About Roger

Roger, known to many as 'R', was a family man: loving husband of 36 years to Jan; son to Pru; dad to daughters Jackie and Tracy, and grandad to Joshua, Elliott and Joel. Grandaughter Victoria was born too late to meet him, just 12 days after his untimely death, but he knew she was going to be his first grandaughter.

Roger was born and raised in Plymouth. After leaving school he joined his father at Devonport Royal Dockyard as an apprentice electrical fitter. Apart from his National Service in the RAF from 1959-1961, he worked at the dockyard continually until 1992, when he was made redundant, then continued to be called back in on contract until 1994.

He loved the outdoors and spent his free time fishing in his boat or camping on the beach.

When he married Jan they made their family home in Yealmpton where they brought up their two daughters, Jackie and Tracy. They loved the outdoor life, spending every summer out at sea fishing in their boat, the Jacky-Jo-T, or in their caravan living 'The Good Life', growing all of the family's fruit and vegetables and keeping bees.

At 67, Roger's family and friends said he was the healthiest and fittest person of that age they had ever known; even his teenage grandsons had a job to keep up with him. But when a severe bout of flu was followed by chest pain and breathlessness, Roger was admitted to Derriford Hospital for tests. They showed an accumulation of fluid around the lung. In May 2005, biopsy results confirmed the diagnosis - mesothelioma. The family was devastated.

For a while - and for the first time in his life - Roger became depressed, because of his inability to maintain his usual high level of activity. It was heartbreaking for the family to see this big man looking as though he had given up. After a time the Roger everyone knew and loved returned with a new focus - making the most of the time he had left with his family. He began to prepare them for the future, when he wouldn't be there to look out for them. He started to write things down in an old exercise book, about the boat, the house, the caravan, the tractor, the bees, trying to pass on his years of experience so his family wouldn't struggle without him. During this time his third grandson Joel Roger was born, and his eldest grandson Josh began his apprenticeship in Devonport dockyard.

Roger knew he had been exposed to asbestos during his career in the dockyard. He recalled asbestos being sprayed on the sides of ships whilst he and his colleagues worked around the spray without any protective gear. At that time he thought no one knew the risks.

Years later, knowing the risks, he replied to an advert in the local press for medical tests to rule out asbestos-related diseases. The family was relieved when he got the all clear. But less than two years later his mesothelioma was diagnosed. Despite traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the disease claimed his life just seven short months after the diagnosis. His family was aware of the aggressive nature of the cancer, but was shocked that it progressed so quickly and that Roger's health declined so rapidly.

Roger died at home on 12 December 2005 with all the family present.

Just three days later the Plymouth Evening Herald reported that Plymouth had been identified as a 'hotspot' for asbestos -related deaths, including mesothelioma. And on 28 April 2006 (Workers' Memorial Day), the local newspaper reported that ‘more than 250 people in Plymouth had died of exposure to asbestos in the last 15 years.’

Roger's family made its first donation to the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund in lieu of flowers at his funeral. Since then they have continued to raise funds for, and awareness of, mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases in support of Action Mesothelioma Day, held every year on 27 February.