Southport Masonic Hall was the venue for the Rose of Lancaster Lodge No 2325 to welcome Assistant Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers to help celebrate the 50 years in Freemasonry of Roger Binks. The lodge was opened and the general business conducted, Frank then entered the lodge and took the chair of the lodge; the salutation was given and Frank then requested the Roger to be placed in a chair in front of him and hoped he was comfortable.
After the opening remarks about the lodge and the brethren present, Frank went on to give a brief overview of Roger’s life. He was born in October 1945 in Bramall, Cheshire to be the only son of Geoffrey and Jean Binks. Their family home then moved to Southport between 1946 to 1983.
Roger attended Sunnymede School in Southport, Wrekin College in Shropshire till 1963 and then embarked on his military career in 1964 as a junior under officer. He was commissioned in December 1965 in The Royal Regiment of Artillery, stationed in Germany and Essex until to 1974. He then moved to the pay corps in 1974 doing various tours of duty and was promoted in 1985 to Lieutenant Colonel.
After a temporary post in the electronic engineering industry, he became Regimental Secretary at the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards with its headquarters in Edinburgh Castle for 15 years. Finally becoming the Keeper of the Rolls of Honour and Secretary to the Trustees of The Scottish War Memorial, this he viewed as a vocation rather than a job. During which he continued with voluntary charity trusteeship and examination of accounts and High Constable of the City of Edinburgh since 2014.
Rogers Masonic journey started when in 1973 he decided to join Rose of Lancaster Lodge, but could have applied to school, regiment or local lodges. Proposed by his father who had been WM in 1956. He was initiated in January 1974, passed April 1974 and raised in April 1975.
Roger also joined Lord Kitchener Lodge No 3402 and was exalted in St Paul’s Chapter No 2288 in Nicosia in November 1977. He also joined Kathmandu of Nepal Lodge No 8194 in March 1979 and installed master in December 1979.
On returning to the United Kingdom in 1982, he joined Faith and Confidence Lodge No 8222 in Winchester. Having a posting in Southern England, allowed him to expand into other Masonic Orders in London. All this time Roger has retained his Rose of Lancaster Lodge membership and was installed as master in 2009 and again in 2019 and has been treasurer from 2021.
After the presentation of his 50 years certificate. the members and guests retired to the festive board to celebrate a man who had served the County and Crown and Masonry for over 50 years.
