Roger started playing table tennis at the age of 14 at a Youth Club in a tiny church in Hammond Road, Southall. They played with two sheets of thick hardboard over the church pews, with a net. It was pointed out that he was ‘doing okay’ and so was taken to play in the Main Hall at Clifton Road School in the West Middlesex League.

He moved to Tiptree in 1967 and started playing football and badminton at Thurstable School and whilst waiting to get on the court, started knocking up on a table tennis table, which led to him being invited to play for Anchor Press Tiptree in the Colchester League. He then completed a coaching course to be able to teach others at Great Horkesley and this led to Sunday afternoon coaching once a month at Colchester Sports Centre, (now known as Leisure World), with Len and Maureen Barton in the 1970’s.

Roger first came on to the Colchester Committee in 1972, taking on the role of Tournament Organiser. At that time the tournament was played around the local league clubs rather than a central venue. Roger was instrumental in moving the tournament to a central venue, the newly built Charles Lucas School, being an early venue. He took a break after six years, but was back on the Committee in 1980, this time as Junior Secretary, looking after Colchester juniors in the Essex inter-league, which included his daughter Sharon as part of the team at that time. In 1984 Roger moved to being an “ordinary” Committee member since first joining the Committee in 1972.  

Roger stepped up again in 1991 becoming Colchester Vice-Chairman, a role he was to hold for the next 32 years. He was a regular tournament sub-committee member, supporting Dave Jones before taking on the main role again in 2005. He was active on the Colchester Committee for 48 years+, at times covering more than one role, holding the following posts:-

Essex Rep                       1999 – 2010

He also had hobbies (when he had the time) which were fishing and wood turning.

Anchor Press closed in 2009 and Roger became a reserve for St Peters in Colchester and then in Dedham and from there to Great Horkesley. Roger then joined the Burnham League in about the 1990’s, playing for Maldon Table Tennis Club in the 2nd division and sometimes in the Chelmsford League. He continued playing in the 2nd division until 2019, when he decided that he would probably be more useful in the 3d division. He continued playing in this division until February 2024.

He was a fine player with a great manner, on and off the table, very courteous and friendly and always ready for a chat. He will be sadly missed…….

Our sincere condolences go to Daphne, his wife, Michael his son and Sharon, his daughter at this difficult time.

Roger v Ross Wheeler - at the Maldon Pigsty in Feb 23