The man pictured looks like a fine gentleman. Any idea who it may be? A fantastic artefact from Bruce Littley.

An interesting enquiry here from old friend of the blog Bruce Littley who’s got an interesting, possibly local artefact from the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, of Buffs for short.

The Buffs (who are still a fine and popular organisation) are a friendship and charitable organisation, often considered to be the working class Freemasons. Although not as populous as they once were, they shared a benevolent, positive community passion with organisations like Rotoract and the Round Round Table.

Bruce has a badge, pictured above, from what he thinks may be a local Lodge, and wonders if any readers can shed light upon it?

Hi Bob,

This may be an unusual one, but I am optimistic.

I have in my collection, a badge, which I believe would have been worn on part of the regalia of a member of an RAOB (Buffaloes, Buffs) Lodge.

It has in its centre a photographic image of a man. The Lodge is the “George Roberts Lodge No. 2196” I have tried to get information from the RAOB HQ at Harrogate, but received no reply.

I have asccertained that the Lodge met at the Station Hotel, from at least 1931, and changed to the Hussey Arms Hotel in 1981, meeting on Tuesdays.

I do not know if it is still extant. I have not been able to find other information, and then thought could he have been one of your ancestors?

Ever hopeful.
Regards,
Bruce

Bruce feels the George Roberts in question may be a relative of William Roberts, Brownhills Victorian brewer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and mischief-maker, and thinks there may be a likeness in the photos, which maybe coincides with the Buffs locally meeting at the Station Hotel as he notes.

William Roberts. A remarkable man.

William was a member of the Buffaloes, as his obituary linked above noted.

However, I was not aware of any relatives of William surviving him.

So what can readers add? If you have a view, please share it: Either comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or hit me up on social media.

Thanks to Bruce for sharing a lovely thing, and for creating a great Bank Holiday Weekend talking point!