Clifford Ernest Rogers (8 Feb 1929 - 25 Sep 2019)
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Funeral Director
- Location
- The Crown The Green Chiddingfold GU8 4TX
- Date
- 18th Oct 2019
- Time
- 2pm
In loving memory of Clifford Ernest Mills (Cliff) Rogers who died peacefully at Wenham Holt Nursing Home, Liss, 25 September 2019 at the age of 90.
Predeceased by an older brother, Geoff, in a tragic motorcycle accident in 1951, Cliff is survived by his sister Margaret, wife Judy, son Alexander, daughter Ariane and three young grandsons.
Cliff was born 8 February 1929 to Doris and Bertie in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. Witnessing the heavy bombing of Coventry and its surrounding areas first-hand during WWII, Cliff resolved to enlist at the earliest opportunity. Deftly forging his father’s signature, and mentioning nothing of his success in this, he joined the Royal Navy as a boy sailor in 1946. Training as a Telegraphist (morse code signaller), Cliff’s RN service included time on HMS Jamaica (a Crown Colony class cruiser) and at the land based HMS Highflyer in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). Demobilisation saw Cliff entertain a short career as a surveyor with the Ordnance Survey, which ended abruptly following a disagreement involving himself, his boss and a cold river in North Wales. Whilst walking down London’s Strand a short while later in 1951, Cliff’s imagination was captured by a recruitment poster featuring a smartly uniformed man on horseback; a few weeks later he was on a Union Castle ship bound for Rhodesia to start a new chapter in his life, courtesy of the British South Africa Police (BSAP). After his service as a bush policeman, Cliff made the most of his time in Africa, trekking widely and climbing mountains in such places as South Africa, Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Uganda, the Belgian Congo and Kenya. After a stint as a supervisor in the Zambian copper belt mines, Cliff then moved (via the UK) to Canada to work for the technology company Olivetti, where he later met and married Judy in January 1960. Moving back to the UK in 1966, Cliff spent the remainder of his working life as a Sales Manager for Rank Xerox, moonlighting for a period in the late 1970s as a London hotelier.
In retirement and his spare time, Cliff could often be found twiddling dials and tuning his HF set as a ‘ham radio’ operator, or applying his natural investigative abilities as a genealogist. An avid amateur historian, he would frequently visit records offices and libraries to research particular historical periods or events and latterly became one of the principal archivists of the BSAP Regimental Association. Numerous acclaimed contributions to the recording and preservation of BSAP history and the authoring of several books followed; in particular, Cliff was responsible for rediscovering historical material that exposed new details on the ‘Jameson Raid’ (1895-96) - later described in ‘BSA Police Book Series - No.17: Jameson's Men’.
Cliff’s funeral is scheduled for 12:45pm on Friday 18 October 2019 at Guildford Crematorium, with a reception to follow at The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold. All are welcome to attend and celebrate his life.
In lieu of flowers, any charitable donations should be directed to either Macmillan Cancer Support or Hants & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (links available on this web page in the top right corner). The family welcomes you to 'light a candle' and/or leave messages and photos of Cliff.
The family would like to thank the staff of Queen Alexandra Hospital (F2 Ward), Milkwood Care Home and Wenham Holt Nursing Home for their support and dedication during Cliff’s final months and days.
Cliff will be hugely missed as a loyal, devoted and selfless brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Matelot, Policeman, Miner, Sales Manager - a one off. Rest in Peace.
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posted a picture
Keeping small people entertained
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donated in memory of Clifford
Family - 2011
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donated £20 in memory of Clifford
In memory of Cliff Rogers
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is attending the funeral and the reception
donated in memory of Clifford
In memory of Cliff a good friend for many years
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In memory of Cliff a good friend for many years.
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In memory of Cliff Rogers
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In memory of Cliff Rogers
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In memory of Cliff Rogers
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posted a picture
BSAP Monthly Meeting in UK
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Great photo William - thank you :-)
is attending the funeral and the reception
donated in memory of Clifford
RIP Cliff and may God always be with you.
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is attending the funeral and the reception
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I will be attending the Funeral
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In memory of Clifford Rogers
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is attending the funeral and the reception
posted a picture
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Cliff's Obituary from the BSAP website: http://www.bsap.org/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3P286pLK9hbFMz49Wn5tSPw23fzAe4ermZvJpnpwbxBmoGboPymisQXCI#rogersobit
is attending the funeral and the reception
posted a picture
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BSAP Squad V, 1951. Cliff is second from right.
Keeping small people entertained
Family - 2011
BSAP Monthly Meeting in UK
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