In loving memory of Roger Betteridge, Governor, St George’s C.E. Primary School.
We were all shocked and saddened by the sudden death recently of Roger, one of our school governors.
Roger was our longest serving governor having accepting the role soon after moving into the area with his wife Jan, and their eldest daughter Emma, had started at St. George’s school. In turn Katie, Beccy and Pippa followed their big sister through St. George’s and Roger maintained and developed his participation and contribution to the life of the school as both parent and governor. Thankfully, even after Pippa moved on into senior school he continued in a new capacity as a governor right up to the end of his life amongst us.
Roger was a great gift to the school with his expertise and wisdom. He also was good to be around as he made his contributions in a thoughtful and gracious way.
As chair of governors I found great reassurance in the knowledge of Rogers’s presence and his ability and commitment to the school. I know we will all miss him deeply.
Another aspect of Roger besides his devotion to family and his faith, was his voluntary work at Blist’s Hill Museum. I only became aware of this on a visit there with my wife Janet and her two goddaughters, when we went in to see the Pit head winding gear. There was Roger in his costume carefully explaining the vital process of lowering and lifting the workers and materials up and down the pit shaft. Looking back I think if I had to entrust myself to being in a crowded cage and lowered rapidly deep down into the earth, I could think of no better person to be doing it.
Thank you, Roger for everything. Goodbye, and God Bless.
Reverend Kevin Evans
