Roger Stuart Moir Kettles (12 Jan 1931 - 17 Dec 2020)

In loving memory of Roger Stuart Moir Kettles who sadly passed away on 17th December 2020.

It would have been Roger's 90th birthday a couple of days ago but sadly he did not quite get there.

However, we would like to the take positives. Having survived a major lung cancer operation where they only gave him another five or six years, he went on to live for another twenty years, where he was generally very happy and content, living a quiet life at home.

Having spoken to many of you since he passed away, there are common words we keep hearing regarding Roger. He was lovely, kind, gentle, warm, quiet, helpful, selfless man with a wry sense humour. We genuinely have not heard a bad word. We agree with these sentiments and would to add that he was highly resilient too, having overcome numerous serious illnesses in the past two decades with no fuss.

Born 12th January 1931 to David Kettles and Jane Hunter-Simpson, the youngest of four siblings with one sister Betty and two brothers David (David Graham) and Jim. Sadly, his mother died at a young age and Roger was brought up by his father and elder sister in Dundee. Roger was an evacuee in the war years and soon after the war moved to Nottingham as an apprentice with the Royal Ordnance Factory. Roger was to work there as an engineer until retirement in the early 1990's.

Also at the ROF Roger worked part-time at Gotham Garage where he became close friends with Barry and Sybil Dabell. They were to introduce Roger to Pam Baggaley, whom he married on the 1st June 1963 and they remained married for the rest of his life.

Between 1967 and 1968 Roger was blessed with the arrival of Andy and then twins Kate & Fran respectively. This was then a busy household and Roger worked hard to support his young family.

Over the years Roger would become a taxi service running the children around to various outside school activities and would be there to support when gang shows and other performances were put on.

You could always guarantee Roger would have his head under a car bonnet most weekends until the new cars with computers came on the scene.

In later years Roger would shadow Pam around various horse shows, recording various classes and then converting them onto video which he did with quiet resolve. Roger would always be seen around the horse shows with a camera in his hands.

When Granddaughters Jess and Izzy came on the scene he was very proud and used to love seeing them climbing the fir tree in the back garden.

Roger’s other hobbies and interests included motor cycling, photography, steam locomotives, wine making and caravanning. He was also good with animals with our dogs Fox and Tina taking a particular shine to him. Roger also became a key member of the community of St Paul's Church in West Bridgford and gave significant personal service to them.

Over the last 10 years Alzheimer’s slowly took Roger from us. He could remember being evacuated in the war and then all these little stories of his childhood he would tell us about.

Roger, will be sorely missed by many people but we believe he will be at peace with God.

Thank you Roger for contributing and enriching so many peoples lives.