Remembering Roger Robson

As an active member of the CCF, Roger was prepared for his two years’ of peacetime national service following his schooling at Malvern College. National service took him to Germany and Sierra Leone, as Second Lieutenant with the Royal Sussex Regiment. He so enjoyed his experiences in West Africa, and undoubtedly the warm climate and lifestyle would have been a happy reminder of his carefree days growing up in Trinidad, that he decided to move to what was then Southern Rhodesia. There he met his wife, who had also departed England for sunnier climes.

Roger took up a post with the High Court dealing with insolvencies. Shortly after, he joined the Treasury, eventually earning the role of Private Secretary to the Minister of Finance. A subsequent move to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry offered him a variety of responsibilities. His first was a three-year posting in Mozambique as Trade Commissioner, which included hosting foreign diplomats and many a cocktail party.

Roger took early retirement from the civil service in 1980 and relocated with his family to South Africa. He worked for the construction group LTA Limited in a variety of divisions across the organisation, developing and honing his skills in industrial relations.

Full retirement saw a move to South Africa’s Eastern Cape and a more relaxed coastal lifestyle. Roger continued to take an active interest in current affairs, supported his local Neighbourhood Watch on night patrols and greatly enjoyed his twice weekly games of social bridge.

Roger continued to play the sports he had gained a passion for at Malvern College – cricket and rugby, later taking up the more leisurely golf. He was an avid supporter of the national cricket and rugby teams and golf players of whichever country he was living in at the time.

He is survived by his wife, three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Roger died on 7th October 2023, aged 89.