We were saddened to hear of the passing of Roger Douglas Bowers (OE1955-60) who had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for the final six years of his life. A car crash led to further complications, which resulted in his death on November 5th, 2022.
As a schoolboy, Roger was a member of Rodney House and was noted as being a fine rugby player, with the Portcullis magazine commenting “Bowers was always in the thick of it”. Roger enjoyed sport and competed for numerous school rugby teams, including the First XV in his final year at Emanuel. He was awarded Rodney House Colours and enjoyed athletics, participating in the high jump for Rodney in Sports Day events.
After leaving school, Roger continued both playing and supporting rugby at the Old Emanuel Rugby Club at various levels into the seventies and was also a member of their Squash Club. Susanne, his wife of 58 years, recalls those happy times: “The boys and I enjoyed many an after-game supper and Christmas parties at the Club house and indeed I did my share of ‘dishing up’ after home matches. It was a lovely time for us.”
Roger had a highly successful career in Quantity Surveying and building and in retirement got involved in sailing, which became a passion for both him and his wife. Their many journeys took them around much of Europe, including Italy, Sicily, Greece, Malta, Turkey and Croatia. Susanne recalled: “We lived in Malta for eight months one year and spent many years living in Greece and Turkey. We only gave up and sold our third yacht when Roger’s Parkinson’s became a problem.”
Roger was very much loved by his family and is survived by his wife and two sons. Although many of his Old Emanuel friends pre-deceased him, Roger is a great loss to the wider Emanuel community and friends.
Tony Jones, Archivist