Roger Cook (1 May 1929 - 19 Mar 2020)

Roger was born in Islington, within the sound of the Bow Bells, making him a genuine cockney. He was the only child of Wilf and Amy; sadly his mother died soon after his birth.

For his first couple of years he was brought up by his Mother’s family in Thundersleigh, Essex and later Wilf moved baby Roger to live with his younger brother Horrie, and his wife Ethel, in Barnet.

When Roger was around five, his father bought a brand new house, in Dawlish Drive, Pinner for £385 and subsequently moved in with his second wife Eva and Roger.

Eva’s people were farmers in Norfolk, and with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 summers were spent helping with the harvest. As he got older, Roger would cycle from Pinner to Little Snoring, a distance of some 140 miles.

He was a pupil at Pinner Grammar School where he successfully matriculated.

On leaving school he worked for a time at Bekonscot Model Village in Beaconsfield.

At 18 he was called up for National Service and enlisted with the RAF. After initial training at Northolt he spend the rest of his time in Rhodesia, where he was a Hurricane pilot.

Roger was talented with a pencil and sketchbook, and apparently as an amateur thespian; Am Dram being where he met Mary, to whom he was married for over 67 years.

He also was very much hands on with DIY, among his many accomplishments was the building of a “Mirror” dinghy, called ‘Little Stint’, one winter in his garage in Frimley. Whilst living there he was also ‘Baloo’ at the 1st Frimley Cub Scout group.

On moving to Old Dean Cottage in 1969 he started a fifty year residence which included clearing a bramble strewn wilderness, building walls, laying a crazy paving patio and a long path. A vegetable patch appeared too, with vast quantities of runner beans, courgettes and rhubarb being produced.

A caravan appeared in the early 70s, and family holidays were taken in France for a few years. Caravanning continued for many years, with regular trips to explore the length and breadth of the British Mainland.

On retirement Roger became involved with the charity Canine Partners, helping fundraiser and even manning their stand at Crufts.

He will be missed and remembered as a Generous, Hospitable, Loyal and Stubborn man.