Obituary
Many Bristolians will remember Roger as a bass-playing rock star, instantly recognisable by his shaggy blonde locks, branded streetwear, and unmistakable presence. Music was only the beginning. His curiosity, intelligence, and ambition carried him onward to the dizzying heights of television production, a path that ultimately led him to Australia.
He was the most erudite man many of us have ever known, and also one of the funniest. A brilliant storyteller, Roger could recreate a comedic catchphrase with the precision of a stage actor. His wit, warmth, and intellect made every conversation richer and every gathering better.
Roger was extraordinarily well travelled, living life with both feet firmly on the accelerator. His adventures took him across South Africa, America, Australia, and Asia—always with a story to tell. He set off on his next great journey in late December 2025.
Roger leaves behind his loving mother Jackie and sister Vicky, his much-beloved nieces Jodie and Annaliese, nephew David, and his brother-from-another-mother, Graham; as well as a great many friends around the world who will miss him deeply. His absence is profound, but his stories, laughter, and singular spirit will stay with us always.
In lieu of flowers, we've set up a GoFundme on the family's behalf and very much at our prompting should you wish to contribute to Roger's retrospective repatriation costs and towards a memorial. The family also dearly wish to make a donation to a suicide prevention / mental health charity in Roger's name.
A beautiful tribute from Jodie:
The last time I saw Roger was about a year and a half ago, in Sydney. It was jst a really nice time - everything felt quite casual and normal, just being together and catching up.
Roger had a huge influence on my life, probably more than he ever realised.
Growing up, he was the reason I became so curious about travel and the wider world. Just seeing how he lived - with freedom, movement, and independence - planted a seed in me very early on. It wasn't about anything exaggerated or put on, just the sense that there was more out there, and it was possible to live life a bit differently.
I also have a very fond memory from when I was a child - I always picture us driving somewhere, I honestly can't remember where, which I suppose is the funny thing about childhood memories. What I do remember so clearly is him talking to me about science, space, and time, and explaining the E = mc² theory (which is funny cause Graham said he most likely explained that theory to him at some point..)..I'm not even particularly into science, but that conversation always stuck with me.
There was so much fun with Roger. He used to have me, my brother, and my sister in stitches doing funny faces and impressions. And I've always loved the stories about when he was in the band Straw - I don't even know if I was born yet, maybe I was just a baby or toddler - but my mum and sister always tell me about him being on a TV show and giving a shout-out to "the sprogs". He always called us that, and it still makes me smile thining about it.
I also think a lot about the time I spent with him in Perth 2020 during COVID. It's a time I feel very grateful for. Roger was so independent and used to his own space, so him welcoming me - and Tom - into his home during such an unpredicable period of life really meant a lot. It did make us laugh at the time, being in his little bachelor pad together when he was so accostomed to being on his own, but we were genuinely very appreciative. We had a really lovely time, and it's a memory I'll always hold onto.
A loving tribute from Roger's little sister, Tor:
I’ve been trying to find the words, and honestly, I’m not sure there are any that truly fit.
My brother and I couldn’t have been more different. He was calm, measured, a thinker. I was the hot-head, the one who made things happen — or got myself into trouble trying. We fought like cat and dog, especially over whose turn it was on the Space Invaders arcade machine in whichever pub we happened to be living in at the time.
Even back then, he was my fixer. More than once he found himself in the headmaster’s office, calmly negotiating my way out of whatever mess I’d landed myself into. He was a smooth negotiator from a young age, and that never really changed.
My favourite hobby was annoying him. Whether he was teaching himself to play the guitar, on the Atari console with his friends, or just trying to have five minutes’ peace — I’d find a way to get a reaction. I was his annoying little sister, and somehow he always handled me with more patience than I probably deserved.
As adults, our lives took us down very different paths, but I was always so proud of him. I always saw him as someone you’d want to be like — steady, thoughtful, respected. That never stopped.
When he came to visit, he’d have my kids in absolute hysterics with his funny impressions. They adored him — their Uncle Rog — and the sound of their laughter with him is something I’ll always hold close.
