Stratford teacher had long career helping others
ROGER Brian Green - teacher, counsellor and resident of Stratford – has passed away after a short illness.
He was born on the 28th of December 1938 in Hampstead, London. After originally training as a chef, he ran various restaurants and coffee shops in London, including providing the catering for the Press Corps at Lords Cricket Ground.
However, Roger discovered his true vocation when he retrained as a teacher. After qualifying, he chose to specialise in working with children with behavioural, learning and emotional difficulties; he subsequently dedicated most of his working life to supporting these disadvantaged young people.
Roger moved to Warwickshire in the late 1970s and eventually settled in Stratford. For many years he worked at Stratford High School, running a unit for children with special needs. With his limitless kindness and empathy, he was able to form significant bonds with these sometimes marginalised children, when many others had failed to do so.
Shortly before reaching retirement age, Roger re-trained as a counsellor. He worked for Warwickshire County Council as a specialist counsellor in schools and the private sector. It was during this period that he developed a particular interest and expertise in supporting people with autism and their families. Such was his dedication and commitment to these families that he was still working part-time as a counsellor at the age of 82.
In his free time, Roger was a keen traveller and theatre and opera-goer. Roger was especially fond of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan; these works had been instrumental in his own parents’ courtship many years ago and as a result, the music held a special significance for him, being the soundtrack of his early life and indeed, contributory to his own existence! He was so familiar with the operas and their libretti, that he would begin to laugh at hearing just a few opening bars, in anticipation of the later jokes!
Roger is survived by his wife, two children and three grandchildren.
