BINYON, Francis Dockray

Francis Dockray Binyon known as Frank (1871-1936) was an elder brother of Charles Binyon.

Frank Binyon was born on 4th December 1871at Burton in Lonsdale, Yorkshire, the fourth of nine children (four of whom died in infancy) of the Reverend Frederick Binyon and his wife, Mary (née Dockray).  

He was educated at Lancaster Grammar School, St Paul’s School, London and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, gaining BA in 1893 and MA in 1898.  He was ordained deacon in 1897 and from 1897-1901 was priest at the Church of St John’s, Peterborough.

In 1901 he travelled to South Africa where he was a missionary at Hersche, Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, until 1903.  From 1903-1922 he was Warden of St Matthew's College, Keiskama Hoek, Canon of Grahamstown from 1915-1922 and Chancellor from 1918-1922.  It was whilst in South Africa that Frank married married Ethel Margaret Fanny Snowden in the cathedral parish of St Michael & St George, Grahamstown, on 8th July 1909.  Frank and Ethel returned to England in November 1922.  He recorded his proposed address in the UK as the British Museum.

From 1923-1925 he was Curate of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, from 1925-1931 he was Rector of Rockingham, Northamptonshire.

Reverend Binyon died on 23rd February 1936, aged 64, at his home, 35 Robson Road, Worthing, just under three weeks after his eldest brother, Jack.  His widow, Ethel, survived him by 37 years, dying in May 1973, aged 95.