Being in Australia right now, for the reasons I am, everything still feels like a blur. I never, ever imagined it would end like this. I keep wondering if I could have done something differently. I don’t know if that question will ever leave me.
I’m here to bring my brother home. But part of him will stay here too — held in this place, in the life he lived, and in all the memories he left behind.
He was my brother, and I love him.
- Tor x
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Although we only met in person a couple of times when Roger popped back to the UK, we spent many hours on calls and zooms through work.
Roger was always bright and full of energy, even though it was usually at the end of his working day and the start of mine. He often spent far too long discussing what I thought of Arsenal's chances that season, the weather in England, the area I was living in or what music Roger had been listening to, before getting into the chat about work. I heard nothing but great things from those who worked with Roger. He was kind, funny, calming, nurturing, level-headed and supportive.
We kept in touch over email and calls, and he was always so gracious when we were 'talking shop'. I still can't quite believe he's gone as we last emailed only in October. It was always a pleasure to have an email from him pop into my inbox.
Sending my thoughts and sympathies to Roger's family and those closest to him.
Rob x
Deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Happy memories.
Sarah
Thinking of you all and sending so much love, Sarah x
We worked together on a string of shows between 2022 and 2023 and I had the pleasure of getting to know him outside of work as well.
I will remember him as generous, encouraging, and above all thoughtful. I'll miss his insights into the nature of reality. A gentle soul who taught me a lot about the TV industry and much more.
A tragic loss, and I will miss him.
He was my flatmate in Springfield Road, Bristol around 2003-2005. I remember being impressed by how inquisitive he was about the world, and technology in particular - a natural TV producer and a polymath. And I have never met anyone so mad about gadgets!
My then-girlfriend and now wife Amy was also fond of him, and he gave us an expression that we still use to this day. He once looked at a vegan-friendly thing we were eating and called it 'bread-free bread'. Since then we have eaten many 'sausage-free sausages' etc.
Rest in peace, Roger.
I last met up with Roger at least a decade ago: he was in Soho and we met up after work, had a pizza, sat in a pub and just talked. It was like the intervening decades didn’t exist; it was an evening I remember all the more keenly now.
Roger and I met at school in Prestatyn, Pluto house. I have so many cassettes taped off his records, he was the first to play me Blue Monday. And his talent for the bass and later guitar was off the scale.
In the grand sweep of his life, I likely occupied only moments, but they are all memorable: he visited me at University in Norwich, always good for a tall tale and a good laugh.
Profound sorrow is all I can express. And to Tor and his mum, my deepest condolences: you were welcoming to interlopers at the Nant Hall and I am grateful to have had the chance to have been his friend.
Simon
I can just see you laughing, shaking your head, then walking back into your office while I rattled off even more outrageous names, trying to outdo whatever ridiculous nickname you’d just given me. Then hearing you call back:
“No… nope… not good enough, Casey. Sorry, I can’t hear you, I’m busy.”
Coming up with the most outrageous band names together is something I’ll never forget.
These are just some of the special moments I’ll always hold onto.
Mate, I’m really going to miss you.
The world has lost a truly special kind of person.
Thinking of all your family and friends during this incredibly hard time.
Roger, thank you so much for always supporting Claire and I. You taught me so much. I’ll never forget you halfway through explaining a script suddenly stopping and saying, “Wow… this is wonderful… someone’s actually listening to me,” then instantly switching straight back into the explanation like nothing happened. I would absolutely laugh my face off.
That’s what made you stand out to me and I loved working with you.
You’d always say, “Mate, it’s just TV. We’re not changing the world, we’re just making sure the old bloke in England watching these crazy Aussies gets up during the ad break to grab more beer and chips instead of changing the channel. If he changes the channel you’ve got a problem” and look me in the eye and say “OK!?”
You made me think outside the box. You gave me confidence to try new things, and I loved that.
You were such a genuine person. A mate I truly loved being around. We shared the same kind of humour, always trying to take it to the next level and make each other laugh harder.
Even through some tough times on my end, you never stopped checking in on our little family. You always made the effort, even recently.
I honestly hold you up there as one of the best when it came to caring about people. You genuinely wanted to know how all of us were, and you always took the time to listen.
You were one of a kind.
