The Second HMS Manchester Association

Finally, many thanks to those who contributed to this edition of the Buzz be it by thought, word or deed. Your help was invaluable! That includes you, Alyson!!!!! That's about it for now. As we've said many times in the past, and it is still very true, the strength and success of 2MA is simply down to one thing and one thing only - the calibre of the people in it! This obviously includes Wives, Girlfriends, Partners and friends who support us all the way and make it happen. Thank You! Long may it continue!

As Always - Sincere Best Wishes

Stevie & Ian

Roger was born in Romsey, Hampshire on the 11th February 1951. He joined the Royal Navy in January 1967 at the age of 15, as a Junior OEM at HMS Raleigh. After basic training he joined his first ship, HMS BURNASTON, a minesweeper, based in HMS Jufair, Bahrain. While in Bahrain he became pen pals with a young Marjorie Wall from Selsey. They married in 1971.

Also in 1971 Roger underwent training at HMS Dolphin in Gosport and emerged a submariner. In 1972, Roger was given a 'pier-head jump' to HM Submarine Warspite. He went on to serve on HM Submarines Courageous and Sovereign then left boats and joined Skimmers R us! He saw ocean going service on HMS AURORA, and HMS ALACRITY.

In 1979 Roger was at HMS Collingwood for PO's course and in 1982 was selected to join the Mighty Manch in build and her first operational deployment to the Falkland Islands in 1983/84.

In 1987 he joined HMS SWALLOW, a patrol boat, based in Hong Kong. HMS SWALLOW was subsequently sold to the Irish Navy and Roger was one of the few crew members to remain on board as they brought his patrol boat back to the UK, taking several months!! Not long after returning from Hong Kong, Roger retired from Navy life, after 25 years of Service.

He took the Resettlement courses in Health and Safety and became H&S Manager with the London Ambulance Service. While he loved the work the long commute was gruelling and took its toll. He looked for something closer to home and took a job as H&S Manager with Nature's Way in Selsey. After a few years at Nature's Way, Roger began looking for something with more of a challenge and landed a job with CallSafe, as an H&S Training Officer. This took him all over the country, giving training to a range of companies which included MacDonalds, TFL, Hospitals, etc. Roger retired in his late 60s.

One of Roger's hobbies was canoeing, initially on the Chichester Canal, later he changed to sea canoeing with the Selsey Canoe Club. He loved all kinds of canoeing, particularly white water kayaking.

Roger and Marjorie had for many years attended Sea Shanty Festivals in Falmouth, Port Isaac, etc. and he joined in the singing with much gusto. Having retired, he now had the time to join a local group and was one of the founding members of the Selsey Shantymen. For their Covid delayed 50th anniversary, Roger and Marjorie sailed from Southampton on the Shieldhall, with the Selsey Shantymen providing the entertainment, with Roger singing when he could.

Roger passed away peacefully after a long fight with cancer on the 22nd November 2023. His funeral took place in Selsey on the 6th December 2023.

In Roger's memory, 2MA have made a donation of £100 to St Wilfrid's Hospice in Bosham.

2MA would like to thank Fred Horabin of the HMS Argonaut Association, a close friend of Roger's for his contribution towards this obituary.