Roger Ball 1936-2021

Roger was born in Kenya, his father worked for Brooke Bond there, establishing some of the first commercial tea estates. Roger went to prep school in Nairobi and then to boarding school at Cheltenham College before coming to Fitzwilliam College in 1955, graduating with a BA in Agriculture in June 1958. He returned to Africa to work in the Oil industry in Nigeria and then in Kenya, before beginning work for ICI. After a short period abroad again, he returned to Fernhurst in 1971 where he stayed until retirement 25 years later.

He was a keen sportsman, enjoying a range of pursuits from hockey and tennis, to sailing and cycling. He was a very good golfer, and was able to enjoy this sport on many business trips, and also throughout his retirement. He could be seen around Haslemere on his bike, well into his 70s. He and his wife Yolande travelled widely, enjoying experiences all over the world, from cycling down the Danube to cruising in the Galapagos.

 He was a popular member of the Haslemere community, carrying out volunteer work for the National Trust, the local museum as well as the church. Described as a kind and generous man, with a wicked sense of humour, he is sorely missed by Yolande, his daughter Juliet, and grandsons Henry and William.