It was with great delight when members of WBro Alan Roberts’ family, especially his wife Dorothy who Alan married in 1956, heard the news that Her Majesty The Queen had awarded Alan the British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours for his Services to the Community in Manchester.

From an early age, Alan Roberts has served the community in some capacity or other and still continues to do to this day.  He is a member of the congregation of St. Matthews with St. Mary’s Church, Crumpsall, and became the church organist and choirmaster in 1960, a position he still holds today.  He is a past Churchwarden and a past chairman of the Deanery Synod.  Alan also served as the Bishop of Manchester’s representative for Child Protection, from 1966 until 2003.

After retiring as Area Director for Manchester Social Services Department covering one of the most difficult areas in the city, Alan became more involved with voluntary work.  He began to work at SSAFA where he finally became the branch secretary, covering the eleven divisions in Greater Manchester, finally retiring from his role in 2012.

Having carried out all the above roles and many more Alan still found time to serve the Scouting organisation which he joined as a young man.  During his time in Scouting with 2nd/9th Manchester group, he completed all the proficiency badges. This led to him being awarded the King’s Scout Badge – later to be known as the Queen’s Scout Badge.  In 1967 he became Group Scoutmaster for Ancoats.

In February 1964 Alan was Initiated into Lodge of Truth No. 1458 but sadly the Lodge closed.  In 2012 he joined The Lodge of Virtue No. 152 and instantly became an active member of the Lodge.  Alan celebrated his Fifty Years in Masonry on the 4th March 2014 when the then Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Manchester and now the Provincial Grand Master for Cheshire, RWBro Stephen Blank,  presented Alan with his illuminated Certificate on behalf of RWBro Sir David Trippier.

The members of The Lodge of Virtue No. 152 congratulate WBro Alan Roberts, BEM, PProvSGW on the award of this well deserved honour.

Pictured below is Alan receiving his 50th Illuminated Certificate from RWBro Stephen Blank alongside WBro John Roberts, the Worshipful Master of Lodge of Virtue No. 152