The world won’t be the same without your incredible wit, your charisma, your next level shirt choices, and that smile that made me smile so much I had to buy some colourful shirts of my own so we could be shirt bros. You’d look at me and say, “Ummm… okay… whatever floats your boat, mate.” And just walk off.
The best.
So many moments. Your comedic timing was perfect, and the facial expressions that went with it made everything even better.
I’ll never forget the care you showed when you made sure our daughter’s name was added to the end credits of Aussie Gold, because Claire worked out in the field right up until she was nearly full term. You said well she was also a big part of the show. That meant more to us than you probably knew.
Sorry we never got to have that beer. I never thought it would be the last one.
I look forward to jamming with you someday, beers flowing wearing next level shirts.
Rest easy, my friend. I appreciate you massively like so many others and will always be grateful we had the chance to work together.
We played plenty of memorable gigs, including large Student Union shows in Birmingham and London, as well as regular open-mic slots at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff. Along the way we experimented with home recordings on a 4-track cassette and even managed a couple of studio sessions. They were formative years for us all.
After graduating in 1990, the band moved to Bristol, where we carried on musically for a few more years before life gradually took us in different directions. During that time, our circle of friends expanded, and regular gatherings at the Hillgrove pub in Kingsdown became a particularly special chapter for many of us. The friendships formed then meant so much to him, and to so many others.
Around 1999–2000, Roger stayed with me in Totterdown for a few months, and it was during that time that I got to know him better and truly appreciate his sincerity, and heartfelt commitment to his music and his dreams.
We later lost touch when Roger emigrated to Australia, where he went on to become a successful producer. When a small group of us gathered last April (2025) to celebrate our mutual (Hillgrove) friend Spence - kindly hosted by Dan and Kath - I was really glad we had the chance to video call Roger in Australia and speak again, reminisce, and reflect on his playing and our time together in Bristol.
Roger was a brilliant bass player: inventive, melodic, and always serving the song in a clever, complementary way. His timing was superb, and I always felt we made a pretty solid rhythm section together.
I’m deeply sad that he couldn’t reach out to one of his many friends in Bristol, or find his way back to England. He will be greatly missed.
Condolences to his family and all his friends.
Rest in Peace, brother. x
I bumped into Rog in the Union block in my first week at the Polytechnic of Wales - a strangely vibrant place in the very rainy and grey village of Treforest, South Wales. ‘Mac’ as he called himself then was a striking big lad with long curly golden locks and a cheeky smile - he had a sharp northern wit and a positive angle on life and we connected straight away. Another newly made friend Kieran Argo and I had a plan to put a band together and when we bumped into Mac it was an instant fit - when Pete Bailey and Mattie Bennet then came on-board we organised a rehearsal and very quickly I think we all became aware that we could do something great together. For 3 years whilst studying we put-together and played music anywhere that would have us - eventually becoming weekly residents at the Union Venue and the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, and recording a bunch of songs at various studios including a session for Island Records. It was a magical time creatively and socially - it’s such a buzz to be in a gang of mates that has the power and purpose to seize the feeling in a room full of people and lift it up. Smashing it out in a kicking band to an appreciative crowd is such a bonding and strengthening experience and I'm so grateful for the nourishment Rog and the others gave me at that time in my life.
We started to get a bit of a following, earning a weekly residency at the Union and also later the Chapter Arts centre and recorded a bunch of songs in various studios and bedrooms and live gigs.
After college we all moved as a band from Cardiff to Bristol, and I lived with Rog for several years as we made sense of the city and it’s burgeoning music and social scene, sharing new friendship groups with some lovely folks who have become life-long friends/partners, and getting various jobs to keep it all going. Under the new name ‘Please’ we played a lot more gigs in Bristol and nationally, trapesing around in vans to the next venue whilst all the time hunting for the all-elusive record deal. We recorded an EP then another 4 tracks for Island Records in London but it was tough to get any real traction. Kieran and I ended up moving in different directions to the band, but Roger, Pete and Mattie stuck at it, eventually getting multiple record deals first as ‘Elvis Virus’ and then as the great band ‘Straw’ some of which you can see in the videos on here.
