E Comp Robert Rance PGStB
With a background in law enforcement, Bob has worked in two police forces Surrey and the Metropolitan and retired after 45 years as the Force Crime Registrar for Surrey, a role where he was the link between the Home Office and Surrey Police. He was born at the Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow and lived at Pinkneys Green and Spencer’s Estate, until he joined Surrey police at 21 years of age and moved to Addlestone in Surrey.
Bob is a dedicated Freemason, being a member of 4 Craft Lodges and 5 Royal Arch Chapters in the Provinces and Districts of Berkshire and Surrey. He was initiated into the Royal Edward Lodge No. 4787 (Surrey) in 1994 and Exalted into the associated Chapter in 1997. In Berkshire he is a member of St John’s Chapter No. 795 where he is currently the Scribe E, and Berkshire Fist Principals No. 3684 as the current MEZ. He is also a member of the newly formed Berkshire Provincial Grand Stewards Chapter No. 9381.
Bob has completed 31 years as a Craft Mason and 27 years in the Royal Arch, he’s served in all the Lodge and Chapter Offices, with extensive periods as either Director of Ceremonies, Secretary or Scribe E, and therefore has gained considerable experience in the management of Lodges and Chapters. He has served at the Provincial level in both his Provinces and has been a Visiting Officer for Surrey lodges since 2019, and is also a VCO in the newly created Royal Arch Group.
In the Royal Arch Province of Berkshire, he was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward in 2010, he then served as Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 2019 and then Provincial Grand Charity Steward from 2022 – 2024 and having been appointed the Provincial Assistant Grand Scribe E in 2024, he was appointed in June 2025 to his current role as Provincial Grand Scribe E.
Bob still remains in contact with his policing colleagues in Surrey, as he continues to serve as a volunteer with the Ceremonial group called ‘CASPER’ (Ceremonial Association of Surrey Police – Elizabeth Regina) where the group helps the force with Police Officer Passing Out Parades, Force funerals of serving/Retired Officers and Police Staff, acting as Pallbearers. CASPER also attends the Armistice Remembrance in Ypres Belgium each year – Where they march through the town to the Menin Gate, and where Bob has had the great honour of laying a wreath in remembrance of Surrey Police Officers who fell during the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 Wars.
