Allotment veggies, roast chicken lunches, horses, cricket and Christmas cards. Oh, and trains! I’m trying to capture my memories of you and as I do, it hit me that my family never had the honour of meeting you. But, they know you. Through my stories of my time with you. My children have the dress I wore to your and Jen’s wedding and laugh at the story of my antics on that day. Just before you found your peace, I sent you a video of my Charlotte’s horse riding lessons. You have been a significant part of my life and I shared that with my family. In this way we honour your life and keep you in our memories. Rest well and peacefully. Now, we will focus on your family. Jen, Penel and Andy, Will and Rhianon and boys, and Fliss, we are here.
Darling Jen, Penel, Fliss, Will, Rhianon, Osian, Ioan & Andy,
Matthew, Travis & I send our deepest condolences to all of you. Roger was an institution in our extended family & much loved. He will be missed, and we're sorry we never got another chance to spend time with him, but are glad that his suffering is over & he is at peace.
I have so many wonderful, special & funny memories of Rog - THE best Railway Breakfasts in the whole world; riding up Main Street on his horse; bringing home tons of leeks from the allotment; frying pork sausages on a Cornwall hillside on one of our holidays with you; endless good advice on what trains to catch, when & where; incredible general knowledge on most things; a very dry wit and so many more to mention! We send you all lots of love & wish you strength over this difficult time.
Love always, Sarah, Matt & Trav
Roger was a splendid fellow and the Copeland's are a hugely significant part of my life beginning from when I was about 12. Life long family friends are a treasure to me. This is a brilliant website! It is a fitting and touching tribute to him. I really enjoyed your school project, what a gorgeous keepsake and the pictures show how interesting he was and also really capture what a lovely family man he was too.
I will be with you on Friday.
Sending you all tons of love xx
The AGM and no Chairman at the appointed hour. Someone rang him - Ah right time, wrong Pub. Never mind, on arrival we were regaled with the tale of the dead horse in Piccadilly, wonderful. Then interruption from his phone but only I recognised the ring tone. An A3 whistle, memorable. Associated with the Syndicate from formation in 1974 he was the perfect member and later Chair. All the members join me in saying we shall miss him, his knowledge, and his sense of humour. Tight lines Roger! Chris Marwood
Roger and I both went to Highgate School and we were prefects together in our final year. After leaving school we went our separate ways and did not meet again until a series of 50 year reunions in 2011 brought us together again. Roger’s encyclopaedic memory put me to shame when he recounted events that we had taken part in during our final year. I had no memory of a school trip to Goring Gap until he showed me photographic evidence. Nor could I remember the type and number of the steam engine that took us from Euston on a camping expedition to Snowdonia with the school cadet force.
Since then we have met on many occasions, mostly at the Copeland home where we were plied with delicious tea, cakes and scones. Roger and I reminisced about steam trains in the 50s and 60s. Fortunately we have also been able to see some steam around the Surrey hills. One of the highlights of the past ten years for me was my 70th birthday when Rosemary, my wife, organized a surprise trip on the West Somerset Railway as a celebration. Roger and Jenny joined in on the deception and came down to stay at a local hotel in Brent Knoll around the trip. I am sending a couple of photos taken on that day.
Our love to all the Copeland family at this heart-breaking time. Roger was always cheerful and amusing when we bumped into him or he was visiting our neighbour Alan. The tales he could tell!
I am sad to have lost a good friend of long standing and send my sympathies to all the family. A few thoughts and memories:
Roger was a singular personality often bringing interesting and surprising insights into a wide range of subjects. I have many good memories of him from schooldays at Highgate onwards.
At school especially the camaraderie and repartee of lighter moments in Grindal House, particularly when we were together in Third Study. Leave Sundays visiting his home at Brookmans Park. Perhaps especially on summer School Expeditions when we were able to sample the world outside school and cycle, walk and camp to various destinations in south east England.
Later on, during and after university, he was a driving force in maintaining contacts with others of our ilk through the Mitre Club, cricket matches, interest in steam trains and other subjects which took his fancy. I recall visiting him at work in Lincoln’s Inn Fields; his room, book lined from floor to ceiling, being entirely in keeping. In more recent years our meetings were fewer, but whenever we did so we were soon back on the same wavelength.
I am very glad to have known him for so long and he will be greatly missed by many.
I remember vividly the first time I met Roger. We'd yet to move to the village and were viewing Mayridge for the 2nd time. We were inspecting the garden when I heard a voice from the other side of the hedge. It was Roger! Within minutes I was asked whether I played cricket and would I be keen to join SNCC!!
That's how I'll remember Roger, engaging in many a conversation through the hedge in his own, unique style.
We'll also remember his encyclopaedic knowledge and generosity. It was lovely to make the connection with Whiteman's in Bath, my father's bookshop and I'll never forget borrowing his tree lopper ... which I subsequently broke. I dreaded telling Roger but had nothing to fear. I saw the glint in Roger's eye when I told him it was broken - I could see his excitement at the challenge of repairing it. Another project!
His generosity was second to none, whether it be birthday cards for the girls or the endless supply of jams.
We will miss you Roger and are grateful for the time we had together.
Sending lots of love and warm thoughts to Jenny and the family.
Rob, Naomi, Niamh, Orlagh & Emmeline
My sincere condolences for your loss. Roger was a true legend of South Nutfield CC and throughout the village. I will always think of him whenever someone cries ‘run several’.
Roger was a work colleague of many years at Barfields, Croydon. We became good friends and 4 of us regularly lunched together and much enjoyed this time when we shared legal problems followed by social conversation including family news, our latest home projects and hearing about Roger's visits to his allotment which on occasions seem to carry on well after dark. Roger, Nigel, Martin and I continued to meet on occasions following retirement and we will miss Roger's sense of humour and a kind man who had a very warm heart.
Sending you all lots of love at this very sad time, from all of us at Holborn's, Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. What a beautiful service for Roger, a gentleman, a friend and a wonderful Marmalade maker, we will continue to enjoy our supply!!
A true Gentleman and a legend of SNCC. The village has lost a special character. Run several, Roger. See you at the wicket on the other side.
South Nutfield won't be the same without Roger. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very sad time. With much love, James, Caris and all across the road xx
I didn't know Roger well, but met him through the road association and sometimes met him on the train returning from London or Redhill. Roger was always friendly, and very happy to have a chat. I didn't always agree with his views, but he was passionate about his subjects and interesting to talk to. I know that he provided very useful legal advice to the road association. My heartfelt condolences to the family, especially to Penny and Felicity whom I have met.
Roger was a unique character who will never be forgotten by those fortunate to have known him. He will be much missed along with his marmalade and pickled onions. Our sincerest condolences to Jenny, Penelope, William and Felicity and their families.
Loved having Jenny and Roger to our home. The Old Chapel on St Mary’s. Immediate rapport, but then he had entertained my bother Johnny as his article clerk. Probably like having tweedledee, then tweedledum. Sorry we are no longer on The Scillies. Happy days. Toby