Rog was a very erudite fellow, well-spoken and abreast of so much news, sport, art and culture, and his musicality was equally impeccable - he wasn’t your average bass-player - you could often find him in his room playing for hours to tracks of his favourite bands to learn new stuff and this informed his writing - Roger always managed to contribute something melodic to enhance the chord movement as well as the rhythmic feel of a song, without ever losing depth and solidity. Roger soon also became adept at guitar and went on to write his own stuff.
That time writing/playing songs with Rog in ‘The Argonauts’ and then ‘Please’ (after College) as well as being a lot of fun, was incredibly educational for me - over the years I’ve drawn on it for so much of what I’ve done as a professional musician. I deeply regret that I never got to really thank Roger for his huge part in that.
After an exciting musical career Roger retrained as a TV Producer and several years later moved to Australia. We lost touch for too long so it was wonderful to chat to him on a video-call last year (thank you Graham). Kieran and my wife Cath and I had a brief but lovely conversation with him catching-up and remembering old times.
Roger was a bright, sharp creative and kind soul and I will miss him deeply
Rest in peace now old friend
XXX
If anyone has the footage it was incredible! Rog only showed it to me on his phone - I can’t remember the production but the event occurred in 2018.
This is exactly the sort of nugget he’d casually pull out of his pocket and astound a room.
Cool as a cucumber about the whole thing too. There was insufficient shrieking for my taste in the video but Rog claimed the centrifugal force at the time prevented it and allowed him to retain his dignity.
You always struggled to take a compliment.
Wherever you are, you already know full well how much you are loved and admired and cherished. Blush away from your cloud, Sir!
You really did have an extraordinary life with lots of “good pictures to take with you”. Just looking at your IMDb- you’ve let us with lots of good pictures and stories too.
Do I resent that we couldn’t have you for longer? Yes, selfishly I absolutely do. But I know you are in a better place, no doubt with a full understanding of the unifying Theory of Everything… so I’ll “let it lie”.
My memory here (one of many I intend to add as they occur to me) is actually a still from our wedding video where you are mid quip about to make our “priest” and the camera man cackle. It’s just so… you - and one that I will cherish.
We had a shared sense of humour and were on similar journeys - for a while we were inseparable.
Later, in 2007, he was Best Man at my wedding, which took place in South Africa.
He arrived, made friends with everyone, gave a speech that was hilarious but not in any way unkind, and then disappeared, quite undaunted, on a solo adventure along the Garden Route.
I remember watching him drive away and being full of admiration.
A few years before that, I had found myself in need of a good friend. Life, and my own stupidity, had conspired to give me a kicking. Roger was a true and steadfast ally during this time, offering practical support and wise counsel. He was that person who we all like to think we would be, when a friend is struggling.
We stayed in touch during his years in Australia, and talked fairly regularly.
In one of these conversations I had an opportunity to remind him of how he had been there for me during a difficult time, and to express my gratitude. His response was typically self-effacing, and perhaps typically Roger - "Surely you're not suggesting I'm a good person."
Oh, but you were, my friend.
And though I have shed many a tear for Roger since hearing the news, when I look through the photographs here, I find myself laughing out loud. His character and sense of humour come shining through them. The whimsical facial expressions, the studied poses , the slouch exaggerated for comedic effect.
Then there are a few photos that capture him as I will remember him most fondly:
Kind, measured, thoughtful. Interesting and interested.
Dear Rog,
I'm happy to have called you my friend, and my life has been better for having you in it.
May you rest in peace.
Love,
Alex
Donate
The family would also dearly love to allocate some of the funds to a suicide prevention / mental health charity in Roger's name.
Link: www.gofundme.com/f/bringing-roger-home-taqrq?attribution_id=sl:58a4c144-0549-498a-b9ae-361592a98ef1&lang=en_US&ts=1770206821&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
Please note - if you'd like to leave a message along with your donation, you would need to have a GoFundMe account to do so. Please don't feel obliged to sign up. You are very welcome to add any messages here to the memory wall OR if you get in touch with the organisers, we'll ensure Roger's family gets your message. Thank you again for any contribution you've been able to make!
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