
in 1995 first received his first Grand Rank appointment as PAGDC and was promoted in 2013 to PJGD.
In 1976 he was exalted into Chicheley Chapter No 607, serving as its MEZ in 1983. He was a founder of Old Denstonian Chapter No 5490 (Province of Staffordshire) in 1998 and its MEZ in 1999.
He was a member of other orders including Knights Templar and Rose Croix.
The last Masonic meeting attended by WBro Amps was in late 2014 when he was presented with his 60 years Jubilee Certificate by RWBro Barrie Hall PPGM.
A generous man, many will remember that, before the meeting time of St Wilfrid Lodge he regularly invited many who were too attend to his house for pre-meeting tea and biscuits.
He had a great “zest for life” in masonry, business sport and community life and was greatly respected and much loved as a real Oundle character. His passing is a great loss and he will be sadly missed.