Deceased Brethren

Hugh Francis Vidal was a Past Master who affiliated with Temple Lodge No. 33. We will post more detailed information as we uncover it.

Here is a brief biography Worshipful Brother Hugh Francis Vidal taken from local the Cowichan Leader newspaper reports of his death and funeral:

“Vidal – A kindly sportsman with many friends, Mr. Hugh Francis Vidal, Brae street, died on Thursday in the King’s Daughters’ Hospital after being in failing health for two or three years.

He leaves his wife and four sons: Kenneth and Charles in Duncan, and Ronald and Jack in the Royal Air Force. A sister, Mrs. H.O. Selby, lives in Surrey, England. There are six grandchildren.

Mr. Vidal was born 63 years ago in India, where his father was in the civil service. Later the family returned to England and he attended King’s College for three years, studying to be an army doctor.

When the necessity of wearing glasses made this impossible, he gave up any idea of entering another branch of the medical profession and came to Canada at the age of 19, establishing a fruit farm on the Niagara Peninsula, where he was married in 1902 to Lillian Jane Allen.

Twenty-two years ago they came to B.C. and, after three years in Ladysmith, settled in Duncan. For most of his time here Mr. Vidal has been in retirement, enjoying his favourite sports of fishing and hunting. For six years he was at Maple Bay, coming to Duncan and building his house on Brae Street two years ago.

The funeral service on Saturday afternoon at St. Peter’s Church, Quamichan was as nearly private as possible. The Rev. Canon T.M. Hughes officiated and there was one hymn “Abide With Me,” Mr. B.W. Clements being organist. Pallbearers were Messrs. K.F. Duncan, W.H. Purver, Edgar Bailey, H.W. Dickie, Leo Helen and W.H. Buckmaster.

The Davis Funeral Service made arrangements.”

(Source: Cowichan Leader, 13 March 1941 – from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives collections)

Hugh Francis Vidal is buried in St. Peter’s Quamichan Anglican Cemetery. We will get a photo of his grave in the near future.

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