Tributes paid to Stratford diplomat Roger Huxley

After colour-blindness cut short his maritime career, roger returned to Stratford to work at the theatre, before taking up a new job in the north of Scotland tracking Russian submarines in the Cold War.

Later Roger took up a role with the Diplomatic Wireless Service at GCHQ Bletchley Park and in 1966 married Enid John.

Roger was posted to Singapore where he began working for the Foreign Office and Enid gave birth to daughters Sian and Karen.

During his time in the Far East Roger was sent to Indonesia where he was put in charge of distributing aid and in his capacity as President of the St George’s Society he raised funds to construct a house for lepers.

Roger was sent to Greece and then Abu Dhabi where, after a bloody civil war erupted in Aden, he was involved in the evacuation of British citizens on the royal yacht Britannia.

Later as Head of Chancery he worked on a humanitarian project in Somalia, helping victims of female genital mutilation.

Roger took up a position as Deputy Head of Mission of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands where he organised the first visit by families of Argentine soldiers fallen in the Falklands War.

Roger’s final mission abroad was as administrator on Ascension Island where he promoted democracy by enabling residents to become involved in the running of the island and he even published a book on green-back turtles.

Finally arriving back in Stratford in 1999 after 29 years, Roger threw himself into community life becoming a parish clerk for Old Stratford & Drayton, manager for the census and served on the educational appeals panel and the health panel for Warwick Hospital.

Roger’s daughter Karen said: “We have been profoundly touched by the many cards, flowers and gestures of kindness that we have received since my father passed away. Amidst our tears, we see them as a tribute to the caring diplomat, the loyal friend, the maverick hat-wearer, the racy joke-teller, the witty raconteur, the patriot, the gentleman. “My father will be missed by all who knew him, not least of all, by his family who loved him.”

A celebration of Roger’s life will be held at Holy Trinity Church at noon on 25 September.