I am sad to report that Roger, a passionate supporter of real ale, passed away at the age of 75 in September. He came originally from North London, moving south to Worcester Park in the 1970s. He worked as a quantity surveyor for building firm Higgs & Hill during which time he became a regular customer at Woodies in New Malden. About twenty years later when Linda Thompson Jones became manager, he helped out at the pub. Roger also helped with their first beer festival which featured 21 ales, using his experience to erect the marquee. The festival was a success and steadily grew each year to sixty ales.
Roger’s other passion was Karting and he helped to run Formula 6 racing at Rochester Motor Club. He would also travel frequently to the UAE to help his son steward races there. Roger was also membership secretary for the Maldon & Coombe British Legion and secretary of the Grafton Club in New Malden. He assisted with the RBL parades and the Malden fortnight as well as helping out at Kingston beer festival. After the well attended service at Kingston crematorium, those present adjourned to Woodies to down a few ales in Roger’s memory.
The picture is of Roger congratulating Linda on winning CAMRA Kingston & Leatherhead branch’s Pub of the Year award in 2008.
Clive Taylor