Josh Brown

“Oh you must!” – These are three words that seem to me to sum up Roger. I knew him for less than 18 months but in that short time, saw him almost each and every week. It has been a pleasure to get to know both Marion & Roger as I help them in their beautiful garden. Each week, Roger and I would take a walk round the garden and discuss jobs that needed doing, or projects that he had in mind. He would give me demonstrations on how to scythe the long grass and bluebells, telling me stories of his childhood in China – where he watched a man much older than myself cut it by hand, better than any mower! He dressed me up in the spare beekeepers outfit and proudly showed me the prize-winning hives. He would tell me excitedly of the boating trips and lessons he had on the horizon for his grand-daughters and never failed to surprise me with what he knew or had experience of. But what came across most of all in all our conversations, was his excitement; his energy for seeing things happen. From all he told me about his life, in little weekly snippets, this same enthusiasm shone through. He clearly took so much pride in his children, grandchildren and all that he and Marion had done together. Few people exhibit such an excited urgency for life and all that can be experienced and achieved. When I told him of ideas I had for travel or for my own future, he would say, with relish – “Oh you must!” It is this message, and Roger himself, that will continue to inspire me for many years. With love to all the family from both of us, Amy & Josh.