Bea
 

I met Roger in 2024 by total chance. I recieved a friend request from him on Facebook and if memory serves, I was actually hesitant to accept it. We didn't share any mutual friends, and had never interacted before. But I'm so happy that I did. We had a brief exchange through text, a 4 hour phone call, and then never stopped talking. Roger was one of my closest friends, and as I've learned, I one of his. One of us was always there to check up the other, share news both good and bad, vent frustrations and provide comfort. Roger was also incredibly supportive of my music. He was the first person to really "get" what I was doing, and wasn't shy in his praise, but also not reserved in his constructive criticism. He was flamboyant yet reserved, serious but irreverent, loud as a jet plane yet quiet as a mouse. Roger was as much everything as one could ever hope to be; full of passion for the ones he loved, imbued with a lust for life, and rife with the old Bolton Charm. He was as true a friend as you could ever ask for, and I'm far better for having known him.

Sam B
 

Roger was a fantastic composer and passionate musician. He brought a unique combination of deep knowledge, eccentricity, passion, and fun to everything he did. I found Roger to be highly intelligent, a deep and critical thinker, and genuinely reflective on his life and contributions to music–especially his role in the Fairlight story. The last time I spoke to him, he was focused on recalling his time at Syco and key moments in his work. He was thoughtful and responded in a lot of detail and later followed up by email with further recollections. Paul Harkins and I will use the interview material in our forthcoming book and I will do my best to honour Roger’s legacy throughout the project.

Raisey
 

Roger to me was way way more than a mentor

What started as a mentor in my mid teens, being introduced to music production and a handful of mental health issues at the same time, he was a significantly bright lantern in an experienced world of dark

As I aged and regained myself, I also regained contact with Roger, and what he taught me, and what I could give him was such a beautiful symbiosis, I was enamoured from the day I met him!

I didn’t even have to ask, my the 2nd or 3rd day of meeting, we had already scheduled and created what would eventually become one of the most beautiful things I’ve had the chance to manipulate in a DAW (digital audio workstation)

Working with, being around and most of all, having each other to lean on

Holly R
 

I first met Roger in the late 80's, I worked in the Queens Head Box, Roger's local. 

Lots of laughs and stories. 

I lost touch with Roger for many years and 2 children later met back up 2016 having lunch at the Methodist church.

Roger and I had many conversations on Sundays eating lunch.

I told him about my son who was 16 at the time studying music. 

Roger took on the mentor role with Jake.

When Jake was an adult he went to Rogers and they both made music and enjoyed a friendship my son will miss. 

I also spent some time in Rogers flat in amazement at all the musical tools he managed to work with in his flat, even a piano.

I will miss him and our conversations. 

Pim

So sad to hear about Rogers passing. Roger was a wonderful man, very open and helpful. We met in summer 2023 in The Queens Head in Box, literally by accident, and had a good click. He was one of the drivers who let me to book a spontaneous recording day in the Real World Studios a few days later. And as I invited Roger to come along he played on some tracks of the musical adventure I was allowed to experience in this beautiful studio. He brought another guitarist friend and my daughter got her first guitar lesson. We kept in touch via email, you were so attentive and interested, Roger, thank you for your kindness. Rest softly. 

Jo (She/Her)

My daughter, Phoebe  and I lived next door to Roger when he lived in Rudloe. On his first day, he was outside with a  Henry hoover pretending to vacuum the grass, I knew straight away what a colourful character he was going to be ! He was a delight. We took him to get his beloved cat Daisy (we had her sister) and he was a regular for a cup of tea and a chat. 

A wonderful, one of a kind man that will be very missed. 

Thinking of all his friends and family at this time and remembering Roger with a smile. 

​

Pete - Glastonbury

In 2002 when Rog lived in the white house in Avebury which we called the Pink Palace I took Roger and local farm worker John Pearce flying in a Cessna.

We flew over Avebury and along the vale of Pewsey to see the latest crop circles.

When approaching Devizes we heard another pilot call "HRH1 to Lynham. Requesting permission to fly over military air space enroute to Highgrove"

Roger clapped his hands with glee yelling "Oooh! a Prince and a Queen in the air at the same time!"

I'm going to miss him.

Stefano

On the morning of May 1, 2024, as nervous as four teenagers on a first date, we were already standing outside Real World, ready to spend an entire afternoon wandering through the studios thanks to our winning bid in an auction held a few months earlier by Bath Cricket Club.

From the small street opposite, we gazed at the building we had imagined for years, never believing that one day we might actually be there.

As we paced nervously back and forth like an expectant father in a hospital waiting room while his wife was giving birth, we were approached by a rather unusual man, dressed in an outfit that was anything but stereotypically British, with all sorts of curious objects and strange pendants hanging from his neck and protruding from his pockets.

We explained why we were there and how we were about to spend the afternoon, thanks to Lisa Murton, who would be our guide. From that moment on, he stayed with us for the next three hours, first in a pub and then personally escorting us into Lisa's care.

He told us about his life, his work composing soundtracks for films and documentaries, and, above all, his passion for vintage technology, especially the legendary Fairlight CMI III.

When we finally said goodbye, we were completely captivated by his stories and anecdotes, struck by how fascinating he was, not least because of his wonderfully eccentric